Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-06-04
THE JACK POT
FUND PROBEO
BY THE JURY
tPR.NGFIELD INVESTIGATION
NOW TURNS TO cONSlDERA-
TION OF FISH BILL BRIBES; DE-
NEEN ASKS CITIZENS TO AID.

charges that contributions to the legis
ative Jackpot" were made to insure
The death Of the fish bill, which re-
luired the payment of flshers S
licenses were the subject of scrutiny
by the grand jury today In addition
IN effort was made to add to the in
vestigation the details Of the alleged
withholding Of more than $4,000 by a
legislator who was to have added the
eollected sum to the general "jack.
pot" Governor Deneens call last
hight, calling on the citizens who
have knowledge Of bribery in the
legislature to come forward with their
assistance, was the general topic OF
discussion here today.
The first witness before the grand
Jury today was Beckmeyer, one Of
the witnesses on whom the state re-
lies to disclose pertinent details bear
Ing on the collection of Of alleged con-
tributions to the fund for the purpose
Of defeating the fish bill. Fish Com
missioner Cohn and Chief Fish War
den Caldwell followed Beckmeyer
before the grand jury.
Jackpot in Former Sessions.
The existence of Jackpot fund col
lected from various interests and di-
vided aomng Tie legislators after the
bills had been either passed or killed,
according to the desire of the contrib
utors, was laid before the grand jury
today IN the testimony of Representa-
tive Beckmeyer in such manner as
to establish in the opinion Of States
Attorney Burke 'tthe existence Of a
Jackpot, not only in the last general
assembly, but in the preceding session
of the legislature" Beckmyer was
before the grand jury more than an
hour and told the Jurors he was given
$500 o illegal funds. Burke said Beck
smeyer testified to seeing six legisla-
Tors in st. Louis, but was not able to
BAY all we're there for the purpose of
receiving slice Of the Jackpot. In the,
list are the names of legislators not In
cluded in Whites confession.
That the grand jury questioning,
concerning the fish bill which failed to
will be productice of more important
results than have developed since
ihe legislative inquiry began, is the
expectation Of States Attorney Burke,
Df Sangamon county.
Information was given the prosecu-
Tor, he said, that supplemented the
fragments known by him before, and
has completed the chain of evidence
from the men who paid sums of
money to defeat the bill to a man
who collected the amounts and up to
q legislator who is charged with hav-
Ing "held OUT the sum given him in
stead of having passed it along to
The Jackpot"
The states attorney said he had
been given the name Of legislator
who had been given between $4,000
and $4,000 collected to defeat the BILL
and who failed to turn the money over
10 the Jackpot" which was it's de-
signed resting place.
The witnesses examined by Burke,
parts Of whose testimony were made
Into chain of information Of the
strayed fund, were Fish Commissioner
Cohen, Fish Warden Caldwell and
Representative Faster, chairman of
the fish and game committee.
Some twelve or fifteen witnesses
are to be subpoenaed in connection
with the fish bill inquiry. Most of
the additional facts which came to the
states attorney today were furnished
by Fish Commissioner Cohen and Fish
Warden Caldwell. Representative
Foster was not questioned to any
length by Burke. His answers we're
practically confined to telling what
committee action was taken on the
bill.
Representative Beckmeyer is re-
ported to have declared that he will
send his resignation from the legis-
lature to the governor before he
leaves Springfield.
Deneen Issues Statement.
Springfield, Ill, June 3.-Governor
De-een last night issued statement
regarding the visit of States Attorney
Burk to his Office yesterday. He said
legislative corruption was discussed,
and that the governor offered Burke
any service possible in the investi-
cations.
Governor Deneen then said: '"The
taint of guilt should be traced from
Il Lemebrs of thel legislature who
received the bribes to the persons or
corporations who gave them. The
whole nefarious plot should be expos
ed, and all connected with 1t prose
cuted, and all who are innocent reliev-
ed from the burden of unjust suspi-
cion. The crime of bribery is one Of
the insidious and dangerous crimes
against the state. 1t makes farce of
party's contests and elections. Our
general assembly should not become
place where political highwaymen ex-
act tribute from defenseless citizens,
or market place where laws are
huckstered to venal bidders.
Every citizen who has any knowl-
edge of the commission of crimes in
our general assembly should furnish it
X the ss:thoEities."