The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-03-23
BLACKBURN YET
BLOCKS THE wAAY

lei
BLOCKS THE wAAY;
He and Holton Stand Face to Face in
Committee Room-The Scene ORA
matic-The Plot Depends.
Washington, D. c.. March 17,-Rep-
resentative Blackburn and District At
torney Holton stood face 10 face
today while the ~suo-judiciary COM
mittee~of taz ia consisting of
Senator'S Foraker Of Ohio, Kttridge OF
South Dakota, and Blackburn of Ken
lucky, had under consideration the
question Of confirming the nomination
OF the solicitor of the government who
has attracted national attention oy
reason Of his methods in going often
after alleged violators Of federal laws.
There were dramatic passages of
arms between the two leading Guar
acters in the contest today before the
committee.
The climax came when TIE Congress-
man from the Eighth district, III the
fash of excitement, exclaimed: You
know" pointing his hand at Mr.. Hol-
ton, that | have not taken a dollar
for appearing before a department. of
the government.
Il didn't know it," replied Mr.. Hcl-
ION, in a tiger-like fashion, unit. last
April. Until then l thought you had
done this work without compensation
There was intense interest in the de-
vclOpments at this juliCture, which dew
thick and fast. Members Of the com.
L Zee took i ncnd in pr".raunding
q estions re'stipg [ the indictment o!
Mr. Blackburn Wse N asked vaeu re
had the bill of indictment returned
against the congressman, Holton re-
piled, mot until | vas ordered to do
so by the department of justice"
After making this statement he pro-
duced a telegram from Attorney Gen.
eral Moody, in which that official d.
rected that he begin proceedings
against the congressman for practic-
ing before the departments.
After following up the Individual
indictments Senator Kittridge asked
Mr.. Holton what Blackburn was charg-
I'd with particularly.
"For receiving $500 in the Dinkins
case, 800 in the Davis case, and $50 in
the Krider case" was District Attorne.;
Holton's prompt response in meeting
the direct question which some o.
those present thought he would decline
to answer on the grounds that it would
disclose his hand.
When the district attorney had fin
ished Senator Kittridge significantly
suggested that it was not necessary to
go further with the governments case.
SENSATION OF THE DAY.
The real sensation of the day was
furnished when it became known that
an affidavit had been filed with the
committee, alleging that Congressman
Blackburn several days after his in
dictmept by the federal grand jury,
had approached a nan prominent as a
whiskey manufacturer in the state,
whom he is said to have asked to con-
for the purpose of defeating the con-
John L. Casper of Winston, identified
made the affidavit which was placed
before the committee by the district
attorney. The filing of this affidavit
has made a profound impression mere,
and Mr.. Blackburn's answer is anx-
iously awaited.
Blackburn is alleged to have ap-
preached Casper in the depot at Greens
boro early in the month with a propo-
sition that he contribute to a fund to
defeat Holton's confirmation. When
asked how muct he would contribute,
Casper declares, he said that he vas
not in a position to become a subscrib-
or. Then it was that Casper says
Blackburn suggested that he see oIher
people in the whiskey business and
make up a fund of five thousand dol
lars to defeat Holton's confirmation.
The subscriber to the affidavit says the
congressman promised that HOltOn
should never be district attorney il
he would do as he suggested. Casper
says he then became non-commital and
promised to give an answe later.
The affidavit also asserts thai be
informed Blackburn of the indictment
of the two Samuels, of Salisbury, by
a federal grand jury and that his com
ment a. The thunder o say"
BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.
The hearing before the judiciary COM
mittee today with reference to Hoiton's
confirmation, which was behind closed
doors, lasted two and a half hours. A
%six-footer, armed with official author
ity, stood guard at the door, where
newspaper men waited for develop
ments. Representative Blackburn and
MI. Holton were on early and after
being examined separately, were
brought face to face, as has been re-
cited previously. Assistant District
Attorney Robb was also heard by the
committee, as was Solicitor General
Hayes, who assisted Mr.. Holton in the
prosecutions of the Samuel cases.
The sum total of the meeting today
was failure Il reach a decision regard
ing HoltOn's confirmation.
The committee received additional
charges from Mr.. Blackburn, and after
thrashing over previous charges and
answers, decided to give Mr.. Hoiton
full opportunity to meet the last accu-
SatiOnS in writing. In fact, these