The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-06-02
Grand Jury Investigation Into
Illinois Political Scandal
Becomes Sensational.
LIE PASSED BETWEEN
ATTORNEY AND A WITNESS
Plans on Foot for Widening
Scope of the Inquiry Into
Graft.

SPRINGFIELD. H.. June l-Represen-
tative Fl. j. Beckmeyer hitherto a wit
ness before the Cook county grand jury
exclusively. will be In the capital tomor-
row to tell his story to tho Sangamon
county Investigators. It was announced
by States Attorney Burke today.
Beckmeyer, so far as known has cor
roborated the confession OF Representa-
tive c. \. White.
Deeper delving into the Jackpot.
scandal was predicted with the news Of
The coming OF Representative Beckmeyer,
who will be questioned by Attorney
before the. grand jury.
Burke, in conversation by telephone
with states Attorney Wyman of Cook
county. was apprised OF the coming OF
Beckmeyer. and plans for widening the
scope OF the inquiry were made.
One Witness Wednesday.
The only witness TO appear before the
jurors today was a. B. Johnston OF the
Johnston Hatcher company the, Spring
field furniture concern that obtained the
contract for supplying new desks and
chairs for the state house.
Johnston, who has repeatedly denied
culpability in the furniture contract, al
though accused by Senator Hostlaw, en-
phatically repeated his denial In the jury
room and denounced Holstlaw as guilty
of falsehood.
He used the word ''liar' freely, and
after declaring that Attorney Burke had
had repeated conferences with one OF his
(Johnston's) business competitors. was
ordered out of the jury room by, the
states attorney. who angrily retorted, III
you say that, you are lying, too"
investigation Of legislative doinss IN
connection with the bill regulating fish,
ing was scheduled for tomorrow,
Representative a, M. Foster OF Rush
vile. chairman OF the fish and game com
mittee, Is suhpoenaed 70 appear oeiore
fish commissioner. Representative Beck
meyer was member Of the fish and
be questioned regarding the fish bill,
which died in the committee,
During the day Representative II, ID |
McCulum. Democrat, declared he told the
grand jury that he voted for Lorimer |
after consulting his people at home and |
also because he believed Lorimers cleo
tion would bring dissension and division |
among the Republicans. and not because
OF political obligations to Beckmeyer or
anybody else.
Still More Denials.
Representative B. r. Staymates. In a
talk with the states attorney denied ne
had been offered or had received any
thing for his vote for Lorirner, and de-
MED any knowledge OF a Jackpot"
While he was before the grand jury,
declared that Holstaw and o.
had framed up the accusa-
tions against him and that States Attor-
ney Burke had had repeated conferences
with his business rivals,
The slur at him led to the prompt re-
tort from Mr. Burke and the order that
Johnston leave the jury room. Deputy
Sheriff Bogardus escorted the furniture
man from the Jury chamber with little
ceremony
~ was strongly tempted to strike him
when he was talking" said States At
torney Burke, and ] would very much
regret having anything like that happen;
20 ] ordered the man out OF the room.
No action was taken by the jury be-
lore the adjournment,