Omaha daily bee., 1900-02-04
DIRTY LINEN ON THE LINE
fractional Democratic squabble in Montana
Rsplete with Bribery.
WITNESS ADMITS SWEARING FALSELY
Says lie was to Receive Money from
the DAILY Faction, Only "a Part
of which WAS Paid
Him.

first witness in the Clark case today. He
had been summoned by the prosecution. but
they declined to put him on the stand and
he was called by the defense. 1t became
apparent at the beginning that he had been
called to impeach the testimony of Witness
Rector, concerning the alleged efforts to
bride Representative Jaqueth. Rector had
testified that Wright was present when
the money was paid, but Wright denied 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, secretary of
congressman Little. He said he was to
receive 1900 for the affidavit and 81, 600 for
his verbal testimony to be taken later. He
did sign and swear to an affdayit, receiving
$500 for this service. TIE affidavit was read
by Senator Faulkner, and 1t was full of ac-
cusations against members of the legislature,
one of which was to the effect that A. J.
Steele, a friend of Senator Clark, had given
an envelope containing $40, 900 to be given
to Senator Myers for his vote for Mr..
Clark, but that Steele had later come to
him and requested the return of the money.
saying Meyers preferred that Whiteside
should hold it.
Now, Mr.. Wright, is that affidavit true
or false?" asked Senator Faulkner.
1t is false and they knew it was false
at the time it was made" replied the wit
ness. Il did it for what there was in it. 1t
was gotten up to help purify politics.
1T is the statement you swore to-" sug-
sested Senator Turley. and the witness as
sented. He had not intended to make the
same statement he had made in his affidavit
il he had gone on the stand. but he had re-
fused to testify because the 81 900 had not
been paid.
Hn tnCtinnl ftrtha- that ha v.npt IN JJa1ona
to testify in the Welcome disbarment 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 1000 in my hands with my
statement would be worth 800, 900 to Clark"
One of the men in the combination had
broken the agreement and the witness said
he had seen Ben 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 re-
ceived 5000 more and $50 more since his ar
rival.
The witness said that since Hill and him
self had been in Washington they had re-
ceived an offer Of 81, 500 from DR.. Minshall
on behalf Of the prosecution to get out Of
the city.
On cross examination Wright said he had
gone to Helena during the sitting of the
legislature to work for Mr.. Clark for sena-
tor, but he had done most of his work In
the third house" He had received s24O
from Mr.. Steele for this service.
At the afternoon session of the commit
| tee Mr.. Hill continued his testimony con-
corning the dealings Of himself, Wright,
Minshall and Cowen with Congressman
I,-..l .-l Nrl;,..,ln L. r,tI tha,
had paid the various sums of money at
various times.
Admits Having oneyy.
Ibid you not tell me after you arrived in
| Washington that you had held $40, 900 for
Senator Myers?' asked Mr.. Byrney.
81 think l probably did
Don't you knox you did,
mo, | don't know; | don't recollect. |
intended you to understand | had, because /
wanted to get our business fixed up"
In reply to another question he said that
Ben Hill was the only person who had
promised to give him money here.
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 Congressman Campbell and
Mark Hewitt in working up the case against
Mr.. Clark for the past eight months.
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.. Whiteside on the street in Butte
and had told him a lot of id lies After
that he had gone to Campbell's office and
had signed about LOO pages of stuff in
which there was not a word of truth" This
affidavit had been dictated and written by
him.
The affidavit was then read. In it the
witness said he had entered into a combi-
nation to assist in the election of Senator
Clark and that he had committed many acts
looking to the bribery of members of the
legislature to vote for Mr.. Clark for the
United States senate.
In response to a question Mr.. Hill said the
affidavit was false.
When Campbell and Whiteside would see
me talking to a man they would ask me
what the talk was about and | would tell
them according to what money | GOT
Did you get more than $3.50 for your
work. was asked.
Yes, ] got several such sums
Inc WllneSS stated lndl III conversation
with Mr.. Campbell that after the affidavit
was prepared many alterations were made
in the document and that he had suisse
quently given the altered document to MIR.
Campbell.
Mr.. Campbell was asked to produce this al
tered document and said he would try to
find it.
Discredit Their own Testimony.
After Mr.. Faulkner had resumed the in
vestigation Senator Hoar interrupted him
asking him to curtail the inquiry, saying
that after the witnesses own admissions no
statement that he could make would be of
value to anyone.
Mr.. Hill testified to paying $500 for afi-
davits in Missoula, drawing drafts on Mr..
Campbell for the money. Campbell said he
had honored the drafts and would explain
why when he should take the stand.
Concerning witnesses called to Helena to
testify in the disbarment trial, Hill said
there had been an understanding that only
DR.. Mlnshall should go until the 81 500 was
paid each OF them. Whiteeide had given the
money to a man named Harrity for him and
the latter had handed him $500 of this
amount, which the witness said he still had
in his possession, having kept it in order to