Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1909-04-02
Sensational Disclosures
Before the Senate Bribery
Investigating Committee.
Large Fund Raised and Used in the Senate
Extracts from Testimony Introduced But Heretofore I'm
published

islature adjourned, 1905, he closed up a
business deal with some man when
he refused TO name to me. the deal IN
volving $4,000, and that the man
raid to him, II cost more than that TO
defeat the prohibition amendment.
The deal Of which Mr.. Byrne spoke
had no relation. he said to the amend
mont. Mr.. Byrnc stated to me that
this man was in . position to know
what he Was talking about.
COST s1o6,0c0 IN 1908.
Some lime last summer Il wsson the
b. a o. train betwcsn t,larksburg and
rennsboro, and met Mr.. VIM, II. Corn.
we'll, Of Fairmont; l think be got Off
q fennshoro; was on his way to Har.
risville; he stated that whiis the
amendment was ipending In the SEN
ate last year, some Of his clients who
wsrs In the liquor business, or con-
nected with u In some way, were in
his ofiice o. business not connectesl
with the iiqusr traffic, and the ques i.
tion - = the probable defeat of the
amendment came up. He naked them
n they would - able to tiefoat;it they
expressed confidence that they would
DO able to do 70. He inquired o. them
what It would cost them, aud they
sad Sos ,000.n
SENATOR MONTGOMERY.
SUBJECT or FORGED TELEGRA M --vr.
crors METHODS on LIQUOR
INTERESTS.
On February rs, Senator Samuel b..
Montgomery, member OF the last legi-
lature, now In the Bureau VI LABOR AZ
| Washington, having been duly sworn
testified IN part 40 follows.
by Senator England, Chairmau.
\ q. During the session Of the LegisIa-
turc Of 1908, state v neither Or not at or
about the time the prohibition amend
ment was 70 be voted on, any person
sngges1ed:fo you to abseut yourself
aud moi be present at that time?
Al ! ara glad That senator England
asked me this question. The other
evening, the committee being hurried
because Of other committee engage
meats Of ceriaiu members Of the com.
nittee, | overlooked one statement
that ! desired 70 make. to the
best Of my recollection, the day before
the Senate voted on the submission Of
the prohibition amendment, rcceiv-
ed telegram from political support
! er Of mine in Preston county, which,
In effect, said, that the county com
mittee Of Preston cou nty would meet
on the next day, that is, the day the
amendment was to be voted upon, and
that my political enemies were liking
us In such way that would 10 at d
decided disadvantage Ia my contest
for denomination, and urging the i'm
portance Of my presence. This Ii the
subject matter Of the telegram, 40 near
~ can recall II. / received the teIe.
gram N good faith, and believing that
my political future was endangere d ,
had almost decided to 20 home to at
tend the committee meeting, rot ut
that time giving any serious thought
20 the construction that might be-
| placed upon me by those who opposed
me politically for being absent and
not voting when the amendment
should come before the Senate Some
OF my friends called my attention 10
this matter, and got In long distance
j communication with Kingwood, aud
to my surprise fonrd that the conn.,
mssteeweslnot to meet az all. Now.
~ recollection ID that the friend
whose name was signed to the teIe-
gram told me that he had never cent
me any snch telegram, and have
never satisfied myself here the ieIe-
gram came from. o. who had it sent
II must have come from SONS person
or some source that apparently YVES
friendly TO me, or they would not
have known whose Dslne to use. /
discussed this telegram with great
many friends here, but was never able
to thoroughly satisfy iuyssIf a. TO the
source from which ii came
GEORGE EYRNE.