The Washington herald., 1907-01-31
THREAT FOR BAILEY
Gruett Admits Letter TO Sen
atOr Conveyed Hint.
WANTED $4,000 FROM PIERCE
Reference in Epistle to Certain
Voucher Intended to influence
Texan To Have OIL Magnate Pay
Gruett Large Sum-WItness Denies
BIackmaiI Was Attempted.

Austin. Tex. Jan. 3o-The legislative
committee which is investigating the
charges against Senator Bailey. exam
ined j. p Gruett jr. of ST Louis. the
greater part OF the day He was for
merly employed iu the accounting depart
ment of the Waters-P Pierce oil Company.
The testimony Of his father, J. p Gruett.
ST.. was corr0borated I'm every detail
Aside from The Gruett testimony. tha
committee dwelt principally upon the
Plateau letter written 20 Senator Bailey
lin an endeavcr 20 secure his Influence in
the collection ot a sum Of SzSoo. . debt
owed Gruett. ST., by Pierce.
The composition and the authorship
was not disputed by Sir Cruett. neither
that il was written TO Bailey for the pur-
pose of securing his influence TO obtain
the sum OF money from Nir. Pierce. He
did. however. say that Nr. Plateau was
la friend of Air. Bailey. and had no iu-
tentiou o. blackmaihng him OF causing
him any injury as a result Of the letter
or the reference 10 the voucher
When asked whether the Plateau letter
mot with his approval hg said that il
did
Ny idea was that Bailey could be
induced to use his influence with Mr.
Pierce"
Does Not Recall Advising Father.
Mr.. Gruett was asked if hc did not
think that the fact that he had papers
might place Mr.. Bailey under obligations
to him. He replied that it might have
something to do with t.
Your father would have suppressed
the papers f Mr.. Bailey would have com
Piled with your request. wouldn't he?'
be was asked by Attorney Odeil-
.I really don't know whether Ily
father would have given them up or not
was the reply
Mr. Gruett stated that it was his faith
er's business. and not his. but he hal
talked with him concerning these matters
Didn't you advise him about the sup
preston of these papers for the payment
OF 81. 0802" he was asked
'I don't remember now, whether 7 did
or not. 7 gave my father ideas, and
have talked with him about severa
things. Mr. GrUett replied
When Mr. Bailey ignored Mr.. Fla
teaus letters. what did YOU next consider
1T was my fathers case. not mine.
don't know whether or not ! gave my ad
vice in that regard
The witness stated that he did not con
slider that q blaCkmailing scheme. H.
said that he considered that an attempt
to get Mt Bailey TO use his influence il
the settlement of claim that his father
and he thought "a just one.
"Do you think that is a legitimate way
to blaClmail Mr.. Bailey? Mr.. Odell
asked.
Il think the letter written was a per
fectly legitimate request
He was asked when he first met Assist
ant Attorney General Lightfoot- He re-
piled that it was at the Southern Hotel, in
St Louis. He gave in detail his meet
ing with Mr.. BightfoOt and the purpose
OF the Interview. which was in cOnnec-
tion with the Texas case against tbs
Watas-Pierce Oil Company He said
that he had never shown the vouchers
or Photographic copies Of them, to Mr.
Lghtfoos.
Er Crane asked Mr. Gruett if Mr.
Fiateau was not friendly to Mr. Bailey
He replied that he was. and Mr. Crane
asked the ccmmittee 20 ask for the
Plateau letter.