The Oskaloosa herald., 1910-05-12
WAYMAN BLASTS
DEFENST HOPES
Prosecutor Denies Rumor Of Re-
pudiated Confessions.
HUNT FOR men HIGHER up
Search 10 Being Made by Scouts for
Those Alleged to Have Furnished
Money IN Bribery
Scandal.
HUNT FOR MEN HIGHER UP"

Chicago. May 11.-Special: The
shot light which has been playing on
the Cook county grand jury has been
switched to Springfield tty-Gen
VIM. Fl. Stead at the request of Gov.
Deneen has asked the circuit court to
compel States Atty. Edmund Burke of
Springfield to cease investigating the
bribery charges tietil after the Chica.
go investigation is over 1t is feared
the Springfield investigation will con,
fuse the Chicago work.
Chicago, May 11.-Repudiation of
confessions alleged In the Legislative
bribery scandal sent the hopes of the
defense skyward for brief period,
only to be blasted by emphatic denials
from States Attorney Wayman later.
Like wildfire the report got about
the criminal court building that Rep
resentatiye III. j. G. Beckemeyer, who
made confession No. 2, had repudiated
1t. Beckemeyer in joking manner talk
ing with newspaper reporters had re-
fused to admit that he had confessed
and corroborated the sensational mar
rative of alleged graft at Springfield as
first told by Representative Charles A.
White. a
Brought Evidence, Says Wayman.
After Beckemeyer was closeted witf
States Attorney Wayman in the lat
tiers ONCE along with White for more
than half an hour Mr.. Wayman was
asked whether Beckemeyer had denied
his alleged confession.
"Beckemeyer has not only not repu-
dated his confession, said the prose-
cutor, but he has brought to this Office
documentary evidence to back up what
he told the grand jury" -
1t liz understood that the documen,
tary evidence Beckemeyer gave to the
states attorney was correspondents
between himself and Lee O'NeiI
Browne.
WheeIsn 10 d Witness.
Representative Henry L. Wheelan of
Roc1 Island, Democrat, who voted for
Senator Lorimer. was witness before
the grand jury. Representative Wheel.
an was questioned relative to his finan-
cial situation after the close of the SEES
sion, 1t Is asserted. He was asked rel
alive to the purchase of house at the
close of the session. One report was
that the purchase price was $4,000 and
that he paid $1,000 cash. Wheelan did
not deny that he bought home, It is
said, and told the grand jurors that the
money was honestly earned and that
there was no ground for suspicious.
Stead Confers With Wayman.
Attorney General Stead made hur.
ried trip from Springfield and held a
conference here with Mr.. Wayman,
at which 1t is said further lines of
action were agreed upon. The Cook
county prosecutor Is said to have de-
cided to go along slowly until States
Attorney Burke Of Sangamon county Is
given an opportunity to show what he
Is able to develop, after which Mr.
Wayman is to resume his leads with
renewed vigor.
Hunt for "Men Higher w."
The search for the men of wealth
who furnished the money alleged TO be
used for corrupt purposes at Spring
field is a lead to follow, say those who
are in the confidence of States Attor-
ney Wayman. On some sides it is
contended that this is hopeless task.
now that the expose is public property.
Mr. Wayman is said to have scouts OUT
looking into this phase of the scandal