Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-02-28

and Clark, the committee appointed by
I the House to investigate the alleged
fEattempt to bribe Representative Walter
I'M. Hearn to absent himself from the
Eaenatorixi balioting, last Thursday,
,Fmet this morning. The State House
pnrlor being cold, the committee as
sembled In the House chamber. In CON
sequence of the investigation, the
House did not convene until IL. 80
o'clock, and IL was difficult for the
Senate to obtain quorum.
The House chamber WAS thronged.
Representative Holcomb presided, and
Representative Baynard served rs SEQ
Rotary. Tho committee met at 10. 20
o'clock, but il was Ii minutes later
before the Investigation was under way.
Representative Hesrn arrived at 10. 40
O'Clock, accompanied by his counsel,
Alexander NJ. DAILY and John b. Hut
ton. After Representative Baynafd bad
read tho resolution increasing the menu
bership OF the COMMITTEES, Joseph Gill
bert was sworn as stenographer, and
the serReant.At-arma was empowered to
summon witnesses. Attorney Days
list OF witnesses was promptly pre-
scented.
Representative Hearn, after having
bsen sworn, testified as follows:
Ion Monday afternoon, February
18th, went to Wilmington to attend
ball. On the train was approaohe d
by gentleman who said: do you
know Mr.. Addicks will be elected
United States Senator some dayf'
replied: i expect So. The man added
'Iwenty-six votes will elect next
rhursday, February 2ist. There are
81, 800 to 5000 for you aud another
member of the General Assembly IL
you will absent yourselves that day.
II you do not believe it, can bring
10 third party.
Representative r. Reese Layto was
the person who made the proposition to
me at supper, at the Bayard House.
The next night Representative Layton
inquired: Which of your 1.-THE Demo-
craticl Senatorial candidates stands
the better chance Of election?' | re-
Piled that l did net know. Representa-
tive Layton next asked: Are tho
Democrats and Regular Republicans
trying to get togetherY' | replied that
did not know.
Representative Layton continued /.
There IRE $500 to $500 for you if you
do not vote for Regular Republican. ;
reported the matter Tuesday
morning tn Matt Ford Short, Demo-
cratic leader, ana be ADVISED ne to
notify the Democratic caucus. l did
not give the details to newspaper men, -
At the conclusion Of Representative
Hearn's direct examination, Walter II.
Hayes announced that he and Joseph
l.. Cahill would represent Representa-
tire Layton. but they had not repre-
santed him before.
On cross. examination Representative
Hearn said: Representative Layton
mud a fba I'm a,,f fs,s hos
hurst and Wilmington. We sat together
IN tho smoking car. .
Mr.. Hayes asked Representative
Hearn II he told Representative Harry
Prettyman, last Friday, that he, the
man who approached hima was not q
member Of the House.
Representative Hearn replied that he
might have done so, but that, il he
did, IL was for the purpose of throwing
Representative Prettyman oil the seen {.
Mr.. Hayes asked the following ques
tions: did Representative Layton
say to you at the Bayard House, in
the presence Of Mr.. and Mrs. Ford, thai
you we're Ounce? Did you say to Mrs.
Ford that Representative Layton hac
too much sense to attempt to bride you,
Did you say to DR.. j. II. Kuhns, at the
Bayard House, that the man who an
preached you was not a member Of the
House2p
To Mr.. Hayes queries Represent ia
tive Hearn replied: 81 do not remem
ber. +"
Have you had conversation with
Miss Carrie FordY"
Mr.. Hayes continued: Ibid you sa,
to her that the man who approached
you was not member of the HouseY''
Representative Hearn's answer was
'Miss Ford said some people accuse
Representative Layton. | replied Il
Miss Ford, You know Representative,
Layton would not be in anything o.
the kind. >"
why did you answer these people il
shat way. nMr. Hayes asked.
Representative Hearn replied: "Rep
Fresentatiye Layton and / have man,
friends down there at the Bayart
House, and l thought best not tc
give his name"
eeshomas B. Giles was the next witness
He was called to show that it was gen
orally conceded in Representativ,
Hearn's neighborhood that he woulc
be one of the men bribers might at
tempt to handle.
After Mr.. DAILY had made the ex
PLANTATION, Secretary of State Lsytoi
clapped his hands and ieered, anS
other Addicks sympathizers followed
his example.
Chairman Holcomb raped for order
and threatened to have the jeerers ex
PEELED, after which threat decorum wa
preserved.
Mr.. Giles was told by Union Re
publican that Representative Hear
could be bought
Mr.. Hayes: ~ think we can proy
chat Representative Hearn made
proposition. /"
Take Mr.. Giles testimony, sale
Representative CLARK.
Representative Moore said: "Mr
Giles testimony is not relevant. |
will open the way for secondary testi
b n1ony and We will never get through
Uss your pleasure, however.
Mr.. Giles testified as follows: 81
few days after the election, on the rail
road platform at Bridgeville. in cen
versation between Harry Viven an
4 myself / remarked: No member c
4 our delegation can he bought Mi
Viven sarcastioally inquired, Ho'
nbout that man from Nanticoke;
did not think that Mr. Viven mean
that he would attempt to offer a bride
he referred to Repl eseutntive uearr
and supposed be thought that Repre-
sentative Hearn was young and coul
not resist temptation.
Mr.. Giles expressed the opinion ths
Mr.. Viven is a Union Republican, bu
IA Mr.. Hayes aud others declared that til
Al 10 0 Regular Republican.