New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-06-18
SAYS WITNESS
Representative Link Accuses
Prosecutor at Browne Trial.
CALLS "CONFESSiON" A LIE
Beckemeyer Says He Was Re-
warded and Not Bribed to
Vote for Lorimer.

warded and Not Bribed to
Vote for Lorimer.
Chicago. June T.-Representative Michael
S. Link a witness for the prosecution in
the trial of Lee O'NeT Browne, Democratic
minority leader OF the Illinois Legislature
to-day on cross-examination declared that
he had been coerced by States Attorney
Wayman to say that he received Sl,0e9
from Browne to vote for William Lorimer
for United States Senator Link said Pros
ecutor Wayman threatened him with i'm
prisonment, and that he told Wayman II
would be lie to confess he had received
bride money. but that he would say SO to
keep out of prison.
The prosecution completed its case this
afternoon and adjournment was taken until
Monday.
Representative Beckemeyer, who admit
ted receiving $1,000 after voting for Lori
mer, testified to-day that in speaking to
friends he had referred to the payment as
a reward and not a bride.
Beckemeyer said that day or two before
the election of Lorimer the general talk
about the Legislature was that there was
something in it, for those who voted for
Lorirner
What did Browne say to you the day
before Lorimer was elected?" asked States
Attorney Wayman.
Brown said: You cannot afford to quit
the bunch now. Stay with u.s.
Mr. Forrest of the defence, brought out
that Beckemeyer had told G. N WEIGH,
friend, that ne would vote for any one to
defeat Senator Hopkins. At one stage of
the balloting he promised to vote for
Speaker Shurtleff.
Link Takes the Stand.
Representative Michael s. Link, a. farmer,
was next called to the stand He declared
that he voted for Loriner because he liked
Lorimer's position on the deep waterways
project and because Lorimer personally
asked for his vote. He said that no re
ward was promised him. but that later
Browne gave him 81 ZOO in the Southern
Hotel, at st. Louis.
When Browne asked him to vote for
Loriner Link said he laughed and said:
Lee. I've beaten you to it Lorfmer asked
me himself for my vote. and promised it
to him
Links meeting with Lorimer took place
in the Southern Hotel. at st. Louis Lori
mer he said, asked him If he had any influ-
Link replied that he had not.
Mr.. Erbstein, Of the defence, elected the
information that Link had been constantly
accompanied by one or more of the States
Attorneys detectives and that he had re-
ceived money from Mr.. Wayman.
Link said that Mr.. Wayman. in seeking
TO wiring a confession from him, constantly
threatened him with the penitentiary and
held I'D his family to him.
Then didn't you break down and cry
and say to Waynan that It was lie for
you to say that you had got money, but
you would say that you got money-say
this to keep out of trouble with the
courts?''
Yes" replied the witness, who is q man
OF huge bulk The heat OF the day op-
pressed him severely, despite the use OF a
palm leaf fan
After his confession Link said an in
dfctment against him charging perjury
was quashed. On redirect examination
Mr. Wayman inquired:
Didn't I offer to furnish bond for you
and offer to let YOU go home before you
saw q lawyer? Didn't L do this after you
were tndictede"
mo, SIR
Didn't send for your son. and didn't
i
lators. but wanted TO get the men who
did the bribing?
Stress on Penitentiary.
You put a good deal of stress on the
penitentiary. You were always holding up
the penitenttary on one side and my family
on the other Link answered.
Mr.. Erbstein interposed long enough to
have the witness state that he 0he wit
ness was in I'll health while he was grilled
in the grand jury room.
Miss A1olIie Vandeveer, of East st. Louis,
Ill, was the next witness called by the
prosecution She was stenographer from
April r. 1909 until the following July for
Representative Charles A White, who
made the original confession of accepting
brides. She received s12 so a week wages,
but by June White, she said, was 5000 in
arrears TO her.
When White made the trip to Chicago.
where, it is charged Browne paid him
most of the alleged $1,000 bride money. he
was still owing this sum On his return,
she said. he paid her. He had an album
dance of money-$5o $40 and $40 bills. Other
| creditors were also paid, she said.
Next week the defence will begin the
testimony of seventy-three witnesses in an
| resentatives White and Beckemeyer
| Some interest was manifested at the close
OF court in news of the death here to-day
Of Representative Joseph S. Geshkewich.
one Of the Chicago Democrats who voted
for Lorimer for Senator. Friends of the
| dead man say that Geshkewich's death was
fastened by the annoyance of detectives at
work investigating various phases Of the
| Browne trial.
! washington, June IA meeting of the
| Senate Committee On Privileges and Elec-
lions has been called for tomorrow to
! consider bribery charges in connection with
the election of Senator Lorimer OF Illinois.
It is expected resolution will be reported
providing for an investigation
TWO COPS RESCUE MANY