Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1900-01-24
ALL KINDS
OF LIARS
DAILY Appears to Be Outbidding SEN
ator' Clark in the Witness
Market
TESTIMONY FOR CLARK THIS WEEK
Lawyer Cason, Acting as Clark's
Agent, Testified for DAILY, Soldto
Clark and Now Recants.
TES1lMONYFOR CLARK THIS WEEK

The hearing OF the Clark contest
case before the senate committee on
privileges and elections is bringing
out the finest assortment ofliars ever
placed ON exhibition in this country.
Doubtless some OF the witnesses are
telling the truth and nothing but the
truth, but Others have told so many
stories that 1t Is hard to determine
when they even pretend to be truth
full. Lawyer Cason, lately Of Butte,
IL a shining example. He testified
against Clark in the supreme court.
Later he signed letter that he had
lied In his testimony before the court
and expressed deep contrition, this
letter being placed in the hands of
Mr.. Clark's Butte attorney, Mr.. .Roote,
who agreed that 1t should not be
shown to any one save Clark, unless
the signer (Cason) should again tes-
tify against Clark. Now Cason mp
pears in Washington and says what
he told the supreme court was true
and that the ,etter given to Roote was
n falsehood and that Roote paid him
81 800 to leave the state and avoid
the service OF a subpoena to Washing
ton, which he nevertheless did be-
cause Roote had broken the agree
ment and given the contents Of the
letter to the public.
The prosecution announced ut the
close OF the hearing Saturday that
they had completed their case, but
the defense not being ready to pro-
ceed postponement was taken.
The week had not been an enjoyable
one for the Doodle senator. From
the mass of testimony produced we
clip a few paragraphs:
The first witness today was VIM.
j. Cook, treasurer OF the Thomas
lCruse Savings bank of Helena. whu
was questioned concerning the ac.
counts OF A. j. Davidson and Hon. j
X. Toole with the bank. Davidson,
1t was said. was considered to repre-,
sent Clark i'm the campaign, and an
effort was made to show that Clark
money was being used. Cook said
that for five months, ending Febru,
airy 9th last, S2l 800 had been depos
tied In Dayidson's nume and Sl3,OOt
oi this amount came in the shape o
n draft from the bank OF Clark Bros
in Butte, and 81. 800 on n telegraphit
order of transfer from that bank. In
the case OF Toole there was an effort
to connect his withdrawal from the
contest with Clark's name, but Cook
said he knew nothing about politics
Cook had no recollection Of an un
usual number OF thousand dollar bills
In circulation in Helena during the
senatorial contest.
VIM. i. Rector, expert accountant
was the next witness. He stated
having seen several members OF thu
Legislature in rooms In the Power
block and had received Messrs. Steele
Davidson and other supporters d
Clark to discuss ways and meens q
securing votes. He had seen some o.
the money. probably ten Thousand
dollars, passed tn one member. Re
ferring in cross-examinatiOn to hi,
relations with Steele, witness con
tended that the latter was no specia
friend OF his.
"The only sign Of friendship i evel
received" witness said, was that
after he had bought the grand jury
he gave me $50 to watch them"
Rev. i. L. II. Warren, who was
chaplain of the Montana house %
representatives in the last session
was then called. He related the de
tails OF two conversations he hac
with Senator Clark while the legis
laturc was I'm session, and just pre-
vious to the election Of Clark. Hesait
that he had been II supporter o
Clark; that he heard reports that III
was using corrupt means to secur'
his election, aud that he had called
upon him for the purpose Of satisfy
ing himself.
II asked the senator" said the wit
ness, what his prospects OF election
were. Clark replied that they wer'
all right. i will be elected ClarI
said. He spoke assuredly. but sole
he did not want the election until III
could get majority OF the Demo
Gratis. He could, he said, with tn,
assistance of the Republicans. be elect
ed at any time, but he did not sane
ton that way. Clark added tim
the members were coming to him n
the rate OF one or two day. | thel
asked him II he expected any Repuh
llcun votes. He replied that he did
IN q" "o7TA