Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-02-03
Afldavits Declared by Their Makers
False.
DEFENSE: m 1.-THE CLARK Case
l. L. Wright y and Ben Hi|l on
IS the Stand,
MONEY FOR TESTIMONY


day. He had been summoned to Washing
ton by the prosecution, but it had declined
to put him on the stand, and he was called
by the defense.
1t became apparent at the beginning of
Mr. Wright's statement that he had been
called to impeach the testimony of the
witness Rector, concerning the alleged eff
forts to bride Representative Jaqueth. Rec
tor had testified that Wright was present
when the money was paid, but Wright de-
MED this. The witness also testified to
having agreed to give an affidavit and to
TESTIFY IN the Welcome disbarment trial at
the instance of Ben Hill and Mr.. Little, sec
rotary of Representative Campbell. He
said he was to receive $50 for the affidavit
and $1,000 for his oral testimony to be
taken later. He did sign and swear to an
amdavit, receiving $500 for this service.
The AFFIDAVIT was read by Senator Faux
ner, and 1t was full of accusations against
members Of the legislature, one of which
was to the effect that A. J. Steele friend
of Senator Clark, had given him an en-
veiope containing $4,000 to be given to
Senator Myers for his vote for Mr.. Clark,
but that Steele had later come to him and
Myers preferred that Whiteside should hold
1t =
i Now. Mr.. Wright, Is that affidavit true
or false?" asked Senator Faulkner.
Says the AFFIDAVIT Is False.
+ ut is false. and they knew it was false
at the time 1t was made" replied the wit
ness. 81 did It for what there was in 1t.
1t was-getten up to help purify politics.
1T Is the statement you swore to- sug-
gested Senator Turley, and the witness as
scented. He had not intended to make the
same statement he had made in his aft
davit If he had gone ON the stand, but he
had refused to testify because the 81
had not been paid.
He testified further that he went to
Helena to testify in the Welcome disbar-
ment case, but that he and three other
witnesses had an agreement not to testify
until the money was paid. The prosecution
had refused to pay him until after he went
on the stand, Saying that $1,000 In my
hands with my statement would be worth
$4,000. to Clark, ~ 80. -.
One of the men in the combination had
broken the agreement and the witness said
he had seen Ren, Hill offer him $500, which,,
however, Hill had asked to be allowed to.
hold The witness said he had received.
S12o from Days! friends at Helena, and
that just before starting to Washington he
had received $500 more and $50 more since
his arrival. >. s f:.... -
offered Money to Leave Town. e.
The witness said that since Hill and him
self had been in Washington they, had re-
eeived an offer Of 81 800 from DIR. Minshall
on behalf OF the Prosecution, to get out Of
the city. r.. -
On cross-examipaa Wright said he had
gone to Helena during the sitting of the
Legislature to work for Mr.. Clark for sena-
tor. but he had dane most of his work in
= the thirds hoiise8 He had. received $24o
from, Mr.. Steele for this, service. :.
; did ypu not tell me, after You arrived in
Washington, that you had held $4,000 for
Senator Myers?', asked Mr.. Birney.
II think probably'T did,
Don't you know yeu did?o
mo. 1 don't know; don't srecoliect. Il
INTENDED you to understand that had, be-
cause wanted to. get our business fixed
up - 80 y.
/; In reply,.to another question he said that
Ben Hill was the only person who had
promised to give him money here. -:..s
Ben Hill Testffes. =.
|. When Mr.. Wright was excused Ben HILL
also of Missoula. was called. He had been
excluded from the committee room while
Wright was testifying, because the two
men had been associated in all their efforts
In connection with the senatorial race and
since the adjournment of the legislature
He said on his direct examination he had
been connected with Representative Camp.
bell and Mark Hewitt in working up the
case against Mr.. Clark for the past eight
months. "a. --'
He had just been down to Bridger. he
said, for Mr.. Clark-for which he had re-
ceived $3.50 from that gentleman-when he
met Mr.. Whitesfde on the street in Butte
and had toll / him a lot of id lies"
After that he had gone to Campbell's Of
fee and had signed about seventeen pages
of stuff in which there was not word of
truth" This affidavit had been dictated
The affidavit was then read. In 1t the
witness said that he had entered into
combination to assist in the election of
Senator Clark and that he had Committed
acts looking to the hrihorv Of
bers of the legislature to vote for Mr.. Clark
for the United States Senate.
Another False AFFIDAVIT.
In response to question, Mr. Hill said
the affidavit was false.
When Campbell and Whiteside would
see me talking 10 a man they would ask
me what the talk was about, and 1 would
tell them according to what money 1 got"
Did you get more than $3.50 for your
work?" was asked.
Yes; got several such sums"
The witness stated that in conversations
with MIR. Campbell after the affidavit was
the document, and that he had subse-
quenuy given the altered document to Mr..
Campbell.
Mr.. Campbell was asked to produce this
altered document, and said he would try
/ After Mr.. Faulkner had resumed the in
vestigation Senator Hoar interrupted him.
asking him TO curtail the inquiry, saying
that after the witness own admissions no
statement that be could make would be of
Mr.. Hin tsstiasdnto paying $500 for attl-
Gavits In M1 d ,h drawing drafts on Nj
he had hon2fed dbe drafts and would ex-
plain why wflen. he should take the stand. :
+ Agrdement of witnesses.s ~, =
|, Concerning wftffsses called to Helena to