The Mena weekly star., 1907-04-11
ATTEMPT TO
 DRAW RHOTON IN
Senator Goss Says He Was Promised Immunity in Boodling Cases if He
 Would Vote For Argenta Bill.

Little Rock, April 6. .--Sena tor A. |. Gross, a member of the present general assembly, who is resting under an indictment charging hlm with boodling, and who was to have been tried at the February term of the Perry circuit court, and whose bond was declared forfeited because he failed to appear iu court, was the witness for the defense yesterday in the perjury trial of A. w. Covlngton who furnished the sensational testimony.
 It was after Senator Cross had been questioned by MT. Rhoton relative to boodling matters and the senator had denied positively that he had made any proposi- tons to or received propositions from C. A. Truett for poodle in connection with pure food bill.
 After Gross had been cross- examined by Mir. Rhoton and was being re.examined by Colonel Murphy, the question was asked II be had been appreciated by any one claiming to have author lty from Mr. Rhoton to tell him there was chance of having the poodle indictment against him { tGross) removed.
 Gross answered that Robert l.. Rogers, former attorney general of Arkansas, had come to him and told h III that if he would vote for the bill later passed by the present general assembly, providing for the annexation of cities, which IS the Argen.a bill, prosecution on the indictment might be avoided. The witness said further that Rogers told him that while Mir. Rhoton would not say so iu writing, he would nul- lify the indictment, he had told him Rogers that he (Rhoton) would not go back on anything Rogers did. Gross said Rogers had not only been 10 see him once, but several times. and on the last occasion he told him the offer was still good if he would remain away and not vote on the bill at all.
 The prosecuting attorney (Rhoton) demanded of the wit ness to know how he knew that Rogers ever at any tune inter- viewed him (Rhotou). The wit ness remarked that he had seen Rogers go to Rhoton's office.
 You say you saw him go to my office ?" asked Mir. Rhoton.
 Pinned down 10 au exact propo' sition, Senator Gross said that he had seen Rogers go up the stairway of the building in which Mir. Rhoton's office is.
 During the course of Cross cross-examiuation, relative to the matter of the prosecuting at torney's having promised Gross immunity in exchange for his vote on the Argen.a annexation bill, Mir. Rhoton asked:
 "l would like you just to ans wer why you didn't get up in the senate chamber and expose the matter
 1T thought over the matter ! Mir. Rhoton, and 1 know that Mir Mccall has been approached with money since we have been iu ses- sion here, and he went to the prosecuting attorneys office and got it in the neck, and l there. fore thought I was going to tho dirtiest place in town if l wen' to the prosecuting attorneys office" answered Senator Gross
 "I haven't iuvited you there, aud I want you to understand that don't want you to bring your slime and filth there; but asked why you didn't get up in tho senate and expose that, retortee MT. Rhotou while standing aDt staring straight at the witness
 Bee ,use thought it would do no good in the world" ans
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