The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-03-09
TnE BRIBERY PROBERS
Coils Seem to be Tightening About
Ex-senator Coyle.
CHARLES B. sPAT2 ACCUSED.

the Member From Berks County At
tempted to Bride Representative
Johnston and Himself.
Harrisburg, March 0.-The bribery In
vestigating committee resumed its sit
ting last. night in the house judiciary
general committee room. A great crowd
was present in anticipation Of sensa-
tional developments in connection with
the consideration in the house of the Nc
Carroll jury bill. The examination Of
the witnesses was conducted by Repre-
sentative John H. Fow, of Philadelphia,
chairman OF the committee.
Representative Irwin N. Johnston, of
Northampton, the first witness called,
testified that before the passage of the
bill he had conversation in a room,
at the Lochiel hotel with ex-senator
John ]. Coyle. He went to the room
with his colleague, Representative b.
Frank Miller, at the latter's suggestion,
and found Representatives Spatz Of
and possibly some others, present Mr.
Johnston was introduced to Coyle, and
he and Miller were left alone with him.
Coyle had typewriter paper, the sub
stance of which was that the Democrats
would vote for nobody else than George
A. jerks for United States senator.
Coyle asked Johnston to sign the paper,
and told him he would leave the wit
ness lin on some other bills that would
come up" Johnston said he refused to
sign the paper because he and Miller
were for jerks anyway. Coyle sug.
gested to Johnston that he would have
him appointed on the committee on rules.
and he refused. Coyle then promised to
have the witness appointed on the ap-
preparations committee.
"What was the amount of money Of
fered?" asked Mr.. Fow.
Mcssrs. Voorhees, and Kreps objected
to the question. Mr.. Fow then asked il
there was ney mentioned at the meet
ing, and the witness replied, There
was" Coyle told Johnston, who is Il
physician, that he was not feeling WELL
and that il he would write him a pre-
scription he tCoyle) would pay him q
fee of either $50 or 500 to sign the
paper, the witness could not reeollect
the exnct amount. Coyle urged John
ston to sign the paper, and he refused
Nothing was said about voting for any
thing or mentioned about legislation.
except that The witness should keep on
voting for jerks. Coyle told Johnston
that there would be bills up later in the
session in which there would be
money" and that Coyle would "let him
in on them" The witness thought tn.
McCarrell bill was mentioned, hut john
1,h, MI
Miller saw COyic subsequently at the
Lochicl hotel. and the ex-senator Of
fercd an amount of money to support
the McCarrell bill before the postpone
ment.
Johnston said that in his conversation
with Coylr ii may have been suggested
that Coyle would like him to vote for
Senator Quay. Mr.. Miller corroboratcd
the testimony of his colleague relative to
their visits to Coyles room, and stated
that on their first visit they went to
see Coyle in company with Representa-
tives Hoch, He'll and lIersch. They
went to Mr.. Spatz's room first, and from
there, conducted by Srdtz, to COylc's
room, and introduced. Miller told of the
paper that Johnston was asked to sign,
but could not r"collcct that anything
was said about bills that were to come
up in the legislature. Miller told Coyl"
that he would consider before he signed
the paper. When Miller saw Coyie the
second time the ex-senator took him into
q private ROOM but the wituess could
not recollect what was said.
Miller said that Representative Rosen-
berry advised him not to sign the paper,
because there was money in it. Miller was
called out of Coyle's room, and he AMI
Johnston were offered $50 apiece by
Representative Spatz to sign the paper.
Spatz afterwarG called Miller aside and
offered him 500 After the offer was
made Miller and Johnston l"ft the hotel.
The next time Miller saw Coyle the en-
senator asked him "what il would cost
to help him out on the McCarrell Hill"
Miller said that Toyle spoke n ont
coming in with the boys and that n"o-
plc often build brick o'scs wher h,y
20 horne fro" HE legislature. IL .d':
to get in the ring and get dyvy on ."'-
tain bills Covlr told is We would -,.e
to sign the paper" %ll"r added. The
witness said C0yle met him later in ,'i'-
| rany with his colleague and r,Ina cd
fhaf ne WOIlu ~ t',N slt'l 10 hHNt lif'b
| he him out. The witness said he s. -
| tolu uy Coyle that he could name Il ryi,H
| to vote for the McHi rel VII. Mil on
| planned that the paper contained a clause
| that tire si, lers were to stand tose, her
| for certain legislation in addition TO
voting for jerks. Miller was never
made any offer by Coyle or anybody else
to vote for Senator Quay.
Representative Hell, Of NORTHAMPTON,
testified that he was offered $50 by Spatz
to sign the paper to stand by jerks for
senator, and that he refused. Spatz took
witness to Ccvle's room, where Hell was
asked by Coylr to sign the paper, and he
refused. He'll was not asked to vote for
the McCarrcll bill, but was told by Coyle
that il he wonld sign the paper he (Coyle)
would help him on other things"
Representative Hersch, Of Montgom-
cry, said he made a friendly call to
Spatz's room on invitation of Represent
alive Hook, of Berks and that the Nc
Carroll bill was discussed while he was
present. Witness said he was asked by
somebody what he could do for the bill,
and he replied that he could do nothing.
Coyle never spoke to Hersch about the
| bill