Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-01-30
TRIED TO APPEAR HONEST
Montana Legislator Who Said He Gould MOI
be Purchased.
Claims that His suddenly Acquired
Money Was Won nc Poker
and Faro.

iNe iololuit WIKI lllt ldlltI Ndlf uilStdN-
ed, was the first witness today before
the Senate Committee on privileges and
elections in its investigation Of the
charges against Senator Clark Of that
State. Mr. Geiger said he had been
the Republican candidate for the Sen
ate from Flatheal county. He was
asked whether he had not said In his
speech accepting. the nomination that
his vote could not be purchased for a
Democrat for the Senate. He replied
that II was his intention TO convey the
idea that he could not be handled. ~
He had said that IL he sold out he
hoped his constituents would take him
out and hang him, and | still feel that
way" he said.
He he'd not said that he would not
vote for any Democrat, but II had been
his intention TO prevent a deadlock. He
had also said that there were other
matters more important to come before
the legislature than the election Of
some rich man for United States sena-
tor
Upon being QUESTIONED concerning
his financial condition when he was
nominated he said 1t was lust moder-
ate" He had been In the hotel busi-
ness and had sold out; he could not re-.
member Just how much he received,
but after much questioning said he
thought the amount was about $3.50.
He had also received $500 from his
mothers estate and had borrowed $500
for the campaign.
After he was given his seat he had
voted twice for Leonard for senator
and then for w. A. Clark. Mr. Geiger
hesltated considerably over a question
as TO what money he had deposited In
the First National bank at Kalispel
during or since the sitting OF the legis-
lature, but admitted that in May last
he had bought draft for 1880, paying
currency for IL. He had afterwards.
in August. opened an account at that
bank. depOsiting $500 in currency in the
name OF John H. Geger, agent" Since
that time he had made other deposits
and had borrowed from the bank 1890
He had got the $500 first deposited
from several sources, including $500 or
5000 for his service and mileage In the
legislature.
Some % It I got at poker and the
faro bank" he said and added II
don't remember whether | won any at
pOker--my experience was about even;
but at faro did. )"
Ibid you win 5000 at faro?"
1t was soma short Of 5000. but at
Helena and Butte together ! think
quit about 81, 500 or $500 ahead"
you were a State senator; did you
no. know 1t was misdemeanor to play
faro?"
well. / was about as conscientious
In that matter as some other Montana
officials" " >,
Continuing this explanation he said
he had never made any great winning
at one time. never more than SlS0, but
that he had been uniformly lucky and
had played often. He had also gotten
500 in money for mining stock sold to
Spokane parties,
"How do you explain the fact that
you had so much better luck at faro
after you entered the legislature than
before2" asked Senator Chandler OF
Mr. Geiger. 49,
why. Senator" was the reply, II
did not have. lived In Montana twen-
ty-two years and having fallen into
the ways OF the people soon after going
there | had frequently IN the early days
won more than | did after my election
to the State senate. But, Libby has no
faro bank and had not played for
some time"
In explanation where he had got the
$500 deposited in August he said that
while in Peoria, Ills, he had won Sl,OOO
In a day on horse race.
All told. Mr. Geiger said he had In his
posses sion 81, 500 when he reached Lab
by after going home from the legisla-
ture at Helena.
when did you get the amount that
you have not already accounted forY
Il can't tell without uncovering my
private affairs"
do you decline to tell?'
II do"
This caused the members Of the COM
mittee TO put their heads together In
consultation over the question as to
whether the witness should be COM
PEELED to answer. At the conclusion OF
this conference, Mr.. Chandler told Mr..
Campbell 10 proceed with his questions,
and informed the witness that he must
reply
The question as to where the money
came from was repeated.
The witnes gazed at the ceiling for
fully five minutes and at last said;
Where did l get II? Why in
Helena"
Where did you get Il from?"
The witness again took long time
for replying,
"weil, sir" he said at last, II can't
answer"
DO YOU mean to say that you don't
know
Il don't know, To be frank, there
were other ways Of getting money In
Helena during the session Of the legis-
lature. was approached at different
time TO vote for different bills"
Did you make any money in that
way?"
II don't know. never sold my vote.
but | got money
Senator Chandler-Now, Mr.. Geiger,
the committee requires you TO state
from whom you got money Go ahead
and tell what you know.
To this the response came quickly.
The witness said;
IL found a package In my room con-
tanning Sl.l00. and have since used
the money II was the time that the
corporation bill 1872 was up. took the
money, put II In nv pocket and used
II, and from that time to the present
have never said a word about It,"
In reply 90 other questions he said
that he had an idea who left the en-
velope in his room. but that he did not
know. He had. he said, intended to
vote for the bill anyway.
At this point Mr.. Faulkner. represent
ing the Clark interest obtained per-
mission TO ask a question
win you state" he asked, whether
any part Of that money was given by
any one connected with Mr. Clark or
by Mr.. Clark himself TO influence your
vote for him for U. s. SENATOR" But
while he had permitted the question.
Senator Chandler, as chairman OF the
committee. instructed the witness that
he need not answer II at this juncture
and the examination proceeded on the
original lines.