The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-02-17
DBNIALS FROM ER. CLARK
His Evidence in the Montana Sena-
tOrial Investigation.
The sworn Statements Of Whiteside
and Hewitt EmphRticHIIy Contra
rcitimate Campaign PuTpOses-NO
Knowledge of the Sale OF Votes.

took the stand in his own defence. before
the Committee on Privileges ard E,e- tins
Of the Senate, today. He told the story
Of his connection with Montana politics,
and Of his participation in the Senatorial
campaign of 1893. in a straightforward
manner, which convinced those who heard
him that he had nothing to conceal
The white winter day had a depressing
effect on the attendance at The now famous
enquiry The FIRST member Of the Com
mittee on Privileges and Elections Of the
Senate to appear upon the scene was Sen
ator Chandler, the chairman. This has
been Mr.. Chambers habit since the in
ves,igauou was begun six weeks ago.
One OF the early arrivals was Judge
Pieott Of the Supreme Court OF Montana
who appeared as witness on Thursday
night. Former Senator Faulkner came
soon after and jCyulaIly cnQu.Ted Of Seua-
tor Chandler as to his humo-. Attorney
General Nolan then Joined tle group. end
there were soon added TO the company
Representative Campbell, -ounsei-in-chief
against Senator Clark. former Representa-
tive Hartman. and A. 4. BiTney. associate
counsel for the memoriaIists. These men
clustered around the cak logs that blazed
beneath the great mirror az the west end
Of the council chamber and discussed the
amusing testimony Of certain Witnesses
with rare good nature.
Mr.. Foster. associate counsel for Senator
Clark. entered al 1890 win his familiar
yellow valise. After him came former
Senator Edmunds. consulting counsel for
/ The memCralists. and little later Senators
TurIey and Pettus arrived While await
I ing The arrival Of yhe OtGeT members OF
: he committee large number OF The usual
{ spectators came in- There were DT. ErrOr
| OF Missoula. Henry S;n. Speaker o. The
/ Montana House OF Representative Mr.
/ Day OF Helena. Mr.. Cooper, and many
{ others
Justice PfgO1t-S Testimony.
Justice Pirott returned to the stand to
. make an immaterial correction in the re-
+ port Of the testimony which he gave on
! Thursday evening He said Ae did not adj
. wise Justice Hun, 90 cause criminal pro-
/ cecdinCs 20 De Instituted against Dr. Ira
Z cey- OF Helena. fDr having suggested that
. the supreme Court might make 100000
I by throwing the welcome disbsrmeut
. case Qua Of court. Judge TisCtr said Jrdss
. Hunt discussed the proprietv of pressing
. q charge OF bribery against DR. Tracey. Ir
was finally concluded that nothing coul3
be said or done concerning Dr. Traceys
alleged indisrrctiCn. The witness Insisted
( hat ar the jime of the occurrence he did
not believe that C1rbeit in his trip o7
I special train from Butte % Helena had an
& unworthy motive. The witness s1id-
'T 10 not believe HoE that Frank Cor
bC-I had any idea uf ccrruptins he SUI
preme Court that Welcome might be saved
from diEbarment."
Judge Piectt said b. did nos answer Mr.
/ Fauiimer's questions as 90 his present be-
} lief concerning CorbetJs motive. because
{ he did not consider a. pertinent and rel
! evant question.
senator PcttUs said he was not willing
that any witness should come here and
state that any evidence before this commit
tee is incompetent
Mr. Faulkner asked. DO you not con-
Z slider that question as competent as any
| other you have answered here
Senator Petlus again objected on the
I ground that the opinion Of the witness
I should not be asked AS TO The competency
of evidence.
a discussion Cusued between counsel and
the committee. Nr. Chandler ruled thai
Mr. Faulbner'S question as TO the relevau
cy of certain testimony might be answered
by the witness Judge Pigotl said that all
the conversation which had occurred be-
tween him and Attorney General Nolan
would have been incompetent had it not
been for the query of the counsel for Seua-
tor Clark as TO the reason he tthe witness
had for suspecjing the sincerity OF Cor.
bett. when he met ihe witness and told HIN
Of the allegations OF bribery which he lCOr-
betD said ne had heard.
Chief Justice BrzntIey.
The next witness was Chief Justic
Brartley. Of Montana. He said he lived q
Helena, was forty-nine years old. a nativ
Of Tennessee and had been a resident @
Montana since 1857. He had been Judge O
the third judicial district Of Montana an
had been chef justice FOR somewhat owe
one year. on August .. 1899. ne was eithe
in Portland. Oregon. OF at Long Beach a
The mouth OF the Columbia River. lie re
called the preliminary decision in the Wei
come case The first decision was in Jul
and the second on August l. 1899. He toll
Of the rules Of the Supreme Court Of Mon
6 tana in dis5arment proceedings. He sal
the rules i'm the Welcome case were adopt
ed more with Z. view to promoting the con
venience OF the accused than with a Vie,
10 following established rules Of court.
Chief Justice Brantley said he had bee
told by Justice Hunt OF the DR.. Trace
? proposition. The witness said the wlol
b | ground was gone over and discussed b
. | himself. Justice Hunt and Justice PigOt
though he said there was no formal confer
| cnce on the subject II was the opinion {
J | the court that no steps would be take
. ! against Tracey. The witness said he ha
known Tracey for several years. He cam
| East from Helena on the same day wit
him and saw him last at Chicago a fe'
; ! days ago.
r. Mr.. Chandler asked the witness abou
| his connection with the Montana Colleg
I | at Deer Lodge. The witness said he wa
a member of the board Of trustees. Senate
: Clark was president Of the board TIL
e ! Rev A. p. Martin was the president
- the college. Chief Justice Brantley naI
- rated a conversation which he had wit
a Martin in Justice Hunts Office. The vii
n ness said;
>, DIR. Martin took from his pocket an
;, handed me a letter which he said va
= from Senator Clark. / diA rot look at ii
o signature. The letter said in substance
e See Judge Brantley and tell him not
D let that good man. that grand man. Wei
@ come be disbarred' l told Or. Marti
/. that I could not influen e the other men
Y bers OF the court even though ! wouI
This case must take its course just III
any other case. There is no prejudi,
l. against Mr.. Welcome He shall have
2 | fair trial on the facts"
If Mr. Burrows asked: you say that whC
DR. Martin came TO see you, there was
door between the Office in which you we
and the Offices occupied by the assOcia
n justices and that you closed that doc
10 Why did you close it?"
because Dr. Martin said he wanted