The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-14
EVIDENCE FAV0RS CLARK
A Montana Newspaper Man Tes-
tifies for the Senator.
The Proprietor of the "Heiena In
dependent Tells of Legitimate
Campaign Expcnses-A Witness for
the MemOrinlists DIscredited-
An Opponent of the Daily Faction.


tlons of the Senate held two dull sessions
enquiry yesterday.
! John S. NJ. Neill. proprietor OF the
Helena Independent" who was the last
of the Clark witnesses examined Monday.
was again called to the stand for cross
examination. An enquiry was first made
by former Senator Edmunds. one OF the
anti-Clark counsel. as to a press letter
book from which letter produced yester-
day had been taken. This book Mr.. Neill
had sent back to Helena by express. but
he undertook to have 1t intercepted and
produced before the committee under con-
dition, however. that 1t should not be open
to general inspection. After that matter
had been arranged satisfactorily. Mr..
Campbell. another OF the anti-Clark coun-
sci. opened the cross-examination.
''Did you work for Mr.. Clark in his cleo
tion?" asked MIR. Campbell.
Yes, as far as could
"Did you spend any money!"
"Of my own, yes
did you spend any money except your
own during the Senatorial fight or the cleo
tion which preceded?'
no"
How much did you handle. which was
not your own. during the Senatorial fight
and the election which preceded it?''
Il did not handle any money during tie
Senatorial fight During the legislative
camDaign. it seems to me. handled sew
era, amounts of money
''In the aggregate, how much did you
handler"
"A very small amount"
Ten thousand dollars?'
"No, nor half that amount per-
haps as much as thousand
dollars. It was as messenger, |
handed two or three envelopes containing
money TO candidates in Fergus county.
Davidson. who put some money in each of
them. and sealed them. II they were ad
dressed it was | who addressed them"
The witness was examined at great
length as to the people whom he met in
Senator Clark's room during the Sena-
torial contest. This developed nothing
material. He was confronted with an al
legged report of his testimony before the
grand jury. in which there appeared to be
some variance from his testimony before
the committee. but he declared that the
grand jury transcript discolored his state
ments all the way through. He repudiated
IT and refused to be bound by it.
James r. Jacobs, carpenter from Butte,
was called to the stand by the de-
fence. He testified that he had a con-
versation with Cason in which the latter
had said that the anti-Clark people had
paid him $500 for his testimony in the
Welcome disbarment proceedings.
Under cross-examinatlon by Mr.. Birney.
IL hi.
last month to Alexander johnson. cashier
in Clark Bros Bank. He then went TO
Mr.. Root, Senator Clark's representative in
Butte.
Senator Turley asked "You say Cason
told YOU this during the Welcome trial.
Why didn't you feel compelled then to tell
Of this? Didn't you think il would be ma
terial."
The witness said he had read that Cason
had testified at Washington that the Clark
people had paid him $500 for testimony.
He did not want to see Senator clark
"tramped on
The third witness of the session was
William McDermott former United States
Marshal for Montana. He said he was
bitter opponent Of the DAILY faction and
supporter OF Senator Clark. He had been
a Clark campaign manager and said he
was opposed to the use of money for cor
ruption purposes.
Mr.. McDermott testified that he had no
personal knowledge that any money was
used by the partisans OF Senator Clark In
the interest of that gentleman during the
Senatorial contest
The witness was oSs-examined by
Representative Campbell. He handled
S2i .OlO for campaign purposes. The money
was furnished by Charles w. Clark. He
obtained some money also from John b.
Welcome He had paid this money out
ito Tom, Dick. and Harry. or to anybody
who asked me for it." The witness had
no memoranda of the disbursements made
by him The money had been expended for
the rental of halls. payment to public
speakers. hire of bands Of music. and car
riages He paid large number Of men
$40 day in getting voters to register.
The registered vote of Silver Bar county.
in which he operated, was about 10000
The committee adjourned to meet Thurs
DAY morning.