Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1909-05-06

CHAIRMAN EDMONDS TELLS COM.
MiTTEE HE SPENT THAT
AMOUNT.
testimony MUCH THE SAME
AS UPON FORMER &C.
CASION.
Madison, May 5.

and campaign manager for Senator
Stephenson during the recent primary
and the election by the legislature,
was the star witness at yesterday S
session of the senatorial Investigate
ing committee, and much information,
though nothing of great Importance,
was added to the testimony regarding
mary and campaign before the legis-
lature. During the all-day cross-eX-
animation, the witness was very
guarded in his answers, although he
and gave the committee all the infOr-
nation that he said he had. The
principal feature of his testimony,
which was brought out at the outset
yesterday morning, was his admission,
that he spent $1,906 in behalf Of Sen
ator Stephenson in the campaign be-
| fore the legislature while the inves-
! tigation was going on. He filed an
! itemized account of he expenditure
! of this money, with names of persons
| to whom he paid amounts. He de-
MED that he held out any inducements
or made promises to members OF the
! legislature to vote for Stephenson and
said, "that to his knowledge there
were no agreements, promises or I'M
derstandings with members Of the
| legislature in connection with their
votes for senator When Mr.. Ed
monds left the stand late in the even
| ing, it was with the understanding
that he would appear again on Friday
Of this week for any further eXamin-
alton that the committee might go to.
Mr.. Edmonds took the stand after
! the committee had spent some time in
examining Leo Kelpinski of Milwau-
! kee the all-around campaign worker,
| who had spent money both for Steph-
! ensOn and for Cook during the pri-
mary. He told Of the expenditure Of
$55 of Stephenson money at a church
| picnic. He had received this money
| from William R. Knel StephensOn's
manager in Milwaukee, with the un-
| Outstanding that he was 10 receive
! $50 more if he handled this money
wisely. Knell had testified, that he
soon after found cut that Kelpinski
| also received money from Cook, and
! that to his best knowledge he had
| bought a horse for the $50 received
from him. Kelpinski said he was per
suaded by Peter KoehIer to go over
to Cook and become active in his be
half.
He volunteered the information, that
! during the primary Mr.. Knell, then
sheriff, had all the deputies out work
ing day and night" for Stephenson.
AS an instance, he mentioned Deputy
| Matuschewski of his own ward, who to
his knowledge a'so handled money.
Mr.. EdmOnds appeared before the
committee with an addition to his
counsel in the person Of NJ. G. Jeffris
of GAINESVILLE, with whom, as well as
with Mr.. Black, Stephenson's regular
attorney, he frequently conferred dur
ing the progress of the examination.
In regard to his part in the Steph-
enson campaign during the deadlock
Mir. EdmOnds said, that Senator
Stephenson asked him to come to
Madison and represent him. although
he at first believed, that the nominee
CT the republican party would be
elected Immediately. He was to be
the sole representative of Senator
Stephenson. and during the time that
he could not be here he left Overlook
in charge.
The senators then proceeded to
sharp crOSs-eXamination concerning
his possible connection with the speak
ership campaign of L. H. Bancroft,
and Mr.. Edmonds forcefully denied,
that Bancroft had threatened to favor
an investigation unless the oppost-
ton to his (Bancroft's) candidacy was
withdrawn.
When he found that Stephenson was
not elected on the first ballot and
that a hard fight might ensue, he
hired four men, c. c. Maryland. d. H.
Davies, the private detective. Henry
Overlook and a Mr.. ScanIan from his
own Office ito be in Madison and to
look after things" He made arrange
ments with each to reimburse them
for their time and expenses and
good deal of the $1.906 expended in
a |, was paid to these worker.
Have you any way Of giving an
itemized account of your expenditures
for Stephenson during the deadlock"
he was asked.
i kept no account except what is
in my personal check book
Then your stubs would show all of
your expenditures in behalf of Sen
ator Stephenson
They shou d show practically all"
Examination of the stub book
showed all the money expenditures IN
behalf of Senator Stephenson. except
two checks, enc of $500 to H. z. Clark
of Neillsville, and the other of s191 to
Davies. He then read from the stubs
the fol owing list of amounts and pay
eee Of the expenditure of part of the
s1,9Gs:
Jan. fS-Self, s25.45.
Jan. 18--Park hotel, $1,000.
Jan. 20-Self, s1255
Jan. 20-Self, $3.50.
Feb. 6-Western Union, 1854.
Feb. &C. C. Wayland, SIS.
Feb 10-Self, s129.35. 800 of this
TO Overbeck)
Feb. 10-Park hotel, s6785.