Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-09-27
Tells His Former Story of How
Minority Leader Browne
Promised Him 900 and
Other Sums
FAMOUS JACK POT
TO FIGURE I'M CASE
Six of the Seven Members OF
the Committee Are Present
to Investigate Election of the
Illinois Senator

CHICAGO, Sept 26--Representative
Charles A. White, of O'Fallon, ILL.,, was
the first witness to take the stand in the
investigation into the election of United
States Senator William Lorimer by the
senatorial subcommittee on elections
and privileges. Six of the seven MEM
bers of the committee were present when
his examination by Attorney Austrian,
representing the Chicago Tribune, which
in printing Whites story several months
ago, brought on the investigation, began. .
White, after giving his name and ad-
dress and saying he was a duly elected
member of the Illinois legislature, iden-
titled letters sent to him by Lee ONeil
Browne asking Whites help to estab-
fish Brownies position as minority lead
er in the lower house of the legislature.
The witness then began to tell of his re-
lations with Browne.
White, on direct examination by At
torney Austrian, declared he had been
asked by Minority Leader Browne to
vote for Lorimer, and that Browne told
him he would be paid $1,000 for his vote.
The testimony was the same as has been
given by White in the two trials of
Browne.
The first severe clash of the hearing
came when Attorney Austrian asked
what money was promised White. The
representative replied: Il asked Browne
how much 1 would get from ether
sources and he replied. oh. about as
much more"
Senator Lorimer's attorney objected
to this answer, arguing that the other
sources" were entirely outside the case.
This brings up he said, what has
been referred to as the Jackpot. BY
the words of the witness-'other sources
1T is shown that it has no connection
with the election of Senator Lorimer.'
n Aust rarIf01.
1--WE claim that this line of testimony
is necessary because to show that the
Democratic senators and representatives
who voted for Lorimer voted for him as
part of a system in which their votes
on other measures and their vote for
Senator Lorimer were Correlated. We
are trying to show there was general
state of corruption in that legislature
and that men were trying to bride
others"
The committee retired into executive
session to consider admissibility of this
line of evidence.
at saw Browne May %, the day be-
fore voted for Lorimer, and asked him
what 1 was to get. He said to me:
You are not afraid to leave that to me,
are you? 1 replied: No, l am not
afraid but would like to KNOW Then
he said: You will get 81, 900 ready cash,
but keep that under your hat, for am
suspicious Of that little place above here
they called Joliet Then 1 asked him
what 1 would get from other sources and
he replied.
" About as much more
The issues between the attorneys was
clear cut, Attorney Austrian insisting
that Jackpot" testimony was material
and admissible and Attorney Hancey as
vigorously arguing against this admis-
sion.
The committee considered the admis-
sibility of the Jackpot testimony for
some time in executive session and up
on returning to the hearing room Chair
man Burrows and other senators ques-
toned the witness concerning his I'M
derstanding of the promise OF money
from other sources.
White said he had heard rumors of
what was known as jackpot which
was to be divided among legislators for
strengthening or passing bills" in re-
sponses to a question from Chairman
burrows Il considered it all
part of the agreement-the $1,000 and
my share of the Jackpot" said White
Senator Gamble asked: Was the
money from other sources part of your
promise to vote for Senator Lorimer, or
did it have an influence on your voter
'I think it had an influence" replied
White.
would you have voted for Senator
Lorimer for that $1,OO?" asked Chair
man Burrows. Yes, 1 cIink 1 would
have" replied White after some hesi-
tation.
Senator Hepburn then asked the wit
ness:
This conversation you have repeated
did not mean that you would get any
more than the $1,000 for voting for
Senator Lorimer?'
mo, 1 did not think So was the
answer.
With the admissibility of the testimo-
ny relating to the so-called ''jack-jot
still in abeyance White was asked TO
relate his later dealings with Browne.
The witness testified he was paid $3.50
by Browne in Springfield and that early
in June in the Briggs house, Chicago,
he was given $3.50 by Browne.
when he paid me the money Browne
cautioned me about showing $50 bills
around and told me that that was all
the Lorimer money" said White
Letters from Browne to White were
read by Attorney Austrian, who then
took up the visit of White to st. Louis
July IL, 1909, in response to telegram
purporting to have been sent By Repre-
sentative Robert Z. Wilson.
without interruption White testified
that he met several of his Democratic
colleagues in the legislature IN 81. Louis
that day.
Attorney Hancey again objected to the
witness telling of the payment of 5000
to him by Wilson which attorney Aus
trian adm tied was what was being
brought out.
Attorney Austrian again declared that
he offered the testimony to prove gen
eraI corruption in the legislature and
insisted that senate committees in sim
liar Investigations had held such testi-
mony admissib-lible. chairman Burrows
interrupted the argument o: counsel by
announcing the noon recess.