The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-10-01
NEW WITNESS IN
LOR|MER CASE
Henry A. Sheppard Tells Why
He Voted for Senator
POSTOFF|CE IN JEOPARDY
Sheppard Says He Received No Money
From Browne Several Other
Witnesses Are Examined BY
the Committee

Chicago, September 30.-Representative
Henry A. Sheppard of Jerseyville, Ill. a
democrat, testified today before the Lori
ner investigating committee that he was
induced to vote for Senator Lorimer on
the verbal promise of Mr.. Lorimer that
he would do all in his power to prevent
the appointment of two certain Jersey
Vile mon to the postmastership of that
town. Sheppard said he still hoped the
promise would be performed. Altogether,
six witnesses were heard by the commit
tee, of whom four were members of the
state legislature which elected Lormer
George w. Meyers was the only legisla-
tor of the four who did not vote for Sem
ator Lorimer. He testified that he re-
fused to vote for Mr.. Lorimer after being
informed by Minority Leader Lee O'Neil
Browne that there were good state jobs
and plenty of the necessary in prospect
il he voted that way.
Representative Michael Link testified
that he received $1,000 from Browne and
5000 from Representative Wilson in St
Louis, but insisted that the money was
not in payment for his VOTE which he de-
clared he cast for Senator Lorimer be-
cause of his position in favor of federal
aid in the Illinois deep waterway project
Representative John DeWolf of Fulton
county declared that he voted for Sena-
tor Lorimer to break the deadlock" and
that he was not promised anything for
his vote, nor did he receive anything
for 1t.
Statements Corroberated
-
some of the statements of Representative
White. the first witness called in the
hearing. In addition to the promise to
prevent the Jerseyville postoffice going
into the hands of men who were un-
friendly to him, Representative Sheppard
told of his two visits to St. Louis on
June 21, when he met Lee ONeil Browne,
and on July 49, when he met Representa-
tive Robert Wilson.
Sheppard testified that no money or
anything of value was given him by
Browne, with whom he lunched. although
he admitted that he saw Representative
Beclxmeyer In Brownies room while he
was there, Beckmeyer has testified that
| on the same occasion he received $1,000
| from Browne and Link also admitted
| that he got package of $1,000 from
Browne.
Sheppard said he saw a number of leg
islators in Wilson's room, including
White. Link and Beckemeyer and testi-
fed that he went into the bathroom with
Wilson at the latter's request.
while you were In the bath room with
Wilson," said Attorney Austrian, did
Wilson give you package"'
HE did not" was Sheppards reply.
"What did he say to you Them
HE asked me the name of woman
with whom he had seen me-" said Shep-
pard.
Lorimer's Promise
The postoffice promise. Sheppard de-
clared was made In person by Senator
Lorimer
The witness related his experience be-
fore the grand jury In Chicago when the
exposure of the conditions at Spring
field was being made and said he was
threatened with indictment for perjury
If he did not declare that he received
money from Browne and Wilson,
Representative DeWolf was closely
questioned concerning his investment in
real estate since the election of Senator
Lorimer and the close Of the session Of
the Legislature He told OF borrowing
money to buy two farm tracts and testi-
fed that for long time before the
election of Senator Lorimer he had been
ready to vote for republican.
Reasons for Voting
"I am a Democrat said Dewolf, but
I told a number of persons that I was
ready to vote for republican and
tried to get some other democrats to
vote with me for Senator Watkins, but
I learned that he did not want demo-
cratic votes. I was anxious to end the
deadlock and get home.
Senator Lorimer came to me and asked
me If / could vote for republican.
told him could. He said he was think
ing of being a candidate and I told him
l would vote for him. He said he was
a republican of the old school-a protec-
tionists I replied the higher the better
because the more high protectionists there
were in office the quicker the people
would wake up and elect democrats"
Edward r. Wright, president of the IL
linois State Federation Of Labor. testi-
fed that he advised Representative White
to take his story Of conditions in the leg
islature to the newspaper which pub
lished 1t.
Late In the session the chairman called
for State Senator John Broderick for
whom a subpoena had been issued and
was informed that the summons had not
been served although efforts had been
made by deputy United States marshals
IN And the witness.