Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-05-31
HOLTSLAW WAS PAID
$500 TO CAST HIS
VOTE FOR LORIMER

FREEZER, sales agent for the Ford a
Johnson company at st. Nicholas hotel
and told FREEZER 1t would be worth $500
for him to use his influence in securing
the contract for the Ford & Johnson
company. He declared that FREEZER told
him that this sum was out OF the ques-
ton, that his company could not AFFORD
to pay so much.
At this time, said Holstlaw, A. B. John
ston, OF the firm Of Johnston-Hatcher,
OF this city, entered the room. Holstlaw
said that FREEZER then told him that he
would have to talk to Johnston and that
anything that Johnston did was all right.
Holstlaw said he told Johnston that he
wawnted $500 for his vote in favor of
the furniture contract and that Johnston
declared that he could not pay that
much; that the $500 he offered Hollis
law was $500 more than any other men,
Der Of the committee was getting. The
sum of $500 was then agreed upon, 90
Holstlaw said, and the agreement was
made that the money was to be paid
when the furniture was delivered and
the company had received its money
from the state.
FREEZER QUESTIONED.
FREEZER, who was In the city several,
times while the legislative committee
was carrying on negotiations for the new
furniture, was taken before the grand
jury late in the afternoon. He was first
told by States Attorney Burke that
Holstlaw had confessed and that the
| states attorney was going to give him
the opportunity to tell all he knew about
the transaction. FREEZER was also told that
If he desired he would be allowed to seek
the advice of an attorney. FREEZER waived
this right and after telling the states
attorney what he knew about the deal,
/ he was taken before the grand jcry,
where he repeated the story.
FREEZER corroborated in every detail the
story told by Holstlaw regarding the
meeting in Freiers room at the St Mich
olas, when the subject of money was
discussed. He said he acted throughout
the negotiations more as a furniture ex-
pert and demonstration. He says that on
the night Holstlaw visited him at his
room at the St. Nicholas, Holstlaw told
him he would have to have $500 for his
vote in favor OF Ford and Johnson in the
awarding OF the contract the next day.
FREEZER says he told Holstlaw that this
was out OF all deason that he was sure
his company could not afford to pay so
much. FREEZER says Johnston then came
into the room and he left Johnston and
Holstlaw together. first stating to Hoist
to do would be all right. FREEZER declared
he heard Johnston say to Holstlaw that
the $500 agreed upon was $500 more than
any other member of the committee was
to receive.
So far as the evidence presented shows
there is nothing to show that FREEZER had
anything TO do directly with the agree
ment to pay members OF the committee
for their votes in favor OF his company
~ 81,
grand jury the formal petition asking
for immunity was filed with Judge
Creighton and upon the recommendation
of States Attorney Burke the order
granting Holstlaw immunity was entered
upon the records of the court. Holstlaw
then left the court room, stating thai
he was going to his home in Iuka.
Shortly after o'clock the grand Jury
took a recess to O'Clock.
INDICTMENTS BROUGHT.
When the story OF FREEZER had been told
the grand jury. corroborating in detail
that previously told by Senator Holstlaw,
II did not take the jury long to vote in
dictments. At $40 p. m. the grand jury
returned into open court and made their
report to Judge Creighton.
The bill charging conspiracy to per-
form the felony of bribery contained
three counts directed at Senator Stanton
c. Pemberton, OF Oakland, and d. W.
Holtslaw, of Duke, and Representative
Joseph S. Clarke, Of Vandalia. Capiases
were Immediately ordered to issue and
bail fixed at $4,000 each. AS soon as
the indictment against Holtslaw has
been placed on the records of the courts
States Attorney Burke moved that IL be
nolled, and this was done.
The bribery indictment against Sena-
tor John l5rodericK, of Chicago. was the
Ia st to be read by the court. The ca
pias was also issued for Frederick and
his bail fixed at the same figure as that
of Pemberton and Clark.
States Attorney Burke believes the