The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-01-06
THE CLARK CASE

Under Consideration by the Commit
tee and Arguments of Counsel Pre-
sented-Hsaring of Testimony Be-
gins To-day.
WASHINGTON. D. c., Jan. 5.-The
senate committee on privileges and
elections to-day began its Investigation
Of the charges OF bribery made in con-
nection with the election OF Senator
clark, Of Montana. The proceedings
were begun by arguments from counsel
on both sides. Mr.. Clark himself was
present with his counsel, former sera-
tor Faulkner.
Ex-senator Edmunds appeared as
leading counsel for the compiainants.
He said the oomplalnants expected to
be able to prove all the charges made
and to show that Mr.. CIark's election
was secured by the liberal use Of mo-
ney. and that large sums OF money
were furnished to this end by Clark
He believed these expenditures could
be traced to Mr.. Clark with due effort
ON the part of the committee. He said
he and his associates would ask TO
have a good many witnesses summon
ed.
Mr, Edmunds also said thar the COM
plalnants expected to prove all the
charges made and in doing so would
enter quite thoroughly into the White
side libel case, showing that when Sem
ator clark had an opportunity to mp
pear in court he had refused to answer
any material questions.
While Mr. Edmunds was making his
statement a question arose concerning
the admissibiiity of testimony taken by
the grand jury of Lewis and Clark
counties, in which connection Senator
Mocomas took occasion to intimate
that he would hesitate to admit state
ments purportIng to violate the secrecy
of a grand jury room. Replying, Mr..
Edmunds said the notes on the grand
iury proceeding had been made by At
torney General Nolan and had been
presented and received by the Montana
court in the dIsbarment proceedings
against John B. Welcome.
Mr.. Hoar suggested that the tesu-
mony should be admitted for the tine.
and It's relevancy determined upJn the
fnal decision of the case, This brouEht
out n spirited protest by Mr..
Ropers Foster. OF New York,
who appeared as one OF the coun-
eel for Mr.. CLARK. He urged that such
a eourse was contrary TO the preee-
dents OF the committee; that Mr.. Nolan
was personally autagonistIc to Mr.
clark and that nt best the testimony
was ex.parte. Such a document was
NO more evidence than an Indictment
would be.
Mr.. Clark was not to be expected to
defend his character, but his right to a
-ont in the senate. Referring to the
Montana supreme court, he said there
was politics there as well as elsewhere
in the state. -,
He insisted that Mr.. Clark Should
have a right to face and cross-exnminc
nH witnesses.
Ex-senator Faulkner made the FOR
mai statement on behalf of Mr.. Clark
He reviewed the politics of Montana
referring to the paly gang and the
clark faction in the Democratic poll
tIcs Of the state. 1t was, he said an
acknowledged fact that the opponents
az Mr.. clnrk in the state had deter
mined to prevent his political prefer
mcpt regardless OF all the proprietirs.
n would be shown that notwiths!and-
Ipp that charges were made OF bribery
ngn,nst some ATTY persons, including
tbIrty-eIght members Of the legislature
tberc had been no conviction.
THE prosecution was conceived m
the womb of personal malice, rocked IN
tho cradle OF personal hate, and nour-
ished upon corruption and jealousy
An the members Of the legislative
committee were opposed TO MT. clarN'
outlining the defcnse. Mr Faulkner
tula IL would SHOW that the proceeding
against Mr., Clark had really had their