The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-03-08
IT MADE THEM LAUGH
TESTIMONY BEFORE THE PENN
6YLVANIA LEGISLATIVE BRIB.
ERY INQUIRY COMMITTEE
INSURGENTS" CARED FOR
-Messrs. Coyle, Costello and MoyIes
Said to Have Been Involved in
Attempt to Secure Votes on the
McCarreI Jury BiIl-Mr, CoyIe
Is Quoted as Giving an Insight AS
to How "the Gang'' Did 1t.

HARRISBURG. Pa. March IA
meeting Of the committee to INQUIRE
Into the charges of bribery in con-
nection with the passage Of the McCar-
rell bill in the house was held today
and developed some sensational testi-
mony.
The first witness called was Col.
George Knox Mccain, staff correspon-
dent at Harrisburg of the Philadelphia
Press. Mr.. Mccain said that Peter
j. Crist. representative from Northum-
berland county. told him that he was
approached by an individual and told
that it would be worth $1,000 to him to
vote for the reconsideration Of the DILL.
Subsequently he admitted that the in
dividual was Representative Thomas
Moyles, Of Wilkesbarre who said he
wanted the bill to become a law, as
1t would help him out in q case in
Lucerne county in which he was de-
fendant
j. P. Dwyer. also of the Press, tes-
tilted that James Engler. of Lycoming
county, told him that he met Represen-
tative Costello. formerly of Williams
house, Harrisburg. where they met ex-
Senator John Coy1e. of Schuylkill coun-
ty. Mr.. Coyle told Engle that he un-
derstood that he was a Roman Cath
olic. and asked him to vote for the bill,
because Archbishop Ryan wanted it to
become law. Witness said that Coyle
told Engler that he would pay him
$1,000 to vote for the bill, and put his
hand in his pocket and said he would
give him 5000 at once. Coyle said he
used to do this when he was a mem
ber of the house. and if Engler would
go along on this bill he would put him
on In several bills. and that he could
make more on the outside than his sal
ary as member of the house. Engler
refused to accept the money and left
Coyle
ONE OF THE GANG.
Mr.. Engler testified that he met Co.'S
tello at the Bolton house and took him
to room at the LochieI hotel and in
troduced him to ex-senator Coyle
Coyle said he used to be in the gang,
and took everything that came his
way. Engler corrobborated Dwyer's
testimony Of Coyle's offer Of 5000 to
vote for the bill, and to pay the bal
ance in a few days. and that if Engler
would go along on this bill he would
put him on to other bills.
Mr.. Crist said that he knew Moyles
and was a member Of the house with
him In 1893. Moyles told witness that
there was three in it If he would
vote for the bill. Moyles asked the
witness subsequently and asked him to
vote for the reconsideration of the bill
Moyles was under Indictment in Lu-
cerne 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 Movies
called Crist out into the hallway and
urged him to move for the reconsidera-
ton Of the McCarrell bill. Moyles told
Crist what to say when he ,nade the
motion, and promised If he would make
the motion there would be 81 900 in it
for the witness. Crist 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
Crist went into the house and voted to
adjourn to prevent a reconsideration
Of the bill
MADE THEM LAUGH.
Mr.. Crist said that after the adjourn
ment Coyle came to him and told him
he made mistake in not voting Cor the
bill, that "the fellows over there"
pointing to the 'fnsurgents'), the wit
ness said, were being taken care off,
This remark created general laugh
ter.
Mr.. voorhees,, of the committee, ask
ed that the names of Messrs. Coyle,
Costello and Moyles be called, that they
be given a chance tC testify In their
behalf.
Chairman Fow said that these men
could not testify before the committee.
and they would be given a chance if
the matter was taken into the courts.