The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-03-08
$1,000 A VOTE
offered For the Support of the
McCarrelI Bill at Harrisburg.

Harrisburg Pa, March S-A meeting
of the committee to inquire into the
charges of bribery in connection with
the passage of the McCarreu jury bill
in the house was held last evening and
developed some sensational testimony.
The first witness called was Colonel
George Mccain, staff correspondent at
Harrisburg, of the Philadelphia Press.
Mr.. Mccain said that Peter J. Criste,
representative from Northumberland
county, told him that he was approach
ed by an individual and told that it
would be worth $1,000 to vote for the
reconsideration of the bill Subsequent
Iy he admitted to the witness that 1t
was x-Representative Thomas MOyleS,
of Wilkesbarre, who said he wanted the
bill to become a law as it would help
him out in case Of LuZerne county in
which he was a defendant.
John P. Dyer, also of the Press, testi-
fed that Representative John Engler,
of LycOming county, told him that he
met Michael J. Costello, former resi-
dent of WiIiamsport, and escorted him
to the Bolton House, Harrisburg, where
they met ex-senator John J. Coyle, Of
SchuyIkill county. Mr.. COyle told Eng
Ter that he understood he was a Roman
Catholic and asked him to vote for the
bill because Archbishop Ryan wanted
it to become a law. Witness said Coyle
told Engler he would pay him $500 to
vote for the bill and put his hand in his
pocket and said he would give him $500
at once Coyle said he used to do this
when he was a member of the legisla-
ture and that if Engler would go along
on this bill he would put him in on
several other bills and that he could
make more on the outside than his sal
ary as a member of the house Mr.
Engler refused to accept the money and
left COyle.
Mr.. Engler testified that Costello met
him at the Bolton House and took him
to a room at the LochieI hotel and in
PRODUCED him to ex-senator Coyle. Coyle
said he used to be in the Legislature and
that he took everything that came his
way. Engler corrobOrated Dyer's testi-
mOny as to COyle's offer of 5000 to vote
for the bill and to pay the balance when
the witness voted and that If Engler
would go along on this bill he would
take him in on five or six other bills.
Mr.. Criste says he knew MOyles and
was a member of the house in 1898.
Movies told witness that there were
three in it if he would vote for the
bill. Moyles saw the witness subse-
quently and asked him to vote for the
reconsideration of the bill. Moyles was
under Indictment in Luzerne county for
conspiracy and said he was anxious to
have the bill passed. About this time
ex-senator Coyle came in and said to
witness: You vote for the McCarrell
bill and leave the rest to me-
An hour later Moyles called Criste out
into the hallway and urged him to move
for the reconsideration of the McCar-
relI Dill. MOVIES IOlu CrlSCe what 10
say when he made the motion and
promised if he made the motion there
would be $1,000 in it for the witness.
Criste told Moyles to write out what
he wished him to say when he made
the motion, and while he was doing so
the bill came up and Criste went into
the house and voted to adjourn to pre-
vent a reconsideration of the bill. Mr..
Criste said that after adjournment
Coyle came to him and told him he
made a mistake in not voting for the
bill: that the fellows over there
(pointing to the ''insurgents''). the wit
ness said, were being taken care off,
This remark created general laughter.
ter.
Mr.. Voorhees, of the committee asked
that the names of Messrs. Coyle. Cos
tello and Moyles be called and that they
be given a chance to testify in their
behalf. Chairman FOw said these men
could not testify before the committee
and that they would be given chance
if the matter was taken into the courts.