The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-02-16
DR.. Tracey Said 10 Have Led the Jur-
list to Believe Mr. Clark Was Ready
to Give Him a Fortune.
WELCOME WAS IN DANGER
AND MIR. CLARK DID NOT WISH HIM
TO BE DIsBARRED.
Judge Hunt Of Opinion that Tracey
Did Not Realize Enormity OF Onense
Judge Piggott's Evidence.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15-Highly sensa-
tional testimony was developed to-day In
the investigation by the Senate committee
on privileges and elections OF the election
of w. A. Clark to the Senate from Mon
tana. Justice Hunt, a Republican member
OF the Montana Supreme Court. testified
that his family physician. DIR. Tracey. had
made what he the justice) regarded as at
tempts to have him consider a ten-thou-
sand-dollar bribe to favor lawyer Well
come, one Of Mr.. Clark's attorneys, in the
disbarment proceedings against Welcome.
The witness did not directly. at least, con-
meet Mr.. Clark with this bribery PROPOSE
tion. so the latter's counsel. ex-senator
Faulkner. moved to strike the whole tes-
timony from the record. but did not sue
ceed. The witness testified that the same
day the attempts to bribe him had
been made similar efforts had been put
forth to reach Justice Piggott, another
member Of the Supreme Court OF Montana.
Counsel for Mr.. Clark cross-questioned
Justice Hunt sharply as TO why he had not
prosecuted the doctor or made a statement
at the time concerning the matter, the re-
ply in substance being that witness felt toe
much humiliated over the proposition and
also believed that DR.. Tracey did not
realize the enormity Of his offense
The committee held a night session. at
which Justice Piggott testified concerning
remarks made to him on two days when
DIR. Tracey had intervisEx with Justice
Hunt. Justice Piggotts statement was.
that Mr.. Clark's leading counsel bad come
to him. and. while apparently under great
excitement, said that he had just been ad-
vised by Mr.. Neill. of Helena, that the su-
preme Court could be unduly influenced In
the Welcome disbarment proceedings, and
wanted to know If II were true and spoke
of denouncing any such attempt Witness
had informed counsel that he never would
hear of such an attempt from him Pig
gotO, for he would kill any one coming TO
him with bribe offer.
JUSTICE HUNTS TESTIMONY.
Justice Hunts direct testimony created
profound impression. He detailed four diff
ferent conversations he had had with his
family physician, DIR. William Tracey. OF
Helena. The first Of these conversations
had occurred on the 5th Of last August. In
DR.. Traceys Office. The court had then
held that it had jurisdiction in the disbar-
ment proceedings, and he went to DR.. Ira
cey's office at the invitation Of the latter.
when went to has Office" said the wit
ness, "Dr. Tracey invited me to a back
room. The doctor said have q funny
kind of a proposition which has come up
for you The doctor then went on to tell.
according TO Justice Hunts statement,
that he (the doctor) was taking interest
in the Welcome case, which. he said. he
understood was not like ordinary cases I'm
court. He had been told. he said. that it
was largely a matter In the discretion OF
the members Of the court, continuing that
he understood the disbarment proceedings
to be a political fight largely, and adding
that while he did not know Mr.. Welcome,
he knew he was a decent fellow. Justice
Hunt said he had replied TO all this TO the
effect that while there was a certain
amount of legal discretion permitted. the
case would have to take its course just as
any other case. He himself felt that 1t
was a painful duty. because he knew Mr..
Welcomes reputation, and altogether he
would gladly avoid IL IL he could. DIR.
Tracey then said 10 him, according TO tbs
witness: az don't suppose there Is any use
to lay my proposition bare TO YOU" With
out, however. waiting for any formal re-
ply, the witness said. the doctor had pro-
ceeded as follows: There is a party here
who has got 100000 and wants 10 put IL up
II that case can be thrown out OF court"
Justice Hunt said he was not certain
whether DR.. Tracey had used the singular
or the plural pronoun In speaking OF the
party-nos sure whether he said he or they.
The justice said he had replied TO Mr.. Ira
cey that mot all the money in the United
and Anaconda mines. together with every
dollar that DAILY and Clark are both worth.
and that there is in the banks. would in
duce me to sacrifice my conscience to the
extent of granting additional time in this
or any other case. The Welcome case must
go forward just as any other case would"
ANOTHER INTERVIEW.
Justice Hunt said he had then gone TO his
home, and that about $50 o'clock In the
afternoon DIT. Tracey had come to hin
house and had sought another interview
with him. saying that he understood that
one OF the Supreme Court justices had been
secured in favor of the proposition which
had previously been made. To this Justice
Hunt said he had replied that he did not
believe this TO be true. he considered
both the chief justice and the associste
justice. Mr.. Piggott, men beyond reproach-
After this Dr. Tracey had taken a memo
randum book from his pocket and appeared
to read from II a memorandum stating that
he Ohe doctor) had understood that Mr..
Daily had assured the reelection OF the
justice. To this Justice Hunt said ne had
replied that DAILY had never assured him
OF anything. He ADDED that DAILY had OPP
posed his original election and that the