Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-04-02
TABLES TURNED.
Harry Brown Retracts His
Charges Against Ki|ey.
And Says Lawyer Barnett Paid Him
$50 to Make Them.
Sensational Scenes in Bribery Case in
Ward 8, Boston.


charges of political bribery against
Representative Daniel j. Kiley from
Ward 8, has led to an Investigation by
the legislative committee on election
laws, which investigation has been
singularly full OF sensational incidents,
sent to the committee, today, in the
form Of an affidavit, a statement that
not only were the charges false, but
that he had made them at the request
OF a lawyer in this city, named Nathan
Barnett, who paid him $50 for doing so.
The trustworthiness of the affidavit,
which is signed by Harry S. Malioy.
alias Brown, by which latter name he
is known to the committee, will, how
ever, be the subject of a thorough in
Nestigation before the committee places
any reliance on it.
Browns retraction of the charges,
the cheers with which it was received
by Mr.. Kileys supporters, heated ana
decidedly acrimonious discussion be-
tween Mr. Kiley and the committee, the
arrest of one witness for creating a dis
turbance and the detention OF another,
and the sudden withdrawal from the
hearing of Lawyer Barnett, who has
been stubbornly fighting other charges
Oh UTIDGIy, loi III Il oCi iCo Vi ~-NSiNAA'ro
episodes unique in the history of the
Legislature.
It was vastly entertaining to a great
crowd made up of political followers
from Ward s, who have packed the
committee room each day. Most OF
them, however will be excluded from
the room, tomorrow.
AS the case stands now, if the affi-
IA Foo .nd q
peater bribe- taker and, finally, per-
jurer, is to be believed, the charges OF
political corruption on the part of Rep
resentative kiley fall and Instead, the
committee will have to turn it's atten-
ton to-~E1wyer Nathan Barnett, a
member of the bar and a bail commits
soner in this city, who now stands
charged with bribery. The committee
however will continue the investigation
until it is satisfied who is the guilty
party.
AT the close of the hearing, today, Mr.
Kiey's counsel H. l.. Hurlburt, asked
for Barnetts arrest, but as yet the
committee has not complied with the
request.
Although Barnett has been at nearly
all the hearings ever since he intro
duced Brown to the committee, March
., since which time Brown has been
missing, he became central figure
Monday, when counsel for kiley intro
duced a witness who testified that he
was in Browns house, March l, AND
heard Barnett offer Brown $500 If he
would appear before the committee
and testify against Kiley This coun-
ter charge of bribery Kiley's counse
soiight to substantiate. Barnett, how
eyer, was not present when the afii-
davit was read.
For two days Barnett attacked ont
of Kiley's witnesses, Minkle, witt
great tierceness, and at last sought tf
show his untrustworthiness by produc.
ing, today, stove dealer named Rlce'
man who tried to show the committee
that Minkle had bought stove ane
failed to pay for it.. This last move or
Barnett's part so enraged Minkle thai
before the committee would allow Rice
man to testify Minkle started up from
his seat and. shaking his fist in Rice
mans face shouted:
II never bought stove, you scoun'
drel: you liar. l did buy lamp
Riceman jumped up, too and shouted
back at him: you devil, you know you
bought It,"
For Il minute or two the uproar II
the room was terrific and the chairman
of the committee at once ordered
Minkle's arrest. He subsequent,
apologized to the committee and wa
released.
After the Riceman incident. Barnet
stated to the committee that he desired
to retire from the case as his attemp
i to show the incredibility of Minkle ha'
failed, owing to the committee allow
Ing the witness so much leeway in eX
PLANTATION of his statements
The committee also heard during tn
day another of Mr.. Kiley's witnesses
named Mullen. who Substantiatet
Minkle's testimony of Barnett's offer t.
Brown, but who, like Minkle, had ;
very bad memory as to dates and othe
things that happened the same day.
The affidavit Of Brown was then pro
duced. 1t was dated at st. Adams
where he claims q residence, and wa
made in the presence of Alfred A. Pau
"a well-known attorney in that city.
The committee will continue it's in
vestigation. tomorrow, and will be as
sisted by the attorney general.