Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-04-20
PENROSE CHARGES
ARE SUSTAINED.
Political Conspiracy Back Of the
Prosecution of Colonel Quay.
JUDGE GORDON ON THE STAND.

Martin, ,wanamaker and Guffey Shown
Papers Found In the Peoples Bank
and Which Were Photo graphed For
Political Purposes.
Especial Correspondence
Philadelphia, April 17.-Naturally
the Quay trial has been the principal
topic of political interest during the
as a part of the great battle for the
United States senatorship and develop
ments already are most significant, in
view of the bold charges made by
United States Senator Penrose In the
gubernatorial campaign. This brilliant
and fearless young statesman, in the
heat of the contest when the Quay
charges were sprung and were used by
the political opponents OF Colonel Stone
in their efforts to defeat him for cleo
tion to the governorship, Senator Pen
rose, in signed statement, then
charged that Senator Quay was the
victim of great conspiracy, the sole
purpose and object of which was to
overthrow Quay and the entire Re-
publican organization in Pennsylvania.
The people seemed to accept Senator
Panrose's statement, as the immense
vote cast for Colonel Stone for gov
ernor would indicate. The election Of
Republican legislature, with over two
thirds of the Republican membership
voting for Colonel Quay's reelection,
may also be taken as popular ex
preston of condemnation of the tao
ties of Colonel Quay's political en-
tmieS.
During the whole course of the trial
up to date there has not been a single
word of testimony which would in
yolve Colonel Quay in any illegal
transaction in connection with the
Peoples bank or the funds of the state
treasury. Bankers who have followed
the case closely predict that IT will be
shown that Colonel Quay did nothing
more than any business man would do.
tho engaged in b',yipr and selling
Bhares OF stock on the Market. He bor-
rowed money from the bank and gave
collateral to back his loans. But to
further the political interests OF the
anti-Quay political combination the
most daring tactics were resorted to in
connection with the private papers
found in the bank and to some OF
which Colonel Quay's name was at
tached.
GORDON ON THE STAND.
Upon the stand on the second day of
the trial Judge Gordon, who has been
one af the most vindictive opponents of
Colonel Quay, was forced to admit that
he got possession of these private pa
pers, that he showed them to David
Martin, John Wanamaker and Colonel
Guffey, the Democratic national COM
mitteeman from Pennsylvania, and 1t
was disclosed that the papers were
photographed while they were In his
possession. All these admissions bear
out the allegations made in the last
campaign by Senator Penrose. Judge
Gordon was brought on the stand after
former Assistant District Attorney
Barlow had been compelled to admit
that Judge Gordon had gotten possess
sion of the papers in question In Sep
tember last.
During Mr.. Barlow's testimony ex-
Judge Gordon sat over by Clerk Hens
zey's desk, apparently engaged in TAX
ing notes. AS Gordon's name was
brought in step by step in the cross
questioning District Attorney Rother-
mel seemed to grow worried and he
walked over to the ex-judge and whis-
pered something to him. The two had
what was apparently most animated
corner conference which lasted some
moments after Barlow left the stand.
Then the fast rising tide of excite
ment was interrupted when Judge
Gordon was asked to step forward
Just as he was being sworn, with up
lifted hand, John Wanamaker entered
the room and seated himself at the re-
porters' table. from which he could
look right into Gordon's face while the
latter was bringing his connection with
the case to light.
MARTIN IN THE CASE.
After being buffetted about for a
long time Mr.. Gordon asked leave to
make a statement. Mr.. Shapley, how
ever, objected to any political
speeches." and the judges statement
died in the borning.
The interesting part of Gordon's tes-
timony came when Mr.. Shapley asked:
who were the first persons you
showed those papers to after they
came into your custody?"
"The first person I showed them to
was the gentleman who advised me Of
their existence"
who was that?"
David Martin"
who was the next person to whom
you showed them?"
John Wanamaker."
The judge declared that he had
never left the papers in John Wana-
makers custody. He had shown them
also to his law partner, Harris, and to
his friend. Editor Orr, of Harrisburg.
The judge admitted that he had had
the documents photographed, but he
denied taking them to New York to
show to Mr.. Guffey and Mr.. Wanna
maker. He had. however. shown three
of the letters to Mr.. Guffey while rid