Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-01-30
GEIGeR FORCED TO TELL
Asked in Clark Committee Hearing Where
He Got His Money
Won Heavily Mt Faro, but Found
Money I'm His RO0m-Did Not
Sell His Vote.

legislature, when the latter was unseated,
was the first witness today before the Sem
ate committee on privileges and elections
in its investigation of the charges against
Senator Clark of that state.
Mr.. Geiger said that he had been the re-
publican candidate for the Senate from
F'lathead county. He was questioned con-
corning his speech of acceptance when
nominated. He was asked whether he had
not said that his vote could not be pur-
chased for a democrat for the Senate, but
replied that 1t was his intention to convey
the idea that he could not be handled -
He had not said that IL he went to the
legislature and voted for democrat he
hoped his constituents would take him out
sold out he hoped that catastrophe would
occur. and still feel that way he said.
He had not said that he would not vote
for any democrat, but, it had been his in
tention to prevent a deadlock. He had also
said that there were other matters more
important to come before the legislature
than the election Of some rich man for the
United States Senate.
Upon being questioned concerning his
financial condition when he was nominated
he said 1t was '.just moderate He had
been In the hotel business and had sold
out; he could not remember just how much
he received, but after much questioning
said he thought the amount was about SIS
He had also received $500 from his mother S
estate and had borrowed $500 for the CAM
paign.
After he was given his seat he had voted
twice for Leonard for senator and then for
W. A. Clark.
When asked as to what money he had
deposited in the First National Bank at
ka11spel during or since the session of the
legislature, he said that in May last he had
bought a draft for $500. paying currency
for 1t. He had afterward, in August,
opened an account at that bank. depositing
IN NtJr to-
Geiger, agent" Since that time he had
made other deposits and had borrowed
from the bank $1,000 He had gotten the
$500 first deposited from several sources.
including $500 or 5000 for his service and
mileage in the Legislature
Won at Faro.
Some of it I got at poker and the faro
bank" he said, and added: 4 don't re-
member whether 1 won any at poker-my
bank did,
Did you win $1,000 at faro?
1T was some short of $1,000: but at
Helena and Butte together 1 think dhlit
about $1,000 or $1,sO0 ahead"
You were state senator; did YOU not
know 1t was misdemeanor to play faroY'
well, 1 was about as conscientious in
that matter as some other Montana off,
GALS
Continuing this explanation he said he
mad never made any great winning at one
time, never more than $3.50, but that he had
been uniformly lucky and had played often.
He had also gotten 500 in money from
mining stock sold to Spokane parties.
How do you explain the fact that you
had so much better luck at faro after
you entered the legislature than before?'
asked Senator Chandler of Mr.. Geiger.
Why, senator" was the reply, II didn't
have. I had lived in Montana twenty-five
years. and having fell into the ways of the
people soon after going there 1 had fire.
quentiy in the early days won more than I
did after my election to the state senate.
But Libby has no faro bank and I hadn't
played for some time
In explaining where he had obtained the
$500 deposited in August he said that while
in Peoria, ILL.,, he had Won 81 600 in a day
on horse race.
All told, Mr.. Geiger said he had in his
possession 5000 when he reached Libby
after going home from the legislature at
Helena.
Where did you get the amount that you
have not already accounted for?'
Il can't tell without uncovering my pri-
vate affairs"
DO you decline to tell?"
This flat refusal caused the members of
the committee to put their heads together
in consultation over the question to
whether the witness should be compelled to
answer.
Witness Ordered to Tell.
At the conclusion of this conference Mr..
Chandler told Mr.. Campbell to proceed
with his questions and informed the wit
ness that he must reply.
The question as to where the money came
from was repeated. The witness gazed at
the ceiling for fully five minutes and at last
said: Where did I get 1t? Why, in Hele-
ma"
Where did you get it FROM
rIa xIritn ac1in mol LONE for
reply. well, SIR he said at last, Il can't
answer"
know?'
Il don't know. To be frank, there were
other ways of getting money in Helena
during the session of the legislature.
was approached at different times to vote
for different bills
did you make any money In that way?"
81 don't know. l never sold my vote,
but l got money"
By Senator Chandler Now. Mr. Geiger,
the committee requires You to state from
whom you got money. Go ahead and tell
what you know
Found n Package in His Room
To this the response came quickly. The
witness said: Il found package in my
room containing s1,1O0, and 1 have since
used the money 1t was the time that the
corporation bill 1872 was up. 1 took the
money. put 1t in my pocket and used it
and from that time to the present have
never said word about it,
In reply to other questions, he said that
he had an idea who left the envelope in
the room, but that he did not know. He
had. he said, intended to vote for the bill
anyway.
At this point Mr.. Faulkner representing
the Clark interest, obtained permission to
ask question. viii you state" he asked.
whether any part of that money was
given you by any one connected with MIR.
Clark or by Mr.. Clark himself to influence
your vote for him for United States sena-
tor?"
But while he had permitted the question,
Senator Chandler, as chairman of the COM
mittee instructed the witness that he need
not answer it at this juncture, and the ex-
animation proceeded on the original lines.
In reply to questions witness said he had
been told that he could get 81 600 or 81, 200
for his vote in opposition to the bill, but ne
declined to tell who had made the sugges-
ton on the ground that it would incrmi-
nate himself. Al this point the committee
took a recess until 2:15 pm.
STATE OFFICERS REELECTED.