Los Angeles herald., 1910-09-27
LORIMER FIGHTS
To HUSH EVIDENCE
ABOUT JACK POT
Senator's Lawyers Seek to Re-
strict Scope of Congress
SionaI Probe
LEGISLATOR TELLS OF BRIBE
White Says He Was Paid $1,000
by Browne to Vote for
Chicago Man
LEGISLATOR TELLS OF BRlBE
Associated Press1

CHICAGO, Sept. 26.-Testimony from
State Representative Charles A. White
was heard today by the senate com
mittee investigating the charges of brl-
berry in the election of William Lori
mer as senator from Illinois.
After hours of argument by coun-
sci, the committee left undetermined
the question. of the admissibility of
testimony relative to the alleged jack
pot, a fund for the payment of legis-
lators for voting for or against bills
pending before the Illinois general as
sembly. Attorney Alfred S. Austrian,
representing the Chicago Tribune,
which is pushing the charges against
Senator Lorimer, contended that the
alleged participation of legislators who
voted for Senator Lorimer in the spotls
of the so-called "jack pot" was per-
tinent to the investigation as showing
general legislative corruption.
Attorney Elbridge Hanecy, counsel
for Senator Lorimer, opposed the ad-
mission of testimony relative to bribes
paid to legislators for their votes on
matters apart from the senatorial cleo
tion.
On the understanding that the ac-
ton was not to be considered pre-
cedent admitting the whole Jack pot"
sucject, Chairman Burrows permitted
White to answer some questions touch
ing the matter.
WHITE TELLS OF BRIBE
No objection was made by counsel
to the testimony of White that he had
been paid $1,000 by Lee O'Neil Browne,
the Democratic leader, to vote for
Senator Lorimer, but his words tell
ing of the alleged distribution of the
Jack pot in a st. Louis hotel met
with objection.
Afer an executive session of some
minutes, the ruling that the witness
could answer on the St. Louis occur
renee was given with the understand
ing that no precedent was established
and that the motion to exclude such
testimony was still pending.
White then declared that he was
met in a ST. Louis hotel by Robert E.
Wilson, also a Democratic representa-
tive, who paid him 5000 as his share of
the jack pot.
White detailed his meeting with the
other Democratic legislators in Will
sons room and testified that the pay
ment was made to him in the bathroom
by Wilson, who before that had con-
ferred with another legislator in the
same bathroom.
The committee would not permit the
witness at this time to relate the con-
versations which he said he had with
Representative Joseph Clark of Van
dalia relative to a third representative,
Mihcael Links, touching the bribery
payments.
In the argument over the admissible
ity of the conversations of White, Sem
ator Paynter asked Attorney Austrian:
DO you contend that If a number of
legislators confess that they were
bribed, it would Justify unseating a
senator?"
Attorney Austrian replied:
mo, that is not our contention"
Authorities on the admission of tes-
timony relative to the conversations
were cited by Attorney Austrian.
ARGUES FOR DEEP PROBE
In the course of his argument Attor-
ney Austrian said:
1--WE will prove that every man who
was paid to vote for Senator Lorimer
also shared in the jackpot. We expect
to show the corrupt doings of the leg
islators. If we cannot show this other
the testimony on the Lori
mer money will have less weight"
DEPRESSING at one point from the le-
gal points involved Attorney Hanecy
said:
Governor Deneen will testify, il he
is called, that he, Governor Deneen,
suggested that Senator Lorimer be-
come a candidate for the senatorship:
This committee is asked" continued
Attorney Hanecy, "to hold against Sen
ator Lorimer because 1t is said that
someone paid money to pass or kill
bills. If this line of testimony is ad-
mitted we should be allowed to sum
mon every corporation or person that
is charged with paying money into this
Jackpot" fund and show by them that
thew did not nay anything to affect
legislation"
Representative H. ]. Beckemeyer ar
rived today and was served with
summons to testify. He is expected to
be the second witness before the COM
mittee. The direct examination Of Rep
resentative White will be resumed to-
morrow.