The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1899-03-08

ON COYhE
Ugly and Sensational Testimony Brought
Against the Schuylkin Ex-senator.
COSTELLO AND MOYLES IMPLICATED
Evidence Creates a sensation Among the
Legislators Present. -Kreps Resigns
as Chairman and His Place is
FILLED by Fow.

Harrisburg, March S.-A meeting o
the committee to inquire into the charge.
Of bribery in connection with the passag,
Of the McCarrell jury bill in the house
was held last evening in the house ju.
| dietary general committee room. Tn,
room was crowed with spectators, includ.
| ing senators and members, when the
committee was called to order By Chair
man William G. Kreps Of Franklin
county.
The committee is composed or Repre-
sentatives W. II. Koontz OF Somerset.
| Frank h. McClain OF Lancaster, Michael
j. Tighe OF Luzerne, Charles T.. Yoor.
hees of Philadelphia. George r. Dixon
Of Elk, John IL. Fow Of Philadelphia.
John b. Kendall OF Chester and Robert
X. Young Of Tioga. McClain succeeds
Captain Skinner, resigned.
Mr.. Kreps stated that on the organiza-
tion Of the committee as 1t was original.
ly constituted he was chosen chairman
He thought that each member Of the
committee ought to have a voice in the
selection OF the chairman, and that on
account of his health he would decline
to serve. A motion that the resig-
nation be not accepted was unani-
mously adopted. Mr. Kreps thanked
the committee, and said he had no desire
to serve as chairman. Mr. Fow was
then elected
The first witness called was Colonel
George Nox Mccain, staff correspond
ent at Harrisburg Of the Philadelphia
Press. Mr.. Mccain testified that the
member who made the admissions that
he was approached was Peter ]. Criste,
Of Northumberland, who told the wit
ness that he was approached by an in
dividual and told that it would be worth
$1,000 to him to vote for the reconsider.
alton of the bill. Mr.. Criste declined at
the time to give the name Of the individ.
ual, but subsequently he admitted to the
witness that it was ex-Representative
Thomas Moyles, of Wilkesbarre, who
said he wanted the bin to become a law.
as it would help him out in case in
Luzerne county in which he was a de
fendant. Mr.. Criste asked Movies to
write what he wanted him to say when
he made motion to reconsider the vote
by which the bill was postponed until
March 21. Before Moyles could write
the Bliss motion to adjourn to prevent
a reconsideration of the bill was made
and adopted, and nothing further oc-
Cured between Criste and Moyles.
John 2. Dwyer testified that he was
a staff correspondent OF The Press and
contributed that portion of the artiyle
alleging that Representative John Eng
Ter, of LycOming, was corruptly ap-
preached to vote for the reconsideration
Of the McCarrell bill. Mr.. Engler told
the witness that he met Michael ]. Cos
tello a former resident Of Williamsport
and escorted him to the Bolton House,
this city, where they met ex-senator John
J. Coyle, of Schuylkill county. Mr.
Coyle told Engler that he understood he
was a Roman Catholic, and asked him
to vote for the bill because Archbishop
Ryan wanted it to become law. Wit
ness said Coyle told Engler he would
pay him 5000 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
member of the legislature and that il
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 salary as a member |
Of the house. Mr.. EngI,r refused to ac- |
cept the money and left Coyle The fol- |
lowing Sunday Costello went to Will !
lamsport, hired a team and drove 13 |
miles out in the country to Engler's !
home and tried to induce him TO vote for
the bill. Mr.. Engler told Costello that
he would do nothing until he had talked
with his colleague, Mr.. Osler. Engler's
purpose being to get rid OF Costello, the
witness explained
Mr.. Dwyer declined to disclose the
name Of the party who told him of the |
alleged attempt 20 bribe Engler. Wit
ness saw Costello after his visit to Eng |
er's home, and was told by Costello that |
he knew the secrets OF the Quay people. /
and that if he could see Senator Coch- |
'an, of Williamsport. he would tell him
he ought to know about the
contest and a move the Ouay
)eonle were about to make.
The testimony of MeSSrs Engler and
lriste fully corroborated the evidence
'iyen by the newspaper men, Mr.. Criste
adding thar ex-senator Coyle told him
he anu-Quay men were being taken
are of"
After the taking OF Testimony was
concluded Mr.. Voorhees, asked that the
lanes of Messrs, Coyle, Costello and
loyles be called, that they be given a
hance 10 testify in their behalf. Chair
nan FoW said these men could not tes-
lfy before the committee, and that they
would be given chance if the matter
vas taken into the courts. Mr.. Voor-
ees made an offer that these gentlemen
@ allowed TO appear before the commit
Pc and testify, and that they be allowed !
ounsel Mr., Fow ruled the offer out of
rider on the ground that the committee !
not trial court Mr.. Kreps filed ex- +,
options to the ruling. after which the !
adjourned until this evening
FREE LUNCHES TONIGHT.