The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1910-09-27
THE JACK POT
PROMINENT IN
INVESTIGATION
Question Of Probing the Gen
eral Corruption Fund Be. :.
fore Committee
PROSECUTION SEEKING TO GET
WHOLESALE GRAFT ADMITTED
Tribune Wants Lorimer Unseated Re.
cause There Was a General Fund
For Bribing Legislators Who
Elected Him on Certain Bills.

Chicago, Sept. 27-When the Lori
mer investigating committee conven-
ed today, the question whether the
testimony relative to the alleged jack
pot distribution was admissible was
still in allegiance.
Considerable testimony on that
subject relative to the motion to ex-
clude it from the evidence. A ruling
is expected before the direct and
cross examination of White Is COM
pleted.
Representative White declared that
he was met in the st. Louis hotel by
Representative Robert e. Wilson, also
a Democratic representative. who paid
him 5000. as his share of the jack pot.
White detailed his meeting with other
Democratic legislators in Wilson's
room and testified that the payment
was made to him in the bath room by
Wilson. who before that had conferred
with another of the legislators in the
same bath room.
His testimony was essentially the
same as given by him in the two trials
Of Lee O'Neil Browne on the charge
of bribery.
The committee would not permit the
witness at this time to relate CONVEX
sations. which he said he had with
Representative Joseph Clark of Van
dalia, relative to third representa-
tive, Michael Link, touching the brib-
cry payments. the ruling being pre-
ceded by spirited clash between the
opposing counsel.
In the argument over the admissi-
bility of the conversations of White.
Senator Poynter asked Attorney AUS
trian:
do you contend that II number of
legislators confessed that they we're
bribed It would justify unseating a
senator?"
To this Attorney Austrian respond
ed:
mo, that is not our contention"
Authorities on the admission of tes-
timony relative to conversations were
cited by Attorney Austrian.
Just before the adjournment for the
day counsel got into another tangle
over the answers of the witness.
White had detailed that he wrote his
story of the alleged bribery in the
election of Senator Lorimer in the
fall of 1909 and added to it in the
succeeding winter. The. question did
some one send you to the Chicago
Tribune with the story?" was asked
and another objection was encount-
cred. Again authorities were cited
and Chairman Burrows ruled that the
testimony was not competent.
White testified that he took the
story, his confession, to the news
paper after It had been returned to
him from New York where he had
previously sent 1t.
The publication of the confession In
the newspaper was the first public
intimation Of bribery and corruption
in the senatorial election.
DEPRESSING at one point from his
argument on the legal points involved
Attorney Hanecy said:
Governor Deneen will testify, II he
is called. that he suggested that Sem
the senatorship."
"This committee is asked" con-
tinued Attorney Hanecy. Ito hold
against Senator Lorimer because 1t Is
said some one paid money to kill or
pass OlllS. III LnlS line OF testimony
is admitted we should be allowed to
summon every corporation or person
that Is charged with paying money
into this jack pot fund and show by
them that they did not pay anything
to effect legislation"
Basing his ruling on the decision Of
the senate investigating committee in
the case of Senator George s. Spencer
OF Alabama in 1876, Chairman Bur-
rows barred hearsay evidence from
the hearing.