Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-01-06

speaker Of the Montana house of repre-
sentatives, was the first witness in the
Clark case before the senate committee
on privileges and elections to-day.
Representative Campbell of Montana.
questioned Stiff and his questions were
directed to showing that the embarrassed
financial condition of State Representa-
tive Mclaughlin had been taken advant-
age Of by Senator Clark to approach him
to secure his vote, and also that Stiffs
own vote had been improperly solicited.
Stiff stated he knew Mclaughlin was
in distressed financial circumstances
prior to the meeting Of the legislature.
He also stated that he himself had been
approached by William Bickford, as the
representative of Mr.. Clark, ana mis- sup
port solicited for the latter.
Questions bringing out this information
We're all objected to by the defense who
insisted that Mr.. Clark must be directly
connected with all transactions with
which it was sought to connect his name.
The reply was that his connection would
be shown over Mr.. Clark's signature.
The questioning of Mr.. Stiff was then
directed toward showing that Bickford
had sought to secure Stiffs services to
examine title to property to be purchased
by Clark from Mclaughlin for $4,000,
part of the consideration on McLaugh-
Inns part being, Bickford specified, that
Mclaughlin should support Clark for
the senate. Stiff testified to the correct
ness of this outline and added that Bick-
ford had tolu him that he (Scaff) should
when IS would have been good fee; that
hi Mt fo6 Ia r1x n6
that he should be put on Clark's list Of
attorneys for number of years. Bick-
ford had in this connection exhibited a
list of the property to be sold by Nc
Laughlin with the prices to be paid,
which were in excess of the value of the
property. and this property was after
wards conveyed to Clark.
Mr.. Stiff also stated that the agreement
with Mclaughlin provided that he was
to be employed by Clark for two years
at 81, 400 year and that Mclaughlin had
since been employed in this connection.
He also said that Mclaughlin had voted
for Clark. Witness stated that in an.
other conversation with Bickford a week
prior to the nesting of the legislature the
latter had offered him $4,000 If he would
withdraw from the contest for the
speakership.
Stiff also detailed conversation with
Mr.. A. B. Cook, former state auditor. who
had offered him $4,000 to vote for Clark.
II made no definite reply" said Stiff,
because I wanted to further Investigate
what was going on. I told him that II
Clark really wanted to secure my vote he
could afford to pay more than $4,000 and
suggested $4,000. saying did not want
this to be understood as an offer on my
part Cook said he would see Clark and
we agreed to meet again that day.
did not however. see him again on this
subject"
He also said that as speaker in select
ing the committee Of investigation in the
Clark matter he had not known all the
members selected were unfriendly to
Clark.
Replying further to questions concern
ing his suggestions of $4,000 as the price
that Clark should pay for his vote. he
said: ~
II believe was perfectly justified in
doing what did. considered that .
most outrageous crime was being perpe-
trated and was willing to act the part
of detective"