New-York tribune., 1910-06-06
ILLINOIS GRAFT INQUIRY
Burke Gathers Scattered Ends
of Fish Jackpot"
ITS DISPOSAL. A MYSTERY
Prosecutor Expects to Show
That Large Sums Passed In
Other Legislation.

Springfield, Ill, June Estates Attor-
ney Burke has advanced a step further in
the investigation Of the $500 fund al
legged to have been contributed to aid in
the defeat of the fish license bill, which
died in the closing hours of the last Legis-
lature r J. Traut, of Beardstown, for
long time identified with fishing interests
admitted to Mr.. Burke last night that he
got the money from John Dixon, OF Peoria
one of the collectors of the fund, and that
he sat beside Representative Foster when
the bill was slaughtered. Beyond these
admissions the final disposition of the
fund is a mystery which the grand jury
will be called on TO solve
The chain of testimony relative to the
money IN the alleged fund is now regarded
by Mr.. Burke as complete up to its re
ceipt by Traut. Lemm has admitted pay
ing $500 to Dixon, Dixon has admitted
receiving money to defeat the bill, ana
Traut says he received the funds from
Dixon, according to the Sangamon County
prosecutor.
The solution Of the question Of whether
the fund was passed along TO a legislator
or remained in the last hands to which 1t
has been traced rests with the grand jury.
Further testimony is to be taken this week
sion of Dixon, Lemm and Traut and what
is to be obtained from other witnesses and
the answer of Traut before the grand jury.
After Mr.. Burke had talked with Traut
last night the fish man declined to see
newspaper men, but authorized a state
1nent that the money which came to him
was spent in a legitimate manner in con-
nection with the lobby which was working
against the bill through the session. Mr..
Burke made no comments on the explana-
ton of legitimate expenditure Of the col
Iected fund.
According TO the stories of both Dixon
and Traut, the money-about s1,200-col-
lected by Dixon was taken to the st Mich
olas Hotel in a brown paper parcel and
there went into the hands of Traut, who
had collected a similar amount Traut is
under subpoena to appear tomorrow before
the grand jury.
While much attention is being given to
the fish bill fund. Representative Becke-
meyer is said to have mentioned al Spring
field on Saturday a number Of other bills
which may be investigated. For the local
option bill eliminating the township feature
and making the city or village the unit TO
be voted upon, Beckemeyer is said to have
stated pot of s1O0, 600 was raised, but this
has been denied by representatives Of the
liquor interests. For the so-called business
corporation tax bill, passed and vetoed. it is
reported a fund OF $4,000 was raised, while
$4,000 is the sum mentioned in connection
with the bill providing for transfer OF val
liable lake front lands TO certain Chicago
corporations.
Chicago June 5.-Lee O'NeiI Browne, OF
Ottawa, Ill, legislative minority leader,
| awaiting trial on bribery charges in con-
nection with the election Of William Lori
mer to the United States Senate, was sur
rendered by his jbondsman and within an
hour released on habeas corpus writ here
yesterday. This unexpected move by
Brownies counsel presages extensive legal
complications and possible clash Of judi
cial authority.
The writ was issued by Judge Kickham
Scanlan, OF the Circuit Court on the plea
that Judge AcSurely, OF the Criminal Court
of Cook County, before whom Brownies
trial is scheduled TO open on Monday, has
no Jurisdiction IN the case. Judge Seaman
set the arguments for hearing on Mon
day morning at o'clock. This viii be two
hours before the bribery case against
Browne is called before Judge McSurely