The Greeley tribune., 1904-10-19
ONE ON DAVIS
LETTER TO SHOW HE SOLIC-
TIED AND ACCEPTED BRIBE
E. E. Won Gohren, an Ex-Prison
Guard, Paid Half Of His
Relief Fund to
Davis

didate for county clerk, a self con-
fessed bribe seeker and bride taker?
There is good evidence to show
that he is, and the fact that accord
ing to the statement OF aggrieved
party, he has returned the money
after being threatened with pros
ecution, is clincher that no amount
of explaining can overcome.
Here is the story: f. f. Won
Gohren was guard in the peniten-
tiary a few years ago, and in an
attempted jailbreak there he was so
badly cut up and injured that he has
been an invalid ever since. AS he
was an old Greeley resident, Harry
Watson in the legislature and
Standardization in the senate worked
for the passage of special bill to in
Il measure repay Won Gohren for
being MANNED in the service of the
state. Charles Davis, the other
representative from Weld county,
also worked for the passage of the
bill. The rest of the story is best
told in the letter written by Won
Gohren to Mr.. Davis, after the bill
had been passed. 1t follows:
Denver, Colo, Sept. IA, 1904.
MIR. Chas. +. Davis, Erie, Colo.
Dear Sir: At the last session of
the legislature | had a bill prepared
by Hon. Geo. w. Allen-a relief bill
for the cause of injuries received by
me while in the service of the state.
After consultation with political
friends and being resident of your
county for many years and you being
their honored representative, it was
concluded by self and friends that
you should take charge of this bill.
1t was referred to you, and myself
and friends consider that you fur
thered every interest in regard to the
bill. There is no question about
your loyalty in this matter, but the
bill was reduced from $1,000 to $1,000
in the house and so sent to the SEN
ate. My political friends in both
parties in the senate worked at the
last hours of the session faithfully
and untiringly to make the amount
$4,000, in which they were successful.
This was very gratifying and there is
nothing in your efforts in regard to
he passing of this bill but that l
am thoroughly satisfied with.
The governor signed the bill Of
his own accord and was pleased to do
so because of knowing all the cir
cumstances. After waiting six
months l made inquiries at the
state auditors office and was told
by the auditor that my bill was in
the fourth class and that there was
no money In the fund. l waited
three months longer and received the
same reply. l was in i'll health, dis
tressed financially, and l met you
upon the street at the Boston block.
You asked me kindly if l received
payment OF the bill that was passed
at the last legislature. l told you
no. You said, Won Gohren, do
not understand why this has not
been paid l informed you what
the state auditor had told me-that
there was no funds in that class.
You thereupon told me that you
were friend of Mr.. Holmberg, the
n nd fhnnrhf
could assist me in the matter. l
thereupon told you that l would give
you $500 if you would get a warrant
drawn for $1,000. You said that you
would take this matter under advise
ment and do the best you could. In
two or three weeks we had another
conference and the Hon. III. f..
Churchill was brought into the mat
ter, and, at a meeting appointed at
the Windsor hotel, you, Mr..
Churchill and myself met in con-
ference in regard to this matter.
You informed me, after consulting
with Mr.. Churchill, that it would
be impossible to secure this payment
for the sum of $500 and that it was
your intention and you did directly
inform me, that you would have to
have $500 more in order to influence
the state auditor and state treasurer
to pay this bill, because 1t was with
out the lines of the special fund that
my bill was put in. thereupon
agreed to give you $3.50 and after
your consultation with Mr.. Churchill
we went directly to a secret room
and there we three together advised
with one another and | was forced by
circumstances, under the behest of
Mr.. Churchill, that there could not
be anything done with less than