The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-03-22

l.
alleged bribery in connection with the
consideration OF the .McCarrell jury bill
In the house, met this afternoon in the
room of the house committee on public
roads.
Thomas NJ. Moyles, of Luzerenc coun-
ty was called and said he reserved the
right to make q statement after he had
been examined. He testified under ex-
animation by Chairman Fow that he
served in the legislature with Peter
Crlste. Of Northumberland, and that he
paid several friendly visits to him. Mr..
Moyles said he understood by common
rumor that he was charged by Mr..
Criste with corruptly soliciting him to
vote to reconsider the McCarrell bill.
Mr.. Moylcs said he was vitality inter-
ested In the bill. because he was charged
In the Luzerne county court for alleged
conspiracy and admitted that no re-
| quested Mr.. Criste to go out in the ro-
tunda of the capitol with him to discuss
the bill, but denied that he offered
Criste money to support 1t.
Mr.. Moyles continuing said: The pres
'hiS pAodbhl " uCul OIL
| the legislature to trump up charges
against certain persons may have in
| duced Mr.. Criste to make this charge
| against me. know Of no other motive
| for him to make the charge that Offer
| ed him money to vote for the bill. I
don't recollect Of Mr.. Coyle having n
conversation with Mr.. Crlste at his seat
while the latter and I were discussing
| the measure. l never told Crlste that
| had conversation with Coyle in which
told him-'Coyle is all right.
1 did not tell Criste there was three In
IT. for him II he could vote to recon-
slider the BILL" ...
Mr.. Moyles said he argued with Mr..
| Criste to support the bill because 1t was
q good Democratic measure, and Offer
ed to prepare a statement for him giy-
Ing his reasons for favoring the bill
While the witness was debating the
| statement motion prevailed to ad-
journ the house to prevent reconsider
alton of the bill and nothing further
was done.
At the conclusion OF Mr.. Moyles' testi-
mony the committee adjourned until S
o'clock this evening. &
Evening Session.
The committee met this evening in the
house judiciary general committee room
/ to- hear.- --thc.-testimony Of ex-senator
Coyle. Mr.. Moyles was recalled and ask
| ed who was present when he dictated
| the statement to be used by Mr.. Chris
| tie In moving to reconsider the McCar-
| rell bill. and replied that Mr.. Coyle was
present but not within hearing distance.
Mr.. Coyle testified that he lived in
Philadelphia and is silent partner In
the insurance business with his brother
at MahonOy City. He came to Harris
| burg December 80 and 81 to be present
| ut the Republican caucus to nominate
a candidate for United States senator.
| He had adjoining rooms at the Lochiel
hotel with Mr.. Martin Lawler. OF Shen-
andoah.
What interest have you in the Nc
Carroll bl!l?" n 4
mo particular interest. favored it
\ because 1t was n merltorious measure
and was being fought by the enemies Of
| Mr.. Quay. Mr.. Costello brought Mr..
Engler to my room and said he (Engler)
wanted to meet some persons OF our re-
ligious belief. I don't know what mo-
| tive Mr.. Costello had in bringing him."
why did you ask Representative NIL
Ter to sign the Spatz paper?"
Il did not ask him to sign 1t. may
have advised him to sign it,
Mr.. Coyle said he had never visited
the house with Mr.. Moyles to ask Repre-
sentative Criste or any member to vote
| for the McCarrell bill. When Mr.. Eng
Ter visited Mr.. Coyle the latter took him
into n vacant room because there were
same gentlemen In his room at the
time. Mr.. Coyle left the room and when
he returned Engler and Costello were
| discussing the bill. Engler said he was
very friendly to the bill and he thought
1t ought to pass. but he did not think
he would vote for 1t because the leaders
Of Lycomins county were opposed to 1t.
Engler said that II voting for the bill
would not create q break between HIM
| self and Senator Cochran he would vote
for 1t. Coyle advised Engler not to vote
for the bill II it would create any trou-
BILE with his friends. The witness de-
MED that he offered Representatives
Engler or Miller any money to vote for
the bill or to vote to reconsider 1t.
That Bribery Reward.
"Dld you say to Mr.. Ensler that Arch
bishop Ryan favored the bill?"
~ did not"
what do You think Mr.. Engler's mo-
tive is for making this statement?"
"I do not know what. unless he wants
to secure the bribery reward offered by
the Business Mems League"
Mr.. Coyle said Representative John.
son told him that he thought there was
something In It to sign the Spatz paper,
and suggested that he was doctor and
might write Il prescription for Mr..
Coyle II there was something in II for
| him Tho tvttnngu rnnlIal bnt hn
offered any one money for votes on leg
islation or anything else. and suggested
that writing n prescription was IL good
way to get around the law.
Representative Miller admitted to Mr..
Coylc In the prescnce OF friends that he
| never told anybody that the witness
had offered him money to support the
McCGrrcll bill. Mr.. Coyle said Mr..
Cr!ste was mistaken In saying that he
| (Coyle) told him In the presence of Mr..
Moyles ito go along on the McCarrell
bill and leave the rest to me-"
Mr. Coyle was asked IL Mr.. Lawler
had ever been lncarcerated, md refused
TO anSwer because he believed at was
vlllainous cross examination"
did you ut any time offer to anyone
any money or any reward to vote for
the bill, or did you ever offer any one
places on committee to vote for the Nc
Carroll bill or any other lcgislation?"
II did not"
Were you present when Mr. Moyles
was debating the remarks TO be made
by Mr.. Criste In moving to reconsider
the bill?"
'T was not"
''Did|you nt any time dictate any re-
marks to be made by any person on the
McCarrell blll?"
"No SIR"
"Mr. Engler has charged You with Of