The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-02-08
ONE OF CLARK'S AGENTS
MIR. BICKFORD's TESTIMONY BE-
FORE THE SENATE COMMITTEE.
He Says He Returned $1,000 That
Could Not Be Used I'm the Montana
Senatorial Fight.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7.-walter NJ.
Bckford was practically the only witness
before the Senate committee on elections
to-day in the Clark investigation. He was
one of Senator Clark's special friends in
the last Montana senatorial campaign. Mr..
Bickford contradicted much of the testi-
mony of Speaker Stiff. Senator Myers,
Representative Sullivan, DR.. Ector, Mr..
Cowen and others. He. however. admitted
rendering to DR.. Ector $1,000 with which to
lift the Indebtedness of Representative
Woods, of Rovelli county. saying that he
had not intended that Mr.. Woods should
know of his doing this and that his only
purpose was to control the debt so that the
DAILY people could not get hold of 1t and
thus force Woods into voting contrary to
his inclination He received the money
from Senator Clarks son, and when it
was not accepted for Mr.. Woods by DR..
Ector he had returned it to Mr.. Clark. Mr..
Bickford also explained the purchase Of
timber land owned by Representative Nc
Laughlin prior to the meeting of the Legis-
lature. He contended that the property
was worth more than had been paid for it
and that the timber was necessary in Mr..
Clark's business. In his deal with Mr.. Nc
Laughlin witness had never talked with
him concerning the senatorial situation
nor tried to influence him in that connec-
ton to vote for Mr.. Clark.
Senator Turley expressed interest in the
expression in one of Ector's letters to
Bickford that it was we'll to get the
strings on our friend"
at is all explained in the last two lines
of the doctors letter. said Senator
Chandler interrupting. He says there:
4 will keep you posted in this fight for
true Democracy" (Laughter1
Mr. Bickford said he did not know what
DR.. Ector meant by the expression. He
recalled the conversation with Representa-
tive Sullivan. of Granite county, to which
that gentleman had testified, but his ver-
sion was very different from that given by
Mr. Sullivan. Bickferd said he had gone
to see Sullivan at the latter's solicitation
to talk over the senatorial situation. Sulli-
van then said to him that there ought
to be some money in the senatorial fight"
for him, adding that he thought he ought
to have about $4,000. Il told him." said
Bickford. that this was nonsense; that
he was a Democrat and ought therefore
to vote for Clark; that If he wanted money
he would have to see some one else"
Mr.. Bickford also denied promising State
Senator Myers to get him a position in
connection with Mr.. Clark's mines at
Bridges He admitted that he had talked
with Myers on the subject, but said the
matter had not been pressed on either side.
Or. Minshall had suggested Myers's en-
ployment.
CRoss-ExAMINATION
On cross-examination Mr.. Bickford said
he did not know how Charley Clark had
happened to send check for $500 to Sena-
tor Myers. 1t had been sent without his
knowledge. He pronounced as Incorrect the
report of the testimony taken before the
grand jury of Lewis and Clark county.
saying that it was got up to influence
the Senate committee.
Mr. Bickford said he had returned the
$1,000 obtained to lift Mr.. Woods's mort
gage to Charley Clark after DIR. Ector had
declined to receive it. Ector had told him
there was no further necessity for the
transaction, as Days friends were MAX
ing no further effort to control Woods by
this means.
Reverting to the work done by Cowen.
the witness said he had paid Cowen out OF
his own pocket He said he had been en-
July. 1898, but was not permanently en-
gagged until the fall of thai year.
Ibid you get a retainer at that timer
asked Senator Burrows. ie
Il did.
How much?''
81 am not going to tell ydN."
when the year was up were you again
retained?" .aar,efsss
Il was" -
eat the same rate?"
AT an increased rate.
Mr.. Bickford said he had been reim'
bursed by William McDermott. who was
looking after the campaign In the interests
of Mr.. Clark, for his expenditures during
the campaign, but ne could not be sure OF
the amount. During the session of the
Legislature he had spent 5000 In Mr.. Clark s
interest. This money had been supplied by
Mr.. McDermott. He had PAID MS own ex-
penses.
In response to questions from Mr.. Chand-
Ter, Bickford stated that all told, he had
received about s.. 500 for counsel fees since
his first employment, and he insisted that
he had never been employed in any other
capacity than professionally by Mr.. Clark.
Whatever else i may have done for him.
he said Il did of my own accord He did
not consider himself an agent for Clark.
he said he had not brought his bank book
with him, not supposing that the commit
tee would desire to enter into an investi-
CATION of his modest bank account. II did
not consider 1t either the committees duty
or privilege to do So" he added
Mr.. Bickford said he had talked with Mr..
Clark only two or three times about the
senatorial election and had no converse
ton with Clark concerning Representative
Woods. Later, when a letter from Senator
Clark was produced, he said this was only
with reference TO Ector's services In the
campaign. He thought Senator Clark had
written TO Ector in very general terms, as
he often wrote 20 correspondents
During the day the committee formally
declined for the present TO allow the de-
Tense to go into the campaign of 1893