The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-09

Frederick whiteside, of Flathead county,
Montana, star witness Of the memorialists
against Senator William A. Clark was un-
der examination before the Commit
tee on Privileges and Elections of the Sem
ate yesterday from 10 TO O'Clock. His
inquisitor was former Senator Faulkner,
and his questioning was of the seyerest
and most searching kind.
The cross examination was considered a
victory for the defence. even though Mr..
Whiteside is a shrewd man and has been
on the witness stand at least twice before
on the subject Of the present enquiry. The
claim of the witness, made under direct
examination, that in his alleged expose
of bribery in Montana he had been actuated
by a strictly moral purpose appeared TO
have the usual animus. He was proved 10
be bitter enemy of Senator Clark and TO
have made a speech in the Montana Senate
directly after the election directing his ef-
forts to defeating the political ambitions of
Senator Clark. He was shown to be favor
able to the DAILY faction. He admitted that
he is under an information in Flathead
county charging him with having offered a
bride TO the deputy auditor of that county
election returns.
When the committee adjourned at 5
O'Clock Mr.. Whiteside was still in the wit
ness chair. and il is possible that his cross
examination may not be completed today.
The witness was first asked about his re-
lations with Mr.. Welcome, Charles W.
Clark and others of the Clark forces.
Ibid you tell Mr.. Neill, Charles W. Clark.
or your brother. that you were a firm sup
porter OF Senator Clarke" asked Mr.. Faux
ner.
mo, sir"
WAS 1t your purpose TO expose bribery
when you went to the Legislature
1T certainly was" answered the witness.
Mr. Whiteside then proceeded TO tell OF
corruption, but was stopped and confined
10 answers TO the questions.
when did you form the scheme that you
say you put into operation TO expose brib.
ery?"
81 cannot say
WAS 1t prior to your arrival at Helena
or subsequently
II had formed the determination prior
10 going TO Helena, but had not formu.
lated the plan"
The witness was asked IL he did no;
seek 10 ingratiate himself in the graces Of
the Clark forces by falsebood and deceit |
The witness replied TO this with difficulty |
What is a lie?" asked Mr.. Faulkner.
"A lie is a falsehood told TO a person who |
has the right 10 know the truth
Then you do not believe that mis-
statement intended 70 deceive a person 10
q lie?'
NO, sir
What are your relations with Marcus
Daly?''
Il am acquainted with him. though ] I
cannot say that be is a friend of mine; !
though ] should feel proud if ] might cali |
him my friend" answered the witness.
did you receive from Mr.. DAILY $685. |
600 or from anybody. as compensation for |
this pretended expose of the alleged brib-
ery?" asked Mr.. Faulkner.
No sin"
The witness said that the investigation |
into the charges OF bribery was conducted |
by the friends and enemies OF Senator
Clark alike, but under severe /
cross-examination by Mr.. Faulkner,
the witness could not name I
friend of Senator Clark who took
part in that affair. The witness said that
no honest man in the Legislature could
have voted for Senator Clark after hearing
the testimony
Then you are the honest man and re-
former of mems morals, while the fifty
four members of the Legislature who did
vote for Senator Clark were all dishonest
mem" asked Mr.. Faulkner.
The witness, after considerable hesita-
ton. said he believed the other ffty-four
were dishonest men.
Before the investigating committee OF
the Montana Legislature Mr. Whiteside
had testified that he believed four members
of the Legislature giving their namos)
had been bribed by the agents of Senator
Clark. II was shown that of these only
one voted for Senator Clark
These are the only men then whom YOU
would say OF your own personal knowledge
were guilty Of bribery" asked Mr. Faux
ner
Yes. sir"
Then the attacks that you have made
against the character OF fifty-iour mem
bers OF the Legislature were made rot en-
your personal knowledge. but on what you
bad heard or on what you thought?'
And from the testimony Of other men,
said the witness.
The witness said that he had in this in
restigation paid his own personal expenses
He came In obedience to process Of the
Senate.
Who pays the attorneys in this case?"
asked Mr.. Faulkner
Mr.. Campbell has taken up subserip-
Jon for this purpose
DO you know who the subscribers are?"
Il know some Of them
is Mr.. DAILY one?"
He is
Senator Faulkner asked: You do rot
know really that any Of the men you have !
named as being bTibed, were bribed. do c
your"
Only as have testified / have given ,
you the statements made to me by Mr.. :
Welcome; you can take them for what !
hey are worth"
Have you not testified before this inyes- ,
.igating committee TO matters within your {
personal knowledge, that you have never /:
spoken Of before?" was a question asked
he witness. I
That may be. / may have thought OF +
some things that did not occur to me be-
ore"
Then your memory grows fresher with
he lapse of timer" \
II did not say that"
us II not true" asked Mr.. Faulkner
that you have told more this time than
Tou did before the legislative ingestigat- G
ng committee or the grand jury?'' d
Yes. sir; the matter has never been as ! !
thoroughly enquired into before"
Then said Mr.. Faulkner. those inves-
igations in Montana were one-sided af- i
airs?" :,
Yes, SIR"
The witness said he had no personal n
knowledge that Jerry Connolly had been S
ribbed. q
Then you did not tell the grand tury
hat Welcome told you that Connolly was n
be cheapest man in the lot?" 4
Il don't think / did q
You testify to that then for the first o
ime here7'' h
Yes. sir" %
Why did you reserve that information v
Dtil you came to Washington" =
Because the case was not thoroughly
inquired into .
Was not connoliy's name mentioned in
be Montana proceedings SO that II might