Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-05-10
Of Massachusetts, Leqis.
Iature TO Be Called
Before Grand Jury in Connection
With Charges Of Bribery.
Summonses Already issued for rs Mem.
bers-. Others 10 Follow.

Boston, May Mot for many
years has such sensation been
caused at the State House a.
developed today when the word
spread that every member Of the gen
eral court would be summoned by Dist
Atty. John r. Moran To appear befora
the Suffolk county grand jury in con-
nection with an investigation Of
charges of bribery. Process servers
stood in the corridors and as the leg.
islatOrs entered they were handed sum-
monses directing them to appear to.
morrow before the grand jury. Sey-
enty-fve members will be called to tes-
tify tomorrow and the remaining leg
isla tors will be summoned later. The
investigation will be general although
particularly relating to the charges Of
bribery made at the time of the defeat
of the bucket shop bill. During the af-
ternoon the House committee on rules
started of it's own accord an investiga-
ton of the bribery allegations. and
summoned as the first witness Repre-
sentative Leonard of Springfield.
Later it was understood that the in
vestigation concerning which the egis-
latura had been summoned. would not
be confined to the bucket shop bill in
quiry hut would include also other mat
ters about which informa ton has been
given to the district attorney Mr.. Mo-
ran will inquire into the way in which
the overtime bill was defeated as well
as some other measures in which cor
pora tions are said to have been inter-
csted.
During the early afternoon three Off
GERS of the district attordney'S office ap-
peared at the State House and served
the summonses upon the legislators as
they entered for theafternoon session
Among the first to he served was
Spea kcr John n Cole of the House. The
Legislators are directed TO appear to-
morrow morning before the grand jury
There seemed to he a general sentiment
that the members would respond to the
summonses although several raised thu
question as to whether the district at
torney's action was legal.
bribery investigation order is al
ready pending before the Legisla turc.
having been offered by representa-
tive and now being on file with the
committee on rules to which it was re-
ferred. .-
District Attorney. John B. Moran
todas- announced his intention
Of summoning before him the en-
tire membership Of the Massachusetts
Legislature in connection with charges
of bribery recently made over the de-
feat of the an:i-hucket shop bill in the
House Of Representatives Al
ready summonseS have been is
sued for IS members of the
general court and the dis
trict attorney says that the others will
he called before him at a later date.
Three members OF the House have al
ready testified before the grand jury
which is now in session on the bucket
shop bill bribery charge.
The anti-bucket shop bill was passed
by the state Senate but it was defeated
iii the House. The measure was kille1
after one of the most bitter contests in
the history of the general court. After
the final action had been taken. Repre-
sentative Simon Swig Of Taunton. made
statement in the corridor of the
House, in which. it is alleged. he charg-
Ell that he had been offered a bride Of
800. in consideration Of casting his
vote against the bucketshop bill. Rep
resentative Leonard of Springfield
Was also said to have made a statement
of similar nature. The matter was
brought to the attention of District At
torncy Moran and he at once summon
ed Representative Swig before him.
The legislator is said to have denied
to Mr.. Moran any knowledge of bride
offering. Later the district attorney
officially summoned Representatives
Swig and Leonard. and Representative
Poland of South Boston. and these
three legislators. together with legis
lative agent named Barter. testified be
lore the Suffolk county grand jury on
Monday shortly after that body came
in for its regular May sitting.
District Attorney Moran has been
continuing his investigation Of the
bribery charges and gave public notice
that he would go to the extreme of call
ing the entire legislature before the
grand jury if such he thought neces-
sary in order to sift the charges.
An incident in connection with
the inves tigation was a letter which
Thomas w. Lawson wrote to the dis
trlct attorney. in which he made gener-
al charges OF wrongdoing against the
general court. Mr.. Moran sent for Mr.
Lawson and the two were in consulta-
ton for several hours yesterday
Mr.. Moran accompanied his an
nouncement of his intention to summon
the entire Legislature by sending out
summonses for IS senator's and repre-
sentativcs. the names being selected al
alphabetically