The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1899-03-22
COYAE AND
WOYAES |
Star Witnesses Enter Sweeping Contra
dietiOns Of the Charges.
BOTH SAY THEY ARB INNOCENT |
coyles Meeting with Engler and His
Relations with one Martin J. Law
lor. Presented to the Committee
in New Light.

| Harrisburg, Mar 22.-The men charged
with attempted bribery were given an on
portunity to present their side Of the con.
troversy, and ex- Representative T. NJ. Moyles
and ex-senator John j. Coyie, Of Schuylkill
county, now Of Philadelphia, hanked by an
| array of able counsel. were the star wit
nesses. They denied all that has been charged
Of their efforts to bribe members OF the I,egis-
lature in connection with the McCarreu bill
Both witnesses we're under great strain,
and Moyles was nervous, while Coyle's face
was flushed. Both non denied everything Of
criminal nature, and expressed the belief
that they we're victims Of a conspiracy.
Mr.. Moyles said he was vitality interested
in the McCarrell bill because he was indicted
in the Luzerne county courts for alleged con
spiracy, aud admitted that he requested Mr..
Criste TO go out into the rotunda of the capi-
tol with him to discuss the bill He said he
argued with Mr.. Criste to support the bill be-
cause it was good Democratic measure. and
| offered to prepare a statement for him giving
his reasons for favoring the bill. While the
witness was debating the statement a motion
was made to adjourn the house to prevent a
reconsideration of the bill and nothing fur
ther was done
Moyles practically admitted that with the
exception of an offer Of money and Coyle's
part in the transaction. the testimony of Rep
resentative Criste under oath was correct as
to his interviews with him.
Ex-senator John j. Coyle not only denied
that he had ever offered money or place to
any member of the Assembly, but he swore
that he had never asked any Republican or
Democrat either to vote for Senator Quay or
for the McCarrell bill or for any motions
bearing on the McCarrell bill, but he could
not explain how he could otherwise help
Quay and the McCarrell bill If he had never
asked anybody.
In answer to the general question as to
what reason he could assign for four reputa-
bic and responsible members Representatives
Engler, Criste Miller and johnson, swearing
positively that he had offered them money
for their vote when he knew them so slightly.
bir. Coyle replied that it must be because of
the rewards offered; he knew of no other
reason He denounced as false all of the
charges, and denied that he ever told Engler
that Archbishop Ryan was interested in the
BGcCarrell bill
Coyle testified that he came to Harrisburg
on December 80 haC i room at the Lochiel
adjoining that of Martin j. Lawlor, editor of
the Shenandoah News, and that the door be-
tween the rooms was usually open. He said
Representative johnson first suggested the
writing of prescription, but he regarded il
as joke; that NJ. J. Lawlor, who had been
talked about so much as COyle's friend, bore
good reputation, but refused to answer a
question about Mr.. Lawlor's past record, and
told Chairman Fow that he thought his ques-
tion was 'villainous cross-examination. ."
He said his income was derived from the in
surance business with his brother in Maha-
noy City.
Cross-examined by General Koontz and
Representative Young, Coyle said that Lawlor
was Democrat, while he was Republican.
Witness swore he did not know that Lawlor's
paper, the SheAandoah News" was DEM
ocratic paper that had been urging Demo
Gratis to vote for Mr. Quay. He swore be had
never seen the paper, although General
koontz told him it bad been distributed
around on the desks of the members. He de-
MED that he and Lawlor were working to-
gether for Quay, or that Spatz, Lawlor and
himself had conferred together about the
Spatz paper.
A sweeping question by Mr.. Young, re-
garding bribery or attempted directly or in.
directly, was answered by Coyle denying he
had ever done anything out of the way or
offered money or anything te any Legislator
This concluded the examination and the
committee adjourned until to-day at 2 o'clock