The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-02-09
HE KEPT NO ACCOUNTS.
Clark Witness Handled Large
Sums and Retained the
Change.

Washington, Feb. "a. J. Steele was
cross-examined in the Clark case today.
He said he had participated in the cam
paign of 1898 with Mr.. Clark's friends.
He had made trip to Great Falls be-
fore the legislative election and also
another one after the election. On the
first trip he had taken $500 which Mr.
Davidson had given him and on the
second $500. Mr. DAVIDSON had also
given him money for expenses incurred
in other trips made throughout the
state.
The witness said that at that time he
was a bankrupt, having failed in bust
ness. He had kept no account of ex-
penditureS, but whenever he wanted
money he went to either Mr.. Davidson
or to Mr.. Welcome. During the sitting
of the Legislature he had received 81, 900
from Davidson and $4,000 or Sc, 600 from
Welcome. The largest sum obtained
from Welcome at any one time was
81, 900, which had been given him after
the senatorial election when Welcome
had handed him a roll of bills, telling
him to pay his debts and keep the rest
He had received 81, 900 from Welcome
after the investigation by the grand
jury.
Mr.. Steele gave a partial list of per-
sons to whom he had paid money in
sums of $780, they being persons work
senate. Referring to the visit made
him at Helena by Representative Carr
prior to the meeting of the Legislature,
Mr.. Steele said in reply to Senator
Turley that his representation to Mr..
Carr that he wanted to see him about
bounty scalps was all a pretext, that
in reality he had desired to see him in
Mr.. Clark's interest as a senatorial can
didate. He had, however, not urged
the matter when he found Mr. Carr
was inclined to support Conrad.
In reply to questions from Senator
Burrows, Mr.. Steele said that during
the campaign and the sitting of the
legislature he had received $4,000 or
$4,000 for use in politics and that he
had spent all this sum except $500 or
$500 which he had kept While Mr.
Steele was on the stand the propriety
of the use of report made by Attor-
ney General Dolan of the proceedings of
the Lewis and Clark county grand jury
in the Montana supreme court, was
raised. Mr.. Foster of Senator CIark'S
counsel expressed himself strongly in
secrets of the grand jury room. Attor-
ney General Nolan was present and
volunteered to make a statement but
he was not permitted to do so, the com
mittee deciding that the matter was
not material.
State Attorney w. E. Tierney of
Broadway county was questioned es-
pecially concerning his financial condi-
the senate to meet the testimony of Mr.
Dolenty a banker of Townsend, Mont.
to the effect that Mr.. Tierney had paid
off a large Indebtedness to his bank
since the adjournment Of the Iegisla-
ture and shown many other evidences
of improved financial condition Mr.
Tierney said that he had been instru-
mental organizing state bank of Town
send and that he had paid his indebted
ness at Dolenty's bank by transferring
it to the other bank. He had also sold
more or less property. The witness
said that he had considered himself
worth about $4,000 before the meeting
of the legislature and that there had
been no material increase since. He al
so said that Senator Clark had not
been instrumental in the organization of
the new bank at Townsend. The notes
owed at the bank were not his individ-
ual notes but were given by firms in
which he was interested. The commit
tee adjourned until tomorrow before
Mr.. Tierney had concluded.