Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1900-02-16
SCORNED A BRIBE
Justice Hunt, Of Montana's Su-
preme Court, Tells How He
Was Approached.
Hundred Thousand Dollars for
Throwing Out the Well
come Case.
Daily and Clark Togethe1r, He Says,
Had Not Sufficient Money
to Tempt Him.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 16.-The senate
committee on elections resumed its in
quiry into the election of Senator Clark
of Montana after respite of 36 hours.
When the committee was called to Sor-
der, it developed that at least two of
the justices of ,ne Montana supreme
court were present, having been sum-
moned by the committee to throw light
upon the Welcome disbarment trial.
Justice Hunts testimony created a
profound impression. He detailed four
different conversations he had had with
his family physician, DR.. William
Tracey of Helena, in two of which he
believed the doctor had attempted to
lay before him a proposition to bribe
him in the Welcome disbarment case,
which was at that time before the court
OF which the witness was member.
How It Occurred.
The first Of these conversations had
occurred on the 9th of last August in
Mr.. Tracey's office. The court had then
held that it had jurisdiction in the dis
barment proceedings and he went to
DR.. Tracey's Office at the invitation of
the latter.
"When went to his Office" said the
witness, CDR. Tracey invited me to a
back room. The doctor said: 4 have a
funny kind of a proposition which has
come up for you The doctor then went
on to tell, according to Judge Hunts
statement, that he (the doctor) was tax
ing an interest in the Welcome case
which he said he understood was largely
matter in the discretion of the mem
bers OF the court, continuing that he
understood the disbarment proceedings
to be political fight largely, and that
while he did not know MIR. Welcome,
he understood he was decent
fellow. Judge Hunt had replied
to all this that while there
was still a large amount of local
discrimination permitted, the case
would have to take it's course the same
as any other case. He himself felt that
it was painful duty, because he knew
Mr.. Welcomes reputation, and alto
gether he would rather avoid it if he
could. DIR. Tracey then said to him,
according to the witness: L don't sup
pose, then, there is any use to lay my
proposision before your Without wait
ing for any formal reply, the witness
said the doctor had proceeded as follows:
'There is party here who had got
100000 and wants to put it up if that
case can be thrown out of court
Hadn't Money Enough.
Justice Hunt said that he had replied
to Mr.. Tracey that mot all the money
in the United and Anaconda mines to-
gether with every dollar that DAILY and
Clark are both worth and all that there
is in the banks would induce 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. - Justice Hunt said he had
then gone to his home, and that about
$50 in the afternoon, DR.. Tracey had
come to his 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 had
replied that he did not believe this to be
true, as he believed both the chief jus
tice and the associate justice, Mr.. Tag
CART, to be men beyond reproach.
Advised a Change of Occupation.
Justice Hunt said that after this DR..
Tracey had made an appeal to him to
get off the bench on account of his
health, he having been threatened with
lung trouble; that the doctor had told
him that II he continued he was sure to
break down, as the position was very
laborious; if he would accept the prop
osition he could take rest, go abroad,
visit the Paris exposition, have nothing
to worry about and thus indefinitely
prolong his life.
Judge Hunt said that he had replied
to this that he appreciated what the
doctor said about the desirability of
getting off the bench, but that he could
not see his way clear to accept the
proposition.
Later, when it had been stated that
the justice would testify before the sem
ate committee that he had been offered
a bribe in the Welcome case the doctor
had said to him:
You know never offered you d
.bribe. and that was only joking in our
conversation concerning the Welcome
case. You know I had no $10o, 900 with
which TO bribe you, and I am not one of
chat kind Of fellows
Ins.iee Hunt said he had replied to