The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-01-31
AONIlNA'S D[lIOUS WAYS.
ONE LEGIsLAToa rEsTIFIEs HOW
HE Acquired MONEY.
Went TO Heiens Broke and Came
Back with Considerable wealth.
Wen NJ Fare Bank, ON Horse
nnoes and found II In His Room.

hAees and Fonnd It i'm His Room.
WksHINGroN. Jan. so,-Hon. j.. II.
U4iEer, who succeeded Fred Whitesiues
a. state senator in the Montana lesis-
lature when the latter was unseated. was
the first witness today before the senate
committee on privileges and elecuohs III
It's investigation OF the charges against
Senator Clark, of that state.
Mr.. Geiser said he had been the Repub-
lican candidate for the senate from Fiat
head county. He was asked whether ne
had not said In his speech accepting the
nomination that his vote could not ne
purchased for Democrat for the senate
He replied that II was his intension 70
convey the idea that he could not be nan
died" He said that II he sold out he hop
I'd his constituents would take him out
ana hang him. land ] still feel that way,
he said.
He had not said that he would not vote
for any Democrat, but 1t had been his IN
tention to prevent deadlock He had
also said that there were other matters
more important to be brought before the
legislature than the election of some rich
man for senator.
How He Acquired Wealth.
rJpon being questioned concerning his
Z
mated, he said 1t was "just moderate" He
had meen in the hotel business and had
sold out; he could not remember just now
much he received, but after much quess
tioning said he thought the amount was
about s25 He had also received 500 from
kis mothers estate. and had borrowed $500
for the campaign. After he was given
his seat he had voted twice for Leonard
for senator, and then for w. A. Clark.
Mr. Geiger hesitated considerably over
! question as to what money he had de-
oosited in the First National bank at
Kalispell during or since the sitting OF
ne legislature. but admitted that in May
last he bought draft for $500, paying
currency for 1t. He had afterwards, In
August. opened an account at that bank,
depositing $500 in currency In the name OF
1John II. Geiger. agent" Since that time
Ne had made other deposits and had bor-
rcwed from the bank 5000. He had got
I'm the $500 first deposited from several
sources, including $500 or $500 for his serv-
ICES and mileage in the legislature.
His Peculiar Luck at Faro Bank.
asome of 1t got at poker and faro
bank" he said. and added: II don't re-
member whether I won any at poker--my
experience was about even; but at faro 4
1T tS was ss some short Of 5000, but at Hell
enc and Butte together / think I quit
about $500 or 1880 ahead"
YOU were a state senator; did you not
know 1t was misdemeanor to play faro
i well, I was about as conscientious In
hat matter as some other Montana ofi-
Continuing this explanation, he said he
| rad never made any great winning at
enc time, never more than $3.50, but that
the had been uniformly lucky and had
| played often He had also gotten 500 in
money for mining stock sold to Spokane
partics.
/ How do you explain the fact that you
I'd 50 much better luck at faro after +. you s0
d Senator Chandler of Mr.. Geigsr.
why. senator" was the reply. II did
not have. ! lived in Montana twenty-five
years and having fallen Into the ways OF
II he people soon after going there had
frequently, in the early days. won more
fhah did after. my election to the state
tenate. But Libby has no faro bank, and
tIhad not played for some time"
Won Money ON Horse Races.
/ IN explanation where he got the $500 de-
ppeited IN August, he said that while in
Ehoria. nj. he had won $1,000 in day on
Ali told. Mr.. Geiger said he had in his
Irssession $4,000 when he reached Libby,
litter going home from the legislature at
Helena.
Reluctant to Tell All.
| when did you get the amount that
I,ou have not already accounted fort"
Irivate Affairs
DO you decline to tell?'
/ This caused the members of the commits
Itee to put their heads together In consul-
ihtion over the question as to whether
Line witness should be compelled to an
liver At the conclusion of this conference
tNr. Chandler told Mr.. Campbell to pro
Iced with his questions, and informed the
fsitness that he must reply.
| The question as to where the money
lame from was repeated.
Tbs witness gazed at the ceiling for fully
Where did get III. Why. in Helena"
Where did you get 1t from?"
The witness again took long time for
unplying.
well, sir" he said. at last. 81 can't
yinswe."
DO you mean to say that you don't
Z don't know. To De frank. there was
Ways Ss session. Of gsttnF the egs n Msena
ns approached at different times to vote
hr different bills"
Did you make any money in that
fdon't know. never sold my vote, but
got money"
Senator chandler-Now, Mr.. Geiger; the
4ammittee requires you to state from
avaom you got money Go ahead and tell
mat you know"
Found a Large Sum I'm His Room.
70 this the response came quickly. Tho
HfNness said.
! found package in my room contain
NlW and have since used the money.
IN vas the time that the corporation bill,
IN was up. l took the money, put II in
ny pocket and used 1t, and from that time
about it'
IN reply to other questions, he said that
IN mad an idea who left the envelope in
foom but that he did not know. He
%a he said, intended to vote for the
VI anyway.
hls point Mr.. Faulkner. representing
Clark Interest, obtained permission
TASK question.
nM you state he asked, whether
ss,,py aH OF that money was given you by
HEvns connected with Mr.. Clark. or by
ttr M S,afx himself, TO influence your vote
nm LOT United States senatorT
uu while he had permitted the ques-
4. senator Chandler. as chairman OF
committee, instructed the witness that
asea not answer IT at this juncture, and
Ines pfoceeaeu on the Original