The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1908-10-08
HANLY FULLY
EXONORATED
COMMITTEE GOES OVER
EVIDENCE IN BRIBERY
ACCUSATION CASE
AND DEPRECATE
KNISELY'S AC-
CUSATION.

he legislative inquiry llltO Tic
bribery charges made against
Governor Hanly> and Senator
Wickwire by Representative
Knisely ended in a complete vim
dication for the Governor a find
ing that Representative Knisely
did not intend to accept any po-
sition if rendered, and the making
Of scapegoat, as he himself put
it, of Senator Wickwire by the
House and a resolution of conf
dence in him by the Senate.
The House report took Repre-
sentative Knisely mildly to task
for making his now famous affi-
davit, and declared unqualifiedly
that Senator Wickwire had no au-
thority to offer any position, if he
did tender such, for a vote on
county option.
The House report was unani-
nous and was adopted without a
dissenting voice. So certain was
The Senate that it would concur in
it that both Houses agreed to adj
journ at 3:13. The House carried
out the original program. unani-
mously adopting the report sign
ed by Representatives Daily OF
Marion and Condo of Grant IRE
publicans), Honan of Jackson and
Pierson of Clay and Owen Dem
ocras). The moment Senator
Wickwire became aware of the
contents of the report he made a
strong appeal to his colleagues
not to adjourn, but to investigate
the charges and not leave him to
bear alone the humiliation and
unjust criticism, as he termed it.
He asked that he be acquitted or
branded as a criminal
His appeal won the Senate and
the clock was turned back while
committee consisting OF Sena-
tors Roemler of Marion. Kim
brough of Delaware (Republi-
cans), Stotsenberg of Floyd, Nc
Dowell of Knox and Sullivan
(Democrats), examined the mass
Of evidence that had been taken
by the House committee.
While the official records will
show the Senate adjourned at
13 it was 6 80 when Lieutenant
Governor Miller pronounced the
word.
Report of House Committee.
The report adopted by the
House. and to which Senator
Wickwire objected SO strenuous
Fly, was as follows:
Mr.. Speaker-We, the under
signed, your committee appointed
10y the speaker, pursuant to a res
olution of the House of Represen-
tatives, to investigate the charges
contained in an affidavit subscrib-
ed and sworn to by Representa-
tive Luther w. Knisely involving
the integrity of two members OF
the General Assembly and the
Governor of the State of Indiana,
beg leave to submit the following
unanimous report:
That Immediately upon our ap-
pointment on the goth day of Sep
TENDER, 1908, at the hour OF 2::30
p. m. +; we convened in Room SO OF
the State House; employed Miss
Emma Messing as stenographer
to make full report of our proceed
ings; excluded the public invited
the various newspaper represent
tatives and all parties concerned
in person or by counsel, to be
present, and proceeded with the
investigation of said charges.
Governor ]. Frank Hanly' APP
peared in person and by c. c.
Shirley, his counsel.
Senator Wickwire appeared in
person and by Ezra Mattingly
his counsel.
Representative Knisely ap-
! 'eared in person and by Frank NJ
<istler, his counsel.
And your committee was repre-
sented by Edward White, deputy
attorney general.
| We further report that we con
Quoted a most thorough and
searching investigation of all wit
nesses known or suggested to IL:
IS having knowledge of the facts
frequently pursuing collatera
and irrelevant testimony in order
to reach the ultimate facts. the re
port OF which proceedings was re.
pored in full by said Emma Mess
ing and is in the possession of this
committee and the same is being
reduced to typewriting.
We further find that there is nc
evidence in said record that the
Hon. Frank Hanly, Governor
'of the State of Indiana, offered
or tend cred Representative
Knilsely any position, official OF
otherwise, or any consideration tc
influence his vote on the county
local option bill, nor did ne au-
thorize any other person to make
any such offer.
We further find that Senator
Wickwire and Representative
Knisely had certain conversations
prior to the passage of said coun-
ty local option bill relative to his
| vote ,tDnn SoiJ ,,,aoc.ra /tba 49,: