The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-13

The Mos;ana Senatorial enquiry was con-
tinued yesterday. The first witness was
David r. Peeler, President Of the First
National Bank of Kaiispell. Flathead
county, Mon. He appeared for Mr.. Clark,
and his testimony was directed to an ac-
count with his bank by John H. Geiser. one
Of the members OF the Legislature. who Is
alleged to have participated In the bribe-
taking. large part Of the examination
was on the subject Of notes given to the
bank by Geiger, and Of the security taken
by the bank for its advances, 1t had only
a remote and indirect bearing on the sub
ject of bribery.
Peeler related several circumstances to
show that whiteside, who has figured so
largely on both sides OF the question. was
Daily or anti-Clark. man, and he spoke
particularly OF a conversation which he
had had with Mr.. Welcome in Helena on
the eve Of the Senatorial election. Well
come asked him what he thought of White
side, and said that he was claiming TO be
Clark man. The witness announced that
he had said whiteside was nominated and
elected as a Daily man, and advised Well
come to leave him alone.
A recess was taken before he concluded
his testimony On the reassembling of the
committee he was recalled to the stand
Mr.. Birney asked:
do you know Representative Bywater?'
The witness replied that he did. and that
Bywater had an account at the bank
The witness was closely pressed for dates
and amounts. but his memory would not
serve him. He could not recall the char
acter of the deposits. They may have been
in currency or in checks. II in checks,
they may have been on Spokane bank or
on the First National Bank OF Helena.
The witness did not think Bywater's &C
count exceeded at any time Sl,50O Peeier
was asked if he had retained Bywater's
deposit slips He thought he had
Ibid your house draw drafts against w.
A. Clark Bros bank at Helena2'
I'VE may have done so: possibly We did"
The witness could not mention any fig
ures or the times at which these drafts
were drawn.
William II. Cochran. editor of the Butte
Bulletin" was the next witness. Re was
examined by Mr. Foster. When asked il
he knew Mark Hewitt. he replied;
Yes: he owed me a bill. | went to
him to collect it. | asked him some
questions about the Senatorial contest.
He said that he had worked for Senator
Clark because he was a Clark man. He
said he had heard stories about the use
OF money, but had seen none OF it. Later
| 1 saw him, and he said Senator Clark's
supporters had gone back on him. He
| said he was coming down to Washington
| to testify against Clark. and for the Daily
side"
Mr.. Campbell cross examined the wit
oil nuf
business some time ago.?
Yes sir: about one month ago"
The witness admitted that he has been
collecting evidence for Senator Clark. He
said he had visited Mr.. Root The witnest
was compelled 70 tell of a conversation
he had overheard in Roots office. He
had heard Root say. Here's the money.
and after you have testified l will give
you the balance He did not see man
to whom Root addressed this remark.
The next witness was Charles W. Hoh-
| man. of Bozeman. Mon. State Sem
ator. He thought a majority OF the Legis-
| lsture was anti-Daly. The witness said
| that the Anaconda Standard printed
| bribery charges before the Legislature met.
| He said that Senator Mats a DAILY man.
| had said to him that before they would
| let Clark go to the Senate the would run
| him out OF the State.
John S. NJ Neil. editor OF the Helena
Independent.' was then sworn. Mr.. Faulk-
ner conducted the examination. Mr..
NeilI told OF various conversations he had
had with Frederick Whitesde After the
| election OF the Legislature Whiteside rep
| resented himself as a Clark supporter.
| Neil said the clark forces won the
! election. and majority OF the Legisla-
ture was against DAILY. He rebutted
whiteside and other witnesses for the
| memorialists at all essential points.
| Neill was ON the stand when the session
was adjourned for the day.