The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1900-02-13
CLARK BRIBERY CASE
"A, j. Steele Testifles to Spending
All Kinds of Big
Money
in BEHALF OF CLARK
Some of 1t Went to Great Falls
Wliitcsidc U1bOsOmed
Himself.

Washington, Feb. S.-Senator Clark's
managers occupied the witness stand
throughout the day III the investiga.
tion by the senate committee on priv.
iliges and elections into the election Of
the senator for Montana. Mr.. Biokford
concluded his testimony, and was fol.
lowed in succession by Frank Corbett,
Clark's principal counsel IN Montana.
ex.Cov. 3. r. Hausef, A. j. Davidson,
aud A. j. Steele. Davidson and Steele
were identified with Mr.. Clark's cam.
paign, Davidson being IL Of the COM
Mittee Of three who had had the money
supply in charge. He said he had spent
3 5000 in the campaign for CLARK. His
expenditures were all legitimate.
Hausers testimony referred, to the use
Of money in Montana politics. He
claimed to have been instrumental in
getting Clark to enter the senatorial
race, saying Clark had been loath to
do 80. because OF the expense. Hauser
said that in the neighborhood Of a mil
lion dollars had been spent in the fight
aver the location Of the capital in that
state.
Washington, Feb. "a. j.. Steele
was ss.examined in the Clark case
tday. Flo said he had partici pnted in
the fall campaign Of 1898 with Clark's
friends. He had made Il trip to Great
Falls before the legislative election,
also another II after the election. On
the first trip he had taken $500 which
Davidson had gwen, and on the second,
$500. Davidson also had given him
money for expenses incurred in other
trips made throughout the state. Wit.
ness said that Mt the time he was a
bankrupt, having failed In businss.
He had kept NJ account Of expendi.
lures, but whenever he wanted money,
he went to either Mr.. Davidson or to
Welcome. During the sitting Of the
Legislature he had received 81. 900 from
Davidson and %, 900 to 10000 from
Welcome. The largest sum obtained
from Welcome at any time was 81, 900,
which had been given him after the
senatorial election, when Welcome had
handed him a roll Of bills telling him
to pay his debts aud keep the rost. He
had received 80, 900 from Welcome
after the investigation by the grand
jury.
Mr.. Steele CAV the committee a par
tial list Of persons to whom he had paid
money in sums Of 800. they being per.
sons working IN the interest Of CLARK
for the senate. Referring to the visit
made at Helana by Representative
Carr, prior to the meeting Of the legis.
lature MI. Steele said In reply to SEN
ator Turley that his representation to
Carr, that be wanted to see him about
bounty scalps was all a pretext; that In
reality he had desired to see him IN
Olark's interest as q senatorial oandi.
date. He had, however. not urged the
matter when he found that Carr was
inclined to support Conrad. In reply
to questions from Senator Burrows,
Steele said that during the campaign
and the sitting of the Legislature he had
received $l0, 900 or $l2, 900 for the use
IN politics, and that he had paid all Of
the sum except 5000 o $500 which he
had kept.
While Steele wal on the stand the
propriety Of the use Of a report made BY
Attorney General Nolan, Of the pro.
oeedings Of the Lewis and CLARK county
grand Jury In the Montana supreme
court was raised. Foster. Of Senator
Olark's counsel expressed himself
strongly IN opposition Of this revelation
Of the secrets Of the grand jury room,
Attorney General Nolan was present
and volunteered to make a statement
but he was not permitted to do SO, the
committee deciding the matter as not
material.
State Senator W. L. Tierney of
Broadwnter county was questioned es-
pecially concerning his financial condi.
ton prior to and since his election to
the senate to meet the testimony Of
Dolenty, a banker Of Townsend. Mont,
to the effect that Tierney had paid of
q large Indebtedness to his bank since
the adjournment Of the legislature. and
shown many other evidences of i'm.
proved financial condition. Tierney
said that he had been instrumental in
organizing the State Bank of Town
send. and that he had paid his In.
debtedness ut Dolenty's bank by trans
IT to the other bank. He said
he had also sold more or less property.
The witness said that he had consid.
cred himself worth about $50, 900 be-
fore the meeting Of the legislature and
that there lad been no material in.
since, He also said that Senator
Clark had not been instrumental IN
the organization of the new bank at
The notes owed at the
bank were not his individual notes, but
wers given BY Arms In which he was
Interested.
The committee adjourned until to.
morrow afternoon before he had con.
4 aANcHMAN rEsr!Ees.
)oyo III Aeatstud In EIeOtjON Qf Whtteside