Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-04-21
SENATE PROBE
BEARS FRUIT
Testimony at Madison Is
Very Sensational.
ELECTION OF STEPHENSON

His Majority Made Possible by Pre-
arranged Plan Evolved by cheIIis c.
Wayland and Former State Game
Warden Overlook, According to the
Testimony of Wayland Himself
New Light on the Game Warden's
Department.
Madison, Wis, April 20.--The elec.
tion of Isaac Stephenson to the sena-
torship March was accomplished by
paid workers for the Marinette senator
by persuading three Democrats to re-
main out OF the Joint ballot while the
roll was being called on Inauguration
day This was admitted Friday after
noon by Chellis c. Wayland, a partner
of State Chairman e. A. Edmonds. tes-
tifying before the senate investigating
committee.
That the three Democrats--Towne,
Farrell and Ramsey-were RESPONSE
BILE for Stephenson's election was known
all the time, but that their absence
from the assembly. making possible a
Stephenson majority. was the result of
a prearranged plan evolved by Way
land and former State Game Warden
Henry Overlook, was only suspected
and Wayland testimony confirms the
suspicion Wayland testified that he
had been assigned" TO Towne, who
was known to be wavering OF con-
ference called by Overlook, who also
had been active in the primary cam
paigu for Stephenson and who the
day before the election. had been
witness before the Joint investigating
committee
Nc Attempt to 5rihe.
Wayland denied that he had attempt
ed to bribe any member of the legisia-
mre either to vote for Stephenson or
to attend or to remain out Of the
joint convention. He admitted that in
the case OF Towne he suggested way
out of Towne's financial embarrass-
ment, as Towne was threatened with
foreclosure of mortgage held by
client of former Secretary OF State
James A. Stone He said he told
Towne where he could get another
loan.
Wayland said he semained In Madi-
son during the entire senatorial dead
lock, his expenses being borne by Ed
monds, who was in fact also Stephen
sons political representative or man
aser, even during the deadlock. While
Wayland was still a witness the COM
nittee during recess sent Sergeant
at-Arms FaIconer OF the senate to
Washington TO subpoena Stephenson
and r II Saekett.
Two other distinct sensations came
to light in the closing hours OF Fri
dey's session One was the discovery
that not over $50 had been turned into
the state treasury last fall as the pro-
ceeds OF the sales OF conflscated deer;
whereas former Deputy Warden John
Buckley on Thursday had told Of the
confiscation and sale OF 240 deer. which
were sold for approximately $4,000.
The other sensation was the admission
by David II Davies that in his char
acter as private detective he had been
employed at $5 a day by Henry Over
beck To keep track" of the legislators.
Record of Only Six Sales.
The new light on the game warden's
department followed as logical re-
suit of Buckley's testimony Of the day
previous Deputy Warden A. J. Schauer
was called to the stand. He is the
Office deputy and has charge OF the de-
partments bookkeeping. He testified
that he had record Of the sale Of only
six deer for $479S and that II any
more had been sold and the money
turned into the treasury he would
have known of It. He said he had
not seen Stone for two weeks He ad
mitted he had heard 1t reported that
Stone had sold 240 deer in Milwaukee,
but knew nothing nothing further
about It,
Detective Davis testified that he was
employed to watch the legislators and
report on their goings and comings, in
order that the Stephenson managers
might know who would be present to
vote on each joint ballot. He denied
doing any work in the way of trying
to persuade legislators to vote for Ste
phenson He had, however, spoken to
Asgemhiyman Leuch of Milwaukee.
who told him that he would vote for
Stephenson II the investigation then
In progress did not reveal anything
showing corruption or violations OF
the law
The Davidson Fund.
When the joint investigating COM
mittee, containing both senate and as
sembly members. wound up its work
on Saturday, Governor Davidson wae
the star witness The governor de-
"lared be had not known Of the exact
source Cf the 81 200 given him by Game
Warden Stone until Il was revealed
by Stone before the investigating com
mittee. He said he merely had placed
the money in the bank in two certifl
Gates OF deposit awaiting stones ex-
PLANTATION, which he never received.
The next witness Oh the stand. a
deputy warden told Of conversation
with Stone. In which the latter told
Of giving the money to the governor
The governor said Stone, remarked 0u
the occasion of one payment. the boys
are giving too much This testimony.
in view Of that which hsd preceded It.
was received with no little interest by
the committee
The senate investigation began on
Monday night, when several deputy