The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-03-31
WON'T TELL BRlBER'S A
PENNsYLTASIA LEGISLATOR SAYS HE
WILL GO TO JdIL FIRST.

Representative w. ID. wilson Says an Offer
of %. 900 Was Made to Him II He would
Vote for Quay-Ordered to Tell the Name.
but He Refuses-An once for n Vote.
HARRISBURG. Pa. March 3o.-Thele is at
least one member Of the Legislature who says
he will go TO jail for CONTEMPT rathersthan
divulge the name Of the man who offered him
5000 10 vote for Quay for United States Sen.
ator. He is William u. Wilson OF Westmore-
land. who was before the Bribery 1nvestigat-
ing Commission this afternoon. Wilson is an
anti-Quay member OF the House and has been
voting for Congressman John Dalzell.. He.told
his story reluctantly and after much probing
by Chairman Fow and other members Of the
committee. II was in brief that a friend had
called at his place OF business in Grsensburg
about Jan. l and suggested that by changing
his attitude on the Senatorship he could ar
range 90 that Wilson would profit by II. The
offer was rejected. but later at the Franklin
Hotel In this city the proposition was re-
newed, Wilson being urged TO drop Dalzell. for
whom their was no hope. and give his support
to Quay.
Il told him I was elected as ap anti-ouay
candidate" Wilson explained TO the committee.
and could not support Quay. He rerlied that
arrangements could be made whereby l could
get 5000 for voting for Quay and offered 10
pay me 5oO at once. but ! declined and the
conversation dropped"
Wilson was urged repeatedly by.Chairman
Fow to give the name Of the man who at
tempted to bride him. but he refused and
begged to be excused. The committee was
obdurate. however. and announced through
the Chairman that, unless Wilson divulged the
name at the next meeting OF the committee.
he would be in contempt. and II would be
necessary to hand himo over TO the custody OF
th0 IS rQAant-ar-Ar m Nilsnn nrOtAstA1 that
he didn't want to reveal the name at this time.
because the conversation was merely in the
nature OF a suggestion. Tonight he left for
his home aiter remarking to a friend that he
name. OF the man who tried to buy his vote.
Leslie Yates 81 PHILADELPHIA: who changed
IlHm SnSy that 10 T Ne ,aIi M] EieiSsn5IlyJ ]. d Go.,.fIo eP a,
was testified BY the latter. that he was going u
be made 2 P,olice, Magistrate, by Senator Mar
old man Quay whenever the word was
given. He said Costello was 4 comparative
stranger to him and that he was not in the
pr; Nc Mackey OF Lackswanna county tes-
Tiled TIE that he had a iTiepd named rS SoTt lIu
missioner. and that he had a call from three
friends at hi, hotel. one OF them being North.
that Acknowledgement Elkin and Frank Will
leg Leach would get the apnointmsnt for
tion to reconsider the McCarrel bill. He re-
fused and the subject was DROPPED after he
nad declined also TO go TO the Executive, De-
partlnent 70 meet the Governor with Mr.. Elkin.
he denied that one OF the visitors had demand:
ed that he pay, back To him SSgO which had
been given TO him by the friends OF Senator
Quay previous to his election.
Mr.. Crittenden OF Potter county said he had
come legislation before the House and when
he first came to Harrisburg he met several
gentlemen. among them Senator Merrick and
others at tho Lochiel Hotel. Later he met
some gentlemen at the Commonwealth Hotel.
Including Mr.. Van ,Nalkeneurg. who told him
manned out Of the Senatorial caucus they
would be In a position to help him with his
legislation" Crittsnden alao was asked about
a delegate to the next state Convention, but
Chairman fow ruled that the election of dele
gates had nothing to do with the inquiry. Crit
tenden said that Van NalkenburR was now op-
posing his legislation and explained that he
1eached his conclusion because some mem.
beers who, had promised to support his bills
had voted against. them. He had not been
asked to change his vote. but merely TO stay
out OF the caucus.
c. A. Stebhins Of Coudersport. asked 10 be
heard. and testified that il was he who ac-
com panied Crittepden to tho W~anamaker
Headquarters aud that there was NO private
conversation. with Van ValkenburE. His tes-
tinony was in DIRECT conflict with that OF Crit
had any such conversation with the Potter
county mem Der. Crittenden is very anxious to
have repealed a prohibitory LIQUOR law AZ
fectinR his county and this is the particular
legislation to which he. referred. For years
this Ian hos been the subject Of red-hot
Contests at :he elections In Potter county and
the attempt TO pass the bill will probably be
Defeated in the House.
The bribery investigation will DO concluded
next weak