Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-05-08
LINK SOLD HIS VOTE
Admits Receiving Bribe. to
Cast Ballot for Lorimer.
HE SHARED IN JACKPOT"
Browne and Wilson Give Bail for
Appearances.
WITNESSES AGAINST BLAIR
Called to Tell That Legislator Was
Strangely Flush of Funds
After Election.
WITNESSES AGAINST BLAIR

CHICAGO, May IF they must paint
the state of Illinois black, I'll help them
-blacker than any state in the Union, SO
help me"
Floating through the open transom of
witness room, today. the words quoted
seemed to tell of desperate frame Of
| mind among some Of the men most in
terested in the grand jury investigation
Of the bribery charges against Illinois
legislators.
Link Confesses He Was Bribed.
States Attorney Wayman's immunity
bath accepted another refuge today in the
person of Michael S. Link, democratic
| representative from Mitchell. The prose-
cutors array of testimony received an
other confession almost Identical with
that Of the two first "squealers," Repre-
sentatives Beckemeyer and White.
a night in the custody of a detective,
with an indictment for perjury against
him. proved too much for Link Today ne
went before the jury and changed his
testimony. The charge of perjury against
him was squashed by the states at
torney.
Link, like White and Beckemeyer. is
said by Mr.. Wayman to have admitted
taking $1,000 to cast his vote for Wnnam
Lorimer for United States senator and to
have received $500 as his share of the
Jackpot" split up at st. Louis.
Stampede Is Expected.
The addition of Link to the list of prose-
cutting witnesses gives the state three
men who are expected to testify to the
same story. Mr.. Wayman and his aid
anticipate a stampede Of witnesses who
will uncover hitherto undreamed-of con-
ditions in the Illinois assembly.
1t IS said to be Mr.. Wayman's deter
mination to be lenient with the ''small
| fry" that he may make sure of the
larger ones.
Lee O'Neii Browne, alleged to have
handled Lorimer money. and Robert E.
the Jack pot' at st. Louis. furnished
bonds during the day. They We're accom-
panied by counsel.
Senator Lorimer ''llad nothing to say"
Representatives Clark Of Vandalia and
Blair Of Mount Vernon were among the
days witnesses. Clark came to the build
ing accompanied by an attorney. and un-
der the surveilIance Of a detective, against
| which he protested vainly.
Witnesses Against Blair.
| OF three mysterious witnesses who
went before the inquisitors two were dis
! covered to be Allen c. Tanner. grocer.
and j. J. Baker, a newspaper publisher
of Mount Vernon, Blairs home. They
were required to testify regarding allie
cations that Blair was unusually flush"
with money following the session or the
legislature which elected Lorimer
No new indictments were returned. In
connection with the statement that the
grand jury would remain in session next
week 1t was intimated that further true
bills charging perjury might be expected.
The evidence so far obtained by the
grand jury is said to open up interesting
possibilities. including an investigation OF
Lorimer's election by the United States
Senate, and a similar investigation by
! the state legislature, which would be
called upon also to look into details OF
the alleged st. Louis Jackpot"