The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1910-10-13
BROWNE COOL AS
he DENIES GUILT
IN LORIMER CASE
His Exceedingly Friendly Re-
lations With Man Who Admits
Taking Brides Are
Shown Up.

! teged Dy witnesses to nave distributed
several $1,000 brides to secure votes for
Senator Lorimer, resumed his testi-
mony before the senatorial Investigate
ing committee today.
The democratic leader talked easily
and with apparent confidence as he
took up the thread of his first public
statement of his side Of the legisia-
tive scandals. He smiled ut some Of
the questions. but rarely sought refuge
behind his constitutional privilege of
| refusing to answer on the ground that
he might incriminate himself.
| Made Trips With White.
| Attorney Austrian questioned i,irs
at first regarding lake trips in which
Representatives G. A. White, William
Sturmer and Fred Zentner Joined. and
concerning which White. Sturmer and
Senter have already testified. Browne
! said he made three trips on the lake,
but did not enter into any details.
He was then asked to look at the
| register of the Southern hotel, Of st.
| Louis, where under date OF July Is.
| 1903, the name Of Representative Rob-
ert e. Wilson, alleged Jackpot" dis
tributor, appears. Witness declared
the register did not refresh his mind
| rs to the date when Wilson went to
the Missouri metropolis.
His letter to Representative White,
In which occurs the sentence, II hope
/
tory" and which bears the date July
| 16. 1909, witness said had no reference
to any dealings between White and
Wilson, but was q courteous expression
| Of well wishing.
Notiosd Change in White.
Browne repeated that his visit to st.
Louis, June Il, 1909. was to discuss
minority patronage. Witness said he
first noticed change in the demeanor
i hn on oil cna ~
the legislature OF 1909 Whites let
ter to witness, in which the former told
the latter not to be surprised at any,
thing lie NWhite) might do, Browne said
NE took to mean that White had a fit
of the blues" feeling, perhaps like
ono who contemplated suicide He de-
MED receiving letter In which White
said he had got everything he had
been promised and was perfectly sat
isfed."
Senator Lorimei's statement to the
Senate that he knew Browne very well
was modified by Browne, who said he
did not consider he had more than a
casual acquaintance with the junior
senator from Illinois.
Browne denied meeting Representa-
tive White on June 10, when White
| says he received the bribe money from
him.
Not in Whites Room.
Referring to the days immediately
preceding the election OF Mr.. Lorimer
| witness said.
Il have no recollection cf ever hav-
Ing been in Whites room in the st.
Nicholas hotel at Springfield, nor do
cecall Whites visiting my room on May
s5 (thc day before the eiection). 1t is
hardly possible for a man with the
leadership OF 81. or moro men on his
shoulders. to remember accurately ev-
| cry man he spoke to-"
He did not recall that White had been
IN his (Browne's) room on May "a.
| either. 1t was possible that White
had called after midnight. however.
May Is Is the date when White alleges
| Browne offered him reward to vote
for Senator Loriner.
l. Browne Tells His Story.
Lee O'Neil Browne, twice tried. once
| acquitted and still under indictment for
bribery in the Lorimer case, was called
20 the witness stand yesterday after
9ocn. Browne said he was but slightly
.cquaintcd with White before the OPEN
ing or the legislative session during
which Lorimer was elevated to the
senate by combination OF democratic
and republican votes. During the scs-
sion. however. he met White frequently
and helped him with bills in which
White seemed deeply interested.
Il felt sorry Tor him." said the wit
hess.
The matter OF securing democratic
votes for Mr. Lcrimer, the witness
stated. was first mentioned to him In a
casual way by Representative David
Shanahan. Later-about three weeks
before the election-Speaker Shurtleff
came to his room, and asked him. in
effect. how many OF his following
among the democrats would be willing
10 vote for Mr.. Lorimer.
Talked With Shurtieff.
He asked me how many Of my boys
as my following was designated, would
vote for Mr.. Lorimer." related the wit
ness.
Il told him things were In such con-
1itiop, the session lad dragged on so
long, q good nau;' ~ them wanted to
end the deadlock AS for myself, I
could not tell how would vote.
Il told Mr.. Shur,leT. and later Mr..
Lorimer himself. that no democrat
would vote for MI Lorimer with my
consent unless thcy--s;peaker Shurtleff
and MIR. I.orimer--woulj give me their
word that no democrat should vote for
Mr.. Lorimer until his election was as
surcd."
Also Sees Loriner
Browne testified that he saw Senator
Lorimer and Speaker Shurtlei: fire.
quently after deciding TO support the
former, and that he talked 20 many
democratic representatives.. Including
White, Beckemeyer, Sheppard. Link and
Clark. all OF whom testified before the
senatorial committee.
II told Mr., I.orimer that according TO
my best information there would DC 90
Browne democrats who would vote for
him. This was on May a. or possib;y
the latter part of the preceding week"
said the witness.
He denied that he sent Representa-.
tive Robert T.. Wilson. alleged slis.riio-
utcr OF the Jackpot" To 81. LOWS in
July. He admitted that ne had written
10 several persons expressing regret
that he could not have bean with WA
son.
Referring TO the election, Mr.. Crowl,.
Sa'd he kept list--sevcrai list, in fact
---of democratic representatives who lie
expected to vote for Lor,mer. He rcal
q list Of so names TO the committee.
Browne said he was in st. Louis June
Il. 1909, which has been fixed by other
witnesses as The time and place when
he handed them $1,000 packages OF
money He said he had met Reprcsen-
tatives Henry A. Sheppard. Michael
Link. III. J. G.. Beckemeyer and Charles
Luke In the Southern hotel. lie de-
clared that he did not tell Representa-
tive White he was going there. Ills pur-
pose In going to st. Louis. he said, was
,tak