Omaha daily bee., 1900-01-24
HE ADMITS SEEKING BRIBES
Letters of DR., Ector Introduced in Clark
Investigation.
IDENTIFIED BY WRITER UNDER OATH
Witnesses for Prosecution Absent
Committee Adjourns Until Monday
Clark Witnesses May Tes-
tify at Next Meeting.
Telephones sis.69l

WASHINGTON, Jan. 2S.-The senate COM
mittee on privileges and elections today ad-
journed over until Monday in, its investiga-
tions of the charges against Senator Clark
of Montana. Witnesses for the prosecution
were absent and Senator Faulkner, for the
defense indicated a desire that none of
those who are to be called as witnesses on
that side should testify until the prosecu-
ton had completed its case. While no pos
tive statement was made to this effect, the
committee indicated quite positively that
the Clark witnesses might be called by the
prosecution after Monday.
The principal witnesses were Mr.. Ector
recalled, and State Representative Fine. The
latter, though friend of Clarks, gave tes-
tinony frot which the prosecution evidently
derived much satisfaction. He said that he
had received about S., 900 from Clark since
the adjournment of the legislature in work.
ing up testimony looking to the disbarment
OF Senator Clark's namesake, State Senator
Clark of Madison county, who voted in op-
position to the senator
Some OF the letters written by DR.. Ector,
the Missoula dentist, to Senator Clark of
Montana, which have been missing for
week or ten days, have arrived and were
today presented to the committee
The days session was opened by the
reading of dispatch from Columbus. O.,
saying that the absent witness, Murphy,
had been in that city last week In reply
to inquiries, Faulkner and Hartman both
said they knew nothing as to the where
abouts of Murphy.
Tilt Between Ex-SenatOrs.
The presentation of the Ector letters was
not accomplished without a tilt betwesn the
tpru
who are engaged as counsel on the two sides
of the controversy. Faulkner sGid that two
of the letters had failed to arrive in the
package first received from Butte, but that
he had wired Root to make a search fer
them, and II they could be found to for
ward them. Edmunds wanted to know who
Root was and said that, so far as appeared
here, the postmaster or the street inspector
of Butte might as well be asked to supply
letters. Had Faulkner opened the letters
Faulkner replied that he had not opened
them, but that all the letters bearing on the
investigation were there. Charles w. Clark
substantiated Faulkners statement, saying
that all the Ector letters received were here
presented. The letters were then read
There were five or six of them to Bickford
and four to Clark and all were identified by
Ector, who was again placed on the stand
tho November election of 1898. They were
dated at Stephensville and related to the
contest. In these he stated that the opposi- !
ton to Woods, the candidate for the house |
that he was supporting, were working like |
fury and that the Clark men need some |
encouragement"
"ReIuircs the stuff"
ITO make thorough canvass of the 1000
voters OF the county requires the stuff" he
said, and he added that he wanted at least
$500. The next two letters of date respec-
lively November II and u, just after the
legislative election, referred to the efforts !
to bold Wood and of the opposition to hold |
him. In these he told OF Woods debts and |
said that Wood had agreed to be bound by
whatever he did in the premises.
The later letters from December I, 1898 to
October 3d. 1899 related almost entirely to
Ectors efforts to collect what he thought
was due TO him for his efforts in Senator
clarks behalf. In December he wrote Clark
saying he did not know to whom he must
apply for his dues. 'Of course" he said
II am after what there is in it for me-"
On March he wrote Bckford asking him
about the 10 per cent of his (Blckford's) re-
ceipts from Clark which he (Ector) consid-
cred he was TO have, II was also in March
Ita' ne wrote MS second letter to Clark. In
this letter he reviewed AZ length his efforts
IN Clark's behalf, expressing his continued
Ioyalty to Clark and his determined opposl-
ton to Dalyism. "If you strike while the
iron is hot he wrote, you can stampede
he Irish king"
Refused Daiy's OGer,
He also said in this letter that two OF
Days men had promised s. 900 to him dur
ing the senatorial contest for Information as
TO Clarks movements. but that he had re-
fused TO entertain the OFFER. In the follow
ins July he wrote TO Bickford saying that he
had come to the conclusion that it was use
less TO depend upon receiving anything
through Bickford. He had, he said, another
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