The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-04-13
HOW MONEY WENT
WITNESS BEFORE GRAND JURY
TOLD OF HALLS AND MUSIC.
SAUSSY STARTLES THEM.
FURNISHED GRAND JURY WITH
PLANS OF INVESTIGATION.

j. II. sausSy, Jr., Gordon Snussy, r.. l..
CoIdfng and Jonas NcndeI Were
the witnesses Who Told what
They Knew of E1ectiOns-Mr.
Saussy Tells What He Meant by
Recommending Investigations
From Within-"My Friend Jimmy"
City officials Around the Polls.
MIR. COIding and the Campaign
Fund-BuII< of 1t Went to Workers.
1t is probable that yesterdays session
of the grand jury was more productive
of information of political conditions in
this county than any previous session,
devoted wholly or in part to the investi-
cation of this subject that the grand
jury has held.
Four witnesses faced the grand jury and
testified as to this matter of election
methods. They were Justice of the Peace
j. r. Saussy, Jr., Mr. R. l.. Coding, Mr.
Gordon Saussy and Mr.. Jonas Mendel
The most interesting witness, as had been
expected proved to be Justice of the
Peace Saussy.
Mr.. Saussy had told the grand jury
at its last session, that he thought it
would be possible for him to get the in
! formation it seemed to desire Yesterday
the grand juror wanted him to report pro-
gress, and Mr.. Saussy was compelled to
say that the progress he made had been
slight
unfortunately, gentlemen" he sad
those from whom I expected to get in
forma ton or who 1 thought would put
me on the track of obtaining evidence,
had been made aware of my purpose, and
as soon as l preached the subject to any
one of them, he shut up tighter than a
clam"
The grand jury wanted to know what
Mr.. Saussy meant by saying, in the in
terview with him published in the Morn
ing News, that in the grand jury room
there were those who could tell something
/ about campaign funds and their uses, if
they would
Well" said Mr.. saussy, Il meant that
there were members of the grand jury
whom l believed had contributed to these
! funds
VINO, for instance?" asked Foreman
Sheldon.
There's a gentleman over there" re-
! torted Mr. Saussy. who, from the posi-
ton to which he has attained in local poll
to make frequent contributions
Who's that?" asked the foreman.
| MY friend Jimmy" said Mr. Saussy. .
Mr.. Saussy was finally prevailed upon
to say that he referred to Mr.. James VI.
Dixon. There was more sparring on this
| subject, and Mr. Saussy admitted that
there were legitimate uses for the expen-
| diture Of campaign funds. He thought,
| however, that when charges were openly
~ he nd ip1o
of money on elections that those VINO
contributed to the funds should make
some Investigation of the channels into
which their money had flowed.
Then the grand jurors insisted on know
ing what Mr.. Saussy had heard of the
presence of city officials about the polls
| on the day of the last special election
The witness had already said he was
out of the city on that day, and knew
nothing of his own knowledge. The grand
| jury wanted to know what he had gath
cred from others.
We'll" Mr.. Saussy said, my brother,
| C. w. Saussy, told me that Supt. Mcguire
openly boosted, in his presence, that the
| McAlpin headquarters had to be broken
up and either that he had been over to
| assist in the operation or that he intend
ed to go over There's one for you"
The next witness examined was Mr..
| Gordon Saussy. Mr.. Saussy, who is a
cousin of the witness who preceded him
| before the grand jury, had been conspic-
uous as an active and ardent supporter
of Capt McAlpin. Mr.. Saussy told the
grand jury that he had not bought any
votes nor seen any purchased, and his ex-
animation consumed only short time.
He was rather reticent about what hap
pened in the jury room. saying that he
| had answered all the questions asked him
and answered them truthfully.
OF Mr.. Colding the grand jury wanted
to know from whom he obtained the cam
| paign fund which he disbursed in the in
terest of Mai. Screven and Mr. Wells at
the last election Mr.. Colding told the
grand jury that the money. $500, had
come to him from Mr.. Jonas Mendel
He described how it had been used for
the hire of halls and of bands, advertis-
ing, campaign literature of various kinds
and other expenses of the like kind. THE
bulk of it. however" said Mr.. Colding.
went for the hire of men to work about
| the polls"
OF these gentry. he explained. there
were two or three hundred. Their SER
vices began on the night before election
and continued until and after the polls
were closed. Their duties were some
what arduous and Mr.. Colding consid-
cred that they had well earned the
$40 or $l5 each of them received.
Mr.. Coldug answered also the statu-
tory questions; he had neither purchased
votes nor seen them purchased. nor was
he aware of the purchase of votes by any
one. One of the grand jurymen had a
question he wished to ask Mr.. Colding,
and did ask him, about some offer he was
said to have made for five votes at $25 a
vote. Mr.. Colding said he had no recoi-
lection of making any such offer.
All Mr.. Men6el knew about it was that
he had received 81. coo from the candidates
of his faction and some of their friends
and had turned this amount over to Mr..
Colding He knew nothing Of the manner
in which 1t had been disbursed.
Another meeting of the grand jury will
he held on next Friday afternoon. 1t is
probable that at that time the investiga-
ton of election conditions will be con-
tlnued The grand jury seems to be really
in earnest
bible STUDY MEETINGS.