Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1906-07-13
Expected Jury's Verdict.
MR.. HOUSER is CLEARED.
Jury Finds Secretary Did Not Attempt
to Bride

MADISON. Wis, July I.-After being
out five hours, the jury in the case of
Secretary of State Walter L. Houser,
charged with attempted bribery by In
surance Commissioner Host. returned a
verdict of not guilty last night.
The case was the outgrowth of the legis-
lative insurance investigation, Mr.. Host
having testified to the committee that. in
1903, Houser brought him a typewriter
decision which the Equitable Insurance
company desired him to make in the lti-
cation over the question of annual divi-
dends of surplus. and for which the com
pany would contribute $4,000 to the Re
publican campaign fund. Afterward at
the suggestion of District Attorney Gil
hert. Host signed a complaint against
Houser.
Arguments in the case occupied prac-
tically the entire day up to $3.50 O'Clock,
when the jury went out after receiving
it's instructions from Judge Donovan. It
was difficult for the jurors to come to an
agreement and, after being out a little
over an hour, they came in and asked
that the testimony of Attorney General
Sturdevant be read.
This was to the effect that while In
surance Commissioner Host had told
him of the offer made to him by Mr..
Houser and had shown him the decision
requested by the Equitable company and
also the accompanying check, ne did not
remember that Host had said Houser
urged its acceptance or made any such
suggestion.
Effect of the Decision.
Houser testified that the typewriter
decision was given to him to hand to
Host by Bob" Luscombe, well known
lobbyist. Luscombe was supposed to
have died in a Michigan sanitarium, but
now is said to be alive, and an effort
may be made to locate and prosecute
him on a charge of bribery.
The acquIt / of Houser may have an
important political result. He is a can
didate for denomination and regards Inc
verdict as indicating him and will! stay
in the race. District Attorney Gilbert is
a candidate for attorney general and
Senator J. A. Frear. chairman of the in
surance investigating committee is him
self candidate Tor secretary of state.
1t took the jury over four hours to
reach the verdict of acquittal For
twenty ballots the vote was for con-
viction and for acquittal. On the
twenty-frst ballot all of the jurymen
voted for acquittal.
Statement of Houser.
After the announcement of the YER
diet Mr.. Houser made the following
scathing statement:
l know that this whole thing is the result
of conspiracy of James A. Frear, Zeno
NJ. Host and others to smirch my good
name and that the object on their part was
entirely selfish. Frear is a candida te
against me for nomination for secretary of
state. He wanted campaign material
Frear and Host talked and wrote about
these charges before O'Connor, who is
Hosts attorney. wrote to Host asking him
to testify and Host replied upon which lat
ter correspondence the matter was brought
to the attention of the legislative insurance
Investigating committee. This was the first
notice that the members of he committee
excepting Frear, who is chairman. had of
the charges. Frear has persistently denied
that he knew anything about the matter
prior to the submitting of the correspond
ence between Mr.. OConnor, as attorney for
the committee, and Mr.. Host, to the com
mittee. Host, under cross examina ton, tes-
tilted to the contrary at the trial just con
Guided.
more dastardly and Infamous conspiracy
was never formed against any man. | fully
appreciate the strong assurances of thou
sands of friends throughout the state of
confidence in my innocence, and to those
who have assisted in procuring the facts
that have so completely eNonerated Inc from
the false accusation l acknowledge heartfelt
obligations.
1t is almost certain that Houser will
remain a candidate for secretary of
state.