The Topeka state journal., 1900-01-06
STIFF TESTIMONY.
Speaker Of the Montana House a
Witness In Clark Case,

Washington, Jan. 6.-Mr. Henry c.
Stiff, speaker of the Montana house of
representatives. was the first witness
in the Clark case before the senate COM
mittee on privileges and elections to-
day
Representative Campbell of Montana
questioned Mr.. Stiff and his questions
were directed toward showing that the
embarrassed financial condition of State
Representative Mclaughlin had been
taken advantage of by Senator Clark to
approach him to secure his vote and also
that Mr.. Stiff's own vote had been i'm
properly solicited. Mr.. Stiff stated that
he knew that Mr.. Mclaughlin was in
distressed financial circumstances prior
to the meeting of the legislature. He
also stated that he had himself been
approached by w Nj Biekford as a
representative of Mr. Clark and his sup
port solicited for the latter.
The questions bringing out this in
formation were all objected to by the
defense, who insisted that Mr. Clark
must be directly connected with all
transactions with which it was sought
to connect his name. The reply was
that his connection would be shown
over Mr.. Clark's signature.
The questioning of Mr.. Stiff was then
directed toward showing that Mr.. Bick-
ford had sought to secure Mr.. Stiff's
services to examine the title of pro-
perty to be purchased by Mr.. Clark
from Mr.. Mclaughlin for $25, 900, a part
of the consideration on McLaughlin's
part being, Bickford said, was that
Mr.. Mclaughlin should support Mr.,
Clark for the senate.
Mr.. Stiff testified to the correctness
of this outline and added that Bick-
ford had told him that he (Stif) should
receive $500 for his individual services
when $50 would have been a good fee;
that his own vote was wanted for Clark
and that he should be put on Mr.
(rlarl<sS LIST of q ,I,av-
of years Mr.. Bickford had in this con-
nection exhibited a list of property to
be sold by Mclaughlin with prices to
be paid which We're in excess of value
of the property and this property was
afterwards conveyed to Mr.. Clark.
Mr.. Stiff also stated that the agree
ment with Mr.. Mclaughlin provided that
he was to be employed by Mr.. Clark
for two years at 81, 400 a year and that
Mclaughlin had since been employed
in the case.
It is also said Mclaughlin had voted
for Clark.
The witness stated in another con-
verSation with Mr. BickfOrd a week
prior to the meeting of the legislature
the latter had offered him $40 600 if he
would withdraw from the contest for
the spea-kership and support Mr.. Clark
for the senatorship. Mr.. Stiff also de-
tailed a conversation with Mr. A. B.
Cook, former state auditor, who had Of
fered him $40, 900 to vote for Clark
Il made no definite reply said Mr.
Stiff, because 1 wanted to further in
vestigate what was going on. told
him. he continued, that if Mr.. Clark
really wanted to secure my vote he
could afford to pay more than $4,000
and suggested $4,000, saying did not
want this to be understood as an offer
on my part. Mr.. Cook sail he would
see Clark and we agreed to meet again
that day. did not, however, see him
again on this subject"
He also said that as speaker in Sc
lecting a committee of investigation to
look into the Clark matter he had
known that all the members selected
were friendly to Clark. IN reply to
further questions in regard to his sug-
gestion as to $50, 900 as the price Clark
should pay for his vote he said: Il be-
lieve 1 was perfectly justified in doing
what 7 did. I considered that a most
outrageous crime was being perpetrat-
ed and 1 was willing to act the part Of
a detective"