The Colorado statesman., 1905-03-25
MORGAN DISCREDITED
BRIBERY COMMITTEES REPORT
General Manager Herbert and D. M.
Sullivan Exonerated by Joint
Convention Investigating
Committee.

legislative convention TO inquire into
the bribery charges made by Senator
r. w. Morgan against James M. Her
vert, general manager of the Colorado
G Southern, and d. NJ. Sullivan, the
Teller county Republican leader, yes
terday made its report, completely ex-
onerating Messrs. Herbert and Sulli-
van. The report, in substance is as
follows:
THAT your committee met and
commenced the taking of testimony on
Tuesday, March 7th; that it employed
stenographer and the testimony
taken is returned herewith.
Your committee heard, in support
of the said charges, the testimony of
Senator Morgan, Mr.. John Herman, one
Jacob Baum and George Stidger, dis
trict attorney; and against the same,
Mr.. o. A. Smith, w. H. Sherrod, Will
liam Ransom, Joseph Hurd, Ulysses o.
Anderson, w. ]. Noble, John Wiseman,
j. l.. Campbell, John Cassidy, Julian
Gradell, Patrick O'Day, G. T. Brown ex-
Governor Adams and number of other
witnesses.
THAT in support of said charges the
testimony of Senator Morgan is alone
important to be considered; that in his
testimony he states that on the af,er-
noon of March I'd he was approached
by Daniel Sullivan, invited to the room
of Mr.. j. NJ. Herbert in the Brown Pal
ace hotel, and there, after negotiations
as to the amount which he SHOULD be
paid for the vote on the then pending
contest for the governorship, a price
was arrived at and definitely agreed
upon, in consideration of which he was
to cast his vote in favor of the Adams
side of said controversy; that he was
paid $3.50 down; tHat he, at the time of
being paid and receiving the said
money received the same as a bribe,
intending to be bribed, and to cast his
vote as, according to his testimony, he
was paid for casting it.
THAT later he communicated these
facts to the district attorney of the
city and county of Denver. Hon.
George Stidger; that he stated the
facts to the district attorney and
turned over to him the said $3.50, as
the result of which criminal informa-
tlons were filed in the District Court
of said city and county charging the
said Herbert and the said Sullivan
with abe said attempt at bribery,
which charges are still pending.
Senator Morgan admitted that
when he received the money he re-
ceiyed 1t intending to keep it, with the
full intention of acting in accordance
with the agreement which he says
was made at the time the money was
laid to him, and that it was only at
later time that he changed his mind.
There was no evidence in corrobo-
ration of the story of Senator Morgan
introduced, except that of the witness
Baum, who testified that he is detec-
tt,r~ 7
ham for the purpose of spying upon
the movements and conduct of the
Legislature, and that he saw Sullivan
and Morgan together in the lobby of
the Brown Palace Hotel, heard Sulli-
van solicit or invite Morgan to go up
stairs and saw them get on the eleva-
tor together.
Certain receipts purporting to be
signed by Morgan, acknowledging GER
tain sums of money paid to him by
one Best, treasurer of the Northern
Colorado Coal Company, were identi-
fled by Morgan. AS to these receipts
he first admitted the signature of all,
or practically all of them, then
changed his testimony and denied his
signature as to some, and finally repu-
aiated all, or practically all of them.
"Mr. Smith, the auditor of the
Northern Colorado Coal Company,
identified the signature of said Morgan
to all of the said receipts.
The other testimony introduced
goes to show that the said Morgan has
boasted and admitted that he was in
politics, in the Legislature and acting
in his capacity as a representative in
the last General Assembly, and as a
senator in this for what could be
made out of the position; and that he
is a man whose reputation for truth
and veracity is bad in the community
in which he resides. to which effect
a large number of witnesses from La
fayette. Colorado, the home of the said
Morgan, have testified
Governor Adams testified that on
Thursday morning, the day of the al
legged bribery, Morgan voluntarily told
him (Adams) that he (Morgan) in
tended to vote in the contest to retain
Governor Adams in his seat.
your committee is of the opinion
that the testimony of the said Morgan
is, of itself, unworthy of belief; that
it is not corroborated; that placing
the most favorable Interpretation upon
the testimony of Senator Morgan, he
is a confessed bribe-taker, who only
repented, if at all, after consultation
with others.
your committee recommends that
additional reports, made by your COM
mittee under instructions of the joint
convention. be made to the Senate and
House, instead of to this convention.
"All OF which is respectfully submit
ted.
"WEBSTER BALLINGER,
Chairman.
"F. l.. SHERMAN,
'E. A. BROMLEY,
''B. G. O'CONNELL,
FRANK PRYOR,
"Cnmmittea -