Evening journal., 1901-03-04
slEI II 10 IH1 BOTTOM

We believe that If the question OF
the guilt or innocence OF Represents
tive Layton were submitted TO a vote
OF the people OF Delaware the result
would be overwhelmingly against him.
His friends have shown no reason why
Representative Hearn should have
made such serious charges against him
II they were not true. They were per-
sonal friends up to the time of the al
legged Offering OF the brides. and there
is absolutely nothing TO show that
ill-focling over any matter. personal
or political, had intervened to make
Representative Hearn desire to ruin
the character OF Representative Lay
ton. But one thing wealens the state
ment made by Representative HeaIn.
That is that NE told certain persons
that it was not Representative Layton
who was the would-be briber. Against
this we have the frank statement made
under oath by Representative Hearm
himself that Representative Layton
offered him a brSbe OF from 81 500 TO
N-NNNN " AAAAtAAn i0dl AlOliI AFONNl Nllu
to get another Democratic member OF
the Legislature to do the same thing,
and another bribe OF from $500 to $500
to refuse to agree to 60 into a deal
with the Regular Republicans for the
election of two Regular Republican
senators with Democratic help. Rep
resentative Hearn was perfectly fair
with the Investigating committee. He
admitted that ne had made the state
ments alleged to have been made, sim
ply to shield Representative Layton,
they being neighbors in Sussex county
and the two families being more or
less intimate. Had he denied these
statements his credibility would have
been impeached, but It was strength
ened by the admissions.
Representative Layton admitted be-
ing on the same train with Represen-
tative Hearn. He even said that he
sat beside and conversed with him
His testimony that Representative
Hearn was drunk was contradicted fiat
ly by several witnesses who were or
the same train and VINO knew Repre-
sentative Hoarn and conversed witl
him. Representative Layton could no
remember a word said or AN act don'
by Representative Hearn which borl
out the assertion that he was drunk
or even partially intoxicated.
Representative Layton said he di
not remember seeing Representative
Hearn after they reached Wilmingt0l
It is a fact ascertained since the in
vestigation that Representative Layto
introduced Representative Hean {
Deputy Tax Collector Thomas
GOrmley, of this city. at the saengei
bund ball that night, and also ths
they dined together after they &,
here.
Fer these reasons il seems to US tn.
the Investigation should not be dro
ped, but that 1T should be taken up I
the attorney-general where the legisl
tive investigating committee left {
and carried to such point. with q
aid of detectives and others, that the
shall remain no doubt as to the gu
or Innocence Of the accused man.
A briber does not prosecute his wo
with brass band accompanying hi
He does not approach his intended v
tim with witnesses about. He is by
ture sneak. and he does his work fl
sneakng manner. For this reason
denlais must be taken with liberal T
ervat.ons Of judgment
We reterate our statement 4
the Delaware Legislature cannot ans
10 let the Hearn-Layton scandal {
where it is to-day. but that the put
interest demands a more rigid q