Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-06-03
States Attorney Burke
Close to Men Who
Collected it.
RELIES ON WITNESSES
Deneen Demands That Every
Root of Conspiracy Be Dug
Up-ASkS Public Aid.

u
that contributions to the legislative
Jack pot were made to insure
death to the fish bill which required
the payment of fishers licenses were
the subject of scrutiny by the grand
jury today. In addition an effort
was made to add to the investiga-
ton details of the alleged withhold
ing of more than $4,000 by legis-
lator who was to have added the
collected sum to the general Jack
pot
Deneen's Call Commented On.
Governor Deneen's call last night
calling on citizens who have knowl-
edge of bribery in the legislature to
come forward with their assistance
was the general topic of conversation
here today.
Rely Beckemeyer.
The first witness before the grand
jury today was Representative Becke-
meyer, one of the witnesses on whom
the state relies to disclose pertinent
details bearing on the collection of the
alleged contributions to the fund for
the purpose of defeating the fish bill.
Fish Commissioner Cohen and Chief
Fish Warden Caldwell follow Becke-
meyer before the grand jury.
Jack Pot Not New.
The existence of a legislative
Jack pot fund collected from var
ious interests and divided among the
legislators after bills had been either
passed or filled according to the de-
sire of the contributors was told of
before the grand jury today in the
testimony of Representative Becke-
meyer in such a manner as to es-
tablish in the opinion of States At
torney Burke the existence of a
jack pot, not only in the last general
assembly but in the preceding ses-
sion of the legislature"
Gave New Names.
Beckemeyer was before the grand
jury more than an hour and told the
jurors he was given 5000 of the il
legal funds. Burke said Beckemey
er testified to seeing six legislators
in st. Louis but was not able to say
all were there for the purpose of re-
ceiving a share of the Jack pot"
In the list are the names of legis-
lators not included in Whites con-
fession.
On Fruitful Lead.
Springfield, Ill, June 3.-That the
grand jury questioning concerning
the fish bill which failed to pass the
46th general assembly be productive
of more important results than have
developed since the legislative in
quiry began, is the expectation of
States Attorney Burke of Sangamon
county.
Information was given to prosecut-
or yesterday, he said. which is sup
plemented by fragments known by
him before and has completed the
chain of evidence from men who
paid sums of money to defeat the
bill, to the man. who collected the
amounts and up to a legislator who
is charged with having held out"
a sum given to him instead of having
passed it along to the Jack pot"
The states attorney said that he had
been given the names of a legislator
who had been given between $4,000
and $500 which was collected to
defeat the bill and who failed to
turn the money over to the Jack
pot which was its designated rest
ing place.
Fish Men Examined.
The witnesses examined yesterday
by Burke part of whose testimony
went into the chain of information
of the strayed funds were Fish Com
missioner Cohen, Fish Warden Cald-
we'll, Representative Foster, the
chairman of the fish and game COM
mittee Some II or Is witnesses are
to be subpoenaed in connection with
the fish bill inquiry. Most of the
additional facts which came to the
states's attorney were furnished by
Fish Commissioner Cohen and Fish
Warden Caldwell.
Representative Foster was not
questioned at length by Burke, his
answers being practically confined to
telling what committee action had
been taken on the bill.
Deneen Makes Statement.
Springfield, ILL.,, June 3.-Follow-
ing visit of States Attorney Burke
to the governor yesterday afternoon
Governor Deneen late last night issued
a formal statement telling what oc-
Cured at the meeting, and followed
this up with a strong interview de-
claring that the bribery scandal un-
doubtedly involves great many mem
bers Of the legislature, and should be