New-York tribune., 1910-06-08
FILES LOR|NER CHARGES
His Colleague, Mr.. CuIIom, Lays
Matter Before Senate.
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE
State Representative Browne S
Trial Begins After Futile At
tempts 10 Delay 1t.


tempts t. Delay 1t.
Washington. June Formal. charges
against Senator William Lorimer Of III
r,ois. were laid before the senate this after
,,5r bz Ills colleague senator CuIlom- The
proceeding was the presentation OF me
mortal by Clifford W. Barnes. Of Chicago
rresideni OF the Illinois Legislative Voters
League ren4bodving t3ie charges OF bribery
o. members OF the Illinois Legislature,
The memorial was read only in part and
was referred without comment TO the Com
-nittee On Privileges and Elections.
senator Crllom offered the memorial
without comment. and the reading was be-
E75n IN the clerk II had proceeded only
feu minutes when Senator Borah entered
the chamber and inquired what was being
read Senator Cullom explained. and th~a
fv his consent the matter was referred
without further reading
There we're few persons in tho Senate
chamber or in. the galleries, in marked CON
.trast with the scene Of excitement wh-n
senator Lori1ner made his bitter speech ten
davs ago 4e himself was not present.
The Barnes memorial is a long documea''
eubodying abe confessions Of State Repre-
eentatives White and Holstlaw that they
received hTibes TO vote for Lorimer and the
bribery indictment against Lee ONeii
Browne II otherwise summarizes the al
legations Hitherto published as affecting
Iorimer's election.
This memorial now places formal charges
before the committee. and affords basis
Of action which it has not had before.
As part Of the memorial, Senator Cui-
lom incorporated a personal letter 10 hlin
from MT Barnes, who stated that as pTesi-
dent Of the league he was deeply interested
in seeing that thorough investigation was
made .of the corrupt methods pursued IN
the state Legislature in the last two years,
Some Senators Dubious.
MANY members Of the Senate say that
even with the submission of the confession
of White and the indictments against
Browne the senate still lacks definite
charges connecting Senator Lorimer with
the paying Of bribes.
Ii : generally believed, however. that the
papers filed viii cause the Committee op
Privileges and Elections to take the neces-
sary steps looking TO a thorough investi-
cation.
Chairman Burrows said tonight that he
- anted To- examine the affidavit made by
Barnes before calling a meeting of the
committee.
chicago. June Senator Lorimer. in his
offices in the new La Sale Street Bank.
read the Washington dispatches relating TO
the charges His face. expressionless dur
ing the reading. relaxed into a smile at the
conclusion. and he asked:
What would you have me say?"
Just what you think" was the reply.
Well. this is my answer now and next
time: / will discuss neither the subject
matter the manner in which ii is brought
up or handled there or elsewhere. nor the
persons VINO have a hand in handling it.
am very busy banking these days Good
afternoon"
Lee O'Neil Browne Democratic minority
leader in the state Legislature, indicted on
charges of bribery in connection with the
election Of Senator Lorimer, WAS finally
brought TO trial before Judge McSurely in
the Criminal Court to-day, after the de-
fence had exhausted every means TO delay
the case. When court adjourned until to-
morrow the state hae rendered four pro-
srective jurors to the defence.
Browne Brought into Court.
Despite a technical fight by his attorneys,
Browne was brought INTO Judge McSurely's
court at noon on forwith capias. The
trial was tnen begun in a perfunctory
manner but none of Brownies counsel
would enter court. All remained in an an
teroom. and Judge McSurely finally ad-
journed court for three hours
The busy day opened when Judge Kick
ham Seaman refused the application Of the
defence for a writ Of habeas corpus. The
arguments had been made yesterday, and
tne ju6ge delivered his opinion Immediately
after the opening of court. The main con-
tention of the defence was that state lesis-
lators. while sitting i'm a joint assembly
10 elect a United States Senator were 10
longer state officers. out federal officers.
and therefore anenable orly to the federal
courts.
The counsel for the defence waited until
States Attorney Wayman and his assist
ants had left the courtroom and then ex
Judge Elbridge Hanecy filed a petition for
81 appeal from the decision. While Mr..
TIanecy was making his argument for the
appeal Judge McSurely was waiting for
Browne in his court 20 begin the trlal
When Browne did not appear Judge Nc
Surely issued a forthwith capias for him
and also declared his original bond of s15,
900 forfeited. When il was explained that
Brown was stin in judge Scanlan's court,
McSurely ordered service on The capias de-
layed. The forfeiture OF the original bond
meant nothing as Browne had been sur
rendered to the Sheriff when the applica-
tion for The habeas corpus writ was made
and had been released On new bond. BY
ordering the bond forfeited Judge McSurely
showed that he tock no cognizance of the
ha ahess corpus action.
After listening TO Mr.. Hanecy's argu-
nents for OF appeal for some time. Judge
Seaman sad that he would give the deci-
zion later Then judge McSUrely ordered
the Capias served on Browne. Browne was
found ia the Offices of Mr.. Hanecy and
taken before Judge McSurely. Brownies
counsel refused 10 80 into court on the
ground that McSUrely had no jurisdiction
over Browne while Judge Scanlan was en-
tertainins the motion for an appeal. Judge
McSurely ordered recess
Judge Seaman then announced that he
would not grant the appeal from his de-
cislon or the habeaS corpus writ The
defence then made new motions for an
sppeal leave 10 file a hill OF exceptions