The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1899-02-24
RcCUNE CHARGED WITH BRIBERY,
Representative Law Of Cache County Pre-.
fen the Charge,
Says McCune Agreed to Pay Him $1,000
for Ills Vote, and Paid $50 Down TO Hind
the Bargain-The Charge Creates a Great
Sensation and q Committee 10 Chosen 20
Investigate "a.

Salt Lake City, Feb. 9i.-A. W.
McCune, leading candidate for United
States senator, is charged with bribery
TO secure his election. His accuser Is
Representative Law Of Cache county.
McCune enters n firm denial Of the
charge, which is met by Law with the
assertion that he is prepared to prove
the charge. Utah politics have never
known such sensation as the charge
has produced and little else il talked
Of a commission composed OF Sena.
tors shurtlin, Whitney and Howell
and Representatives sorensen, Stewart
Cummings aud Mansfield has been
chosen TO investigate the charges.
They are now sitting ~ n court Of In.
quiry, but a report is hardly expected
before Wednesday. The commission
Is empowered 10 summon witnesses
and compel them to testify.
AZ the opening OF the Joint session
Saturday, Representative Law nrosc IN
question OF personal privilege. His
manner Indicated that something I'M.
usual was about to transpire. lie
spoke with earnestncss and seemed 10
weigh his words a. he uttered them.
There was marked stiffness when In
clear, positive tones he charged that
Mr Mccune had given him money for
his vote. After a few preliminary
remarks, Mr.. Law continued;
Mr.. president and members of this
legislature-l will now give the proofs
for these charges made. Now. sir.
will state that last Tuesday night
held an interview with that gentleman
| tMi. McCuncl and In the course OF our
remarks he said that he proposed 10
he eleotcd-thnt he had spent too much
In this fight 10 lose. And, sir, on topof
that he said: Law, II you will vote
for me tomorrow you may name your
price Mr.. President, did not take |
advantage Of that offer because | am |
not built that way. claim to be nm |
honest man and l cannot be so nj. |
tracied from my line OF duty. Had a |
not been for the knowledge that | |
might detect the foul schemes of this |
man and expose them TO you and the |
people should most assuredly have |
hung everything back into his teeth. |
have taken stand against that can. |
didate. aud then determined TO dis. |
close this kind OF business.
Now, sir, yesterday afternoon was |
teephoned TO from the McCune head. |
quarters and was asked to come TO |
lf5ose headquarters. l made the an |
'pointment at 3 o'clock, and the same |
proposition was made me as ON Tues |
day night Now, sir. after left those |
headquarters | was detained for two /
hours, after which went at once TO |
the chief Of police. Mr. Pratt, and 1 |
agreed that II was our duty TO detect |
and expose and drag into the iron arms /
Of the law, this cplprit-this man that .
was trying to purchase the honor OF /
this great state OF Utah. We ncted an |
short notice. We instantly made a .
plan 10 reveal 10 the public this scheme /
that had been 40 fully plotted. Now, |
sir, | am here now TO present the facts
In this case
telephoned TO the McCune head. /
quarters this morning, aud after insist. /
Ing on seeing McCune personally /
Cune himself-McCune came TO the
telephone. then reminded him OF |
the conversation Tuesday and told him
-lGod forgive me for telling a lie; but /
did II for the honor OF Utah)-I told
him that had reconsidered his offer .
and wanted To meet him for further
arrangements OF the proposition.
Mr. McCune and then met at the
Wasatch drug store; and there aud then
we held a conversation, the substance
Of which was how much II would take
10 BUY my vote We agreed upon the
price. The exact amount IL not neces-
sary to be named, but will name II II
you want me 10 do So Numerous
cries OF Name II, name itrD II was
VI 500 Fifteen hundred dollars, my
fellow Legislators fifteen hundred dol
lars for me TO sacrifice the honor of
myself, my citizenship, our Utah, our
great republic! That was the price
agreed upon, and In a few minutes IL
was agreed that | shonld be paid 500
this morning, aud between and
o'clock this afternoon ! was TO receive
the remainder OF the sum.
Now, sir, want TO tell you Just how
| proposed 10 detect the thing and fur.
nish indisputable evidence for the
scheme, In order that the public NAV
not doubt the foul effort, aud In order
thai we might strike terrific, a stag.
Nov, l slept In the Jennings block last
night, aud IL was our plan TO have Mr..
MeCune meet me there In my room this
morning, while Mr.. Pratt should be
where he could listen to what should
be said by us, But, sir, when asked
Mr. McCune this morning 10 20 into
the privacy OF my room, he said; mo.
let us 20 into some saloon" | replied
that there was too much at stake for
me to 60 into 80 public a place, and
toll him that my room where | slept
lag night In the Jennings block would
belhe most secret place. Then MIR.
MCune said' wait till | get some
chinge." and he bought some cigars at
a sand. While he was doing this / !
sas a friend OF mine standing on the ,
sidwalls, a man that used to work for
Colonel bryan at Ann Arbor.
Inn Arbor. Mich, Feb. eo.-Colonel
NNna- nr.sau ! a