The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-01-06
HEARING THE TESTIMONY
Second Days Proceedings in the
Case Of Senator Clark.
The Speaker of the Montana House
of Representatives "A Witness
IeEes md EIcctiOns-An Effort
Made to Establish Bribery Charges.

AAt htaAAub AH tue NtlSe OA NtA loiu AASAA-
bers OF the legislative assembly OF Mon
tana and officials and citizens OF that state
against the right of William A. Clark to
a seat in the United States Senate was
resumed by the Committee on Privileges
and Elections this morning.
The first OF those interested in the case
TO appear in the room Of the committee
was Rodgers Foster, OF New York. associate
counsel for Senator Clark After him came
former Senator Faulkner, counsel-in-chief
for the Senator from Montana and a few
minutes later there entered former sena-
tor Edmunds. counsel -in-chief for the me-
morialists He donned his familiar black
silk skull cap adjusted his glasses and
proceeded 10 glance over the official report
OF the proceedings Of yesterday. Counsel
for Senator Clark conferred in low zones.
Senator Chandler. chairman OF the com
mittee. arrived at few minutez after 10
O'Clock and he and Mr. Edmunds held a
brief consultation. An early arrival was
former Representative Hartman OF Mon
tana, one Of the memoriaIists. The com
mittee room gradually filed with specta-
tors.
Mr. Edmunds presented A. a. Birney. Of
Washington. as associate counsel
| The First Witneas.
The first witness was Henry A Stiff.
speaker Of the house OF representa-
uves OF the Sixth legislative assembly Of
Montana. He knew Senator Clark ve-y
well by sight. but his personal acouaint-
ance with the Montana Senator was slight.
! The witness gave the names OF the re9re-
/ sentatives from Missoula county The Wit
ness was asked to state the financial condi-
/ ton OF II. W Mclaughlin. a representative
I from Missoula county. before the Senate
rial contest. Mr.. Foster objected to the
! question on the ground Of irreievancy.
/ Representative Campbell. OF counsel for
the memorialists. explained the reason for
the question. Mr.. Foster renewed his OBJ
lection, IL being no evidence he contend
ed, mat Senator Clark rPsorted to bribery.
even 9ngh il were shown that the fnaD-
clal condition Of Mr. Mclaughlin was bet
Ter atter than before the election Of Senator
| Clark
| Mr. Faulkner gave reasons why the de-
fence objected 10 the admission of the eyI-
! dence in question. During the discussion
| OF this point Senator CLARK entered he
I room.
Senator Chandler ruled that the question
/ anu answer 5HoA4Q Dt aQmltfeu. he wit
| ness, Mr.. Stiff, said that Mr. Laugblin
I before the election was impecunious. Mr.
/ Supp said that Mr. Mclaughlin told him
1 this Nj Foster objected TO this as hear
| say Even IL Mr.. Mclaughlin said that he
was bribed this would be evidence against
mclaughlin but not against third person
Executive Session Suggested.
Senator Chandler ruled that the question
was admissible, but at the suggestion of
Senator Hoar, the chairman thought that
The committee should 90 into executive ses-
sion Mr- Campbell thought the question
was not OF sufficient importance to warrant
an executive session. and he therefore
asked that the answer 10 the question as
given 10y The witness be stricken from the
record.
The witness was asked whether he was
approached by anyone with a view 10 the
! oher Ct a bTibe. As he had half answered
; afiirmatively Mr. Foster objected. but the
objection was Oyerruled by Senator Chand-
Ter The witness said he was approached
by W. NJ. Bickford. Of Butte. with an Of
Ter or money for his vote. The witness
said that Mr. Bickford told him what Mr..
Mclaughlin had said TO him about his NC
Laughlin's s. financial condition Mr Eos
| ter objected Mr.. Campbell maintained
that he would show that Bickford was an
MED this and maintained that Senator
Clarks connection With the action should
be shown before the-action was proved.
The defence knew what the testimony
would be, said Mr. Foster II had been
gone over before. Only two men had res-
titled directly that Senator Clark was
concerned in the bribery cases. One OF
these had fed the country after confossing
that he had been paid to give the false tes-
umony. The other was a preacher who
had recently been unfrocked by his con-
gregation- Mr.. Foster argued at length
against the admissibility Of statements
made by certain persons in Montana. per
sons who are not before the committee
and whom the defence has not the power
to crOSs-eXamine.
Mr.. Faulkner argued that the agency
should be proved before the action of al
legged agents should be proved.
Mr. EdmundS, Announcement
Mr.. Edmunds followed Mr.. Faulkner. He
admitted that the memOrialists were not
then striving TO prove the agency of Sena- !
tor Clark, though he hoped to follow uD |
with testimony to show that the purchased |
votes were delivered to Senator Clark and 1
paid for by him.
Senator Chandler again ruled that Mr.. |
Stiff should tell Of the conversation be |
tween blChloIu anu hCLduBnlin concern |
ing the property of the latter The wit 1
ness said he saw sheet OF paper contain /
ing statement Of the property Of Nc /
Laughlin. The witness was asked TO tell /
OF part OF the paper which was cut of 1
by Mr. Bickford and also TO tell what /
statement was written on It, On objec-
ton by Mr.. Faulkner, the question was
ruled out
Mr.; Bickford being present was sworn.
He did Lot recall cutting a part OF the
paper. He did not know where the paper
was Mr.. Stiff was then asked concern
ing the statement contained in the paper.
There was further objection on the part
OF counsel for the defence. Mr. Campbell /
said he meant to prove that Senator Clark /
bought McLaughlin's property for S25 900.
an excessive price and gave him a posi-. /
ton as mill superintendent at 81 200 n /
year. with the understanding that he Me
Laughlin) would vote for him CLARK for
United States Senator.
Mr. McLaughIin's Property.
Mr.. Stiff said that Mr.. Bickford told
him that Senator Clark was to buy Mr.. /
McLaughlin's property in consideration of
Mr.. McLaughlin's voting for him for Sen
ator. He thought the property was worth
$500 or $4,000. The witness was called
upon II identify copies of the deeds GIVEN
by Mclaughlin and his wife 10 sepa1nr
Clark Biekford, the witness said receiv-
ed $500 for examining the title Mr. stir
said that so would have been a liberal
fee.
Mr.. Stiff was next asked as 10 conve-ea
tions which he had with A. b Cook ~
Butte Thee was f,r+bor .hs,o.+..- =