The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1900-02-04
LIED FOR WHAT
THERE WAS In IT
Wright and Hill Own Up to
Deception.
MADE FALSE AFFIDAVITS
Wright Said He Swore to False State
- ments in. the Clark. Case to Help
.s Purify the Politics of
Montana
MADE FALSE AFFIDAVITS

. f------ s-~
Washington, February 81. L. Wright, a
matchmaker. of Msseula, Mont, was the
first witness in the Clark case today He
had been summoned by the prosecution,
but they declined to put him on the stand,
and he was called by the defense. 1t be-
came apparent at The beginning that he had
been called to impeach the testimony of
Rector concerning the alleged efforts to
bride Representative Jaqueth. Rector had
testified that Wright was present when the
money was paid, but Wright denied this.
The witness also testified to having agreed
to give affidavit and to testify is the
Welcome disbarment trial at the instance
of Ben Hill and Mr.. Little, secretary of
Congressman Campbell. He said he was to
receive $3.50 for the affidavit and $1,000 for
his verbal testimony to be taken later. He
did sign and swear to an affidavit, receiving
5000 for his service. The affidavit was read
by Senator Faulkner, and it was full of
accusations against members of the legis-
aature, one of which was Ito the effect that
Il. J. Steele, friend of Senator Clark, had
given him an envelope containing 100000 to
be given to Senator Myers for his vote for
Mr. Clark, but that Steele had later come
to him and requested the return of the
money, saying Myers preferred that White
side should hold lit.
"Now, Mr.. Wright, is thaX affidavit true
or false?f asked Senator Faulkner.
at is false. and they knew it was false
at the time it was made" replied the wit
ness. 81 did DIT for what there was in it.
1t was gotten UP to help purify politics.
at is the statement you swore to-" -sug-
Sested Senator Turley, and the witness
assented. He had not intended to make
THE same statement he had made in his
affidavit If he had gone ON the stand but
he refused to testify, because the $1,000
had not been paid.
Had Received $3.50
The witness said he had received sl2O
from Days friends in Helena, and just
before starting to Washington he mad re-
ceived $500 more and $50 more since his
arrival.
The witness said that since Benjamin
Hil and himself had been in Washington
they had received am offer of $500 on be-
GaT of THE prosecution to get out OF the
city.
Ben Hill, also of Mssoula, was called.
He had been excluded from the committee
room while Wright was testifying. He mad
been connected with Congressman Camp
bell and Mark Hewitt, he said, in work
past eight months
He had just been down to Bridger, he
said for Mr.. Clark, for which The had re-
celved $3.50 from that gentleman. He met
Mr.. Wl'itesfde on the street in Butte, and
had told him a lot of Hes After that me
had gone to Campbell's office and had
signed "about 1,700 pages of stuff in which
there was not a word of TRUTH This affi-
davit had been dictated and written by
him.
The affidavit was then read. I'm it the
witness said t0hat he had entered into a
combination to assist in the election of
Senator, Clark, and that he had committed
many acts looking to the bribery of MEM
beers of the legislature to vote for Mr.
Clark for United States senator
In response to "a question, Mr.. Hill said
the affidavit was false. "When Campbell
and WhHteside would see me talking to a
man they would ask me what the talk was
about, and I would tell them according to
wha money I got"
Did you get more than $3.50 for your
work?" was asked.
Yes, get several such sums"
The witness stated that in conversation
with Mr.. Campbell after the affidavit was
prepared MANY alterations were made in
the document, and that ne had subsequent
ly given the altered document ito Mr. Camp
bell.
Mr.. Campbell was asked to produce this
altered document, and said he would try
to find it.
After Mr.. Faulkner had resumed the ex-
animation, Senator Hoar interrupted him,
asking him to curtail the inquiry, saying
that after the witness own admissions no
statement that he could make would he of
value to any one
MIR. Hill testified TO paying $500 for affi-
davits in Missoula, drawing drafts on Mr..
Campbell for the money. Campbell said he
had honored the. drafts. and would explain
why when he should take the stand.
Concerning witnesses called Ito Helena to
testify in the disbarment trial, Hill said
there had been an understanding that only
DR.. Minshall should go until the 81, 500 was
paid each of them. Whiteside had given
the money to a man named Harrity for
him, and that the latter had handed him
$500 of this amount, which the witness said
he still had in his possession, having, kept
1t in order to make the prosecution pay the
remaining amount which he said was prom
Used. He told the messenger who had
brought him a message asking him to go to
the state supreme court to testify to "tell
the supreme court ito go TO h."
A recess was then taken to 2:30 p. m.
Afternoon Session
41.@ avail