The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-01-23
MISSING LETTERS.
Important Documents in Clark
Case Turn Up.

Washington, Jan. 23.-Some letters
written by DIR. Ector the Nissoula den
fist to Senator Clark of Montana, which
have been missing for week or ten
days, have arrived and were today pre-
scented to the senate committee on priv
ileges and elections in connection with
the investigation of the charges of bri-
berry made against Mr.. Clark in his
senatorial contest.
The days session was opened by the
reading of a dispatch from Columbus,
o., saying that the absent witness,
Murphy, had been in that city last
week. In reply to inquiries Faulkner
and Hartman both said they know
nothing as to the whereabouts of Muir
ply
The presentation of the Ector letters
was not accomplished without a tilt
between the two ex-senators, EdmundS
and Faulkner who are engaged as cOuD-
sci on the two sides of the controversy
Faulkner stated that two of the letters
had failed to arrive in the package first
received from Butte but that he had
wired Root to make a search for them
and if they could be found to forward
them.
Edmunds wanted to know who Root
was and said that so far as appeared
here the postmaster. or the street in
spector of Butte might as we'll as asked
to supply letters. Had Mr.. Faulkner
opened the letters2
Mr.. Faulkner replied that he had not
opened them but that all the letters
bearing on the investigation were here.
Charles w. Clark substantiated Mr..
Faulkner's statement, saying that all
the FctOr letters received were here
presented. The letters were then read.
There were five or six of them to Mr..
Bickford and four to Mr.. Clark and all
were identified by Mr. Ector who was
again placed on the stand There were
mi fyvp dated nTiOr the No
Vember election of 1898 They were da-
ted at StephenSVille and related to the
contest. In these he stated that the OPP
position to Mr. Wood, candidate for the
house were working like fury and
that the Clark men needed some en-
couragement-" To make a thorough
canvass of the 1000 voters of the coun-
try requires the STUFF and he added
that he wanted at least $500.
The next two letters of date respec-
lively Nov. II and q, just after the leg
islatiye election referred to the efforts
to hold Wood and of the opposition to
get him. In these he told of Woods
debts and said that Wood had agreed
to be bound by whatever he did in the
premises.
The later letters from Dec. Z, 1898, to
October 81, 1898, to Oct 81, 1899. related
almost entirely to Mr. Ector's efforts
to collect what he thought was due to
him for his efforts in senator Clark S
behalf In December he wrote Mr..
Clark saying he did not know to whom
he must apply for his dues.
"Of course he said, I am after what
there is in it for me-" On March 1 he
wrote Mr.. Bickford asking him about
the 10 per- cent on his, Bickford's, re
ceipts from Clark which he (Ector) con-
sidered he was to have" 1t was also
in March that he wrote his second letter
to Clark. In this letter he reviewed at
length his efforts in Clark's behalf ex-
pressing his continued loyalty to Clark
and his determined opposition to Daily
| ism. If you strike while the iron is
| hot" he wrote, you can stampede the
| Irish king" He also said in this letter
that two of Days men had promised
| S., 600 to him during the senatorial con-
| test for information as to Clark's move
ments, but that he had refused to en-
terrain the offer.
In the following July he wrote to Mr..
| Bickford saying that he had come to
| the conclusion that it was useless to de-
| pend upon receiving anything through
| Bickford. He had, he said, another OPP
portunity then to make a stake and he
! did not propose to let that opportunity
go by as he had the opportunity which
had presented itself In the winter be-
| fore.
The last letter of the series was dated
| Oct. 81 last and was addressed to Mr..
| Clark. In this letter he asked if he was
to expect anything. In all the letters he
| pleaded poverty and debt as the con-
| trolling reason for the pressure he was
| trying to bring to bear upon Mr.. Clark.