Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1910-05-12
BROWN, WILSON
AND LINK INDICTED
DEMOCRATIC LEADERS OF It'll
Nols HOUSE HELD FOR DIS
PENslNe MONEY.
TWO BILLS FOR PERJURY
Grand Jury Returns True Bills and
Findings Declare representatives
Met In ST. Louis Despite De-
nials-Inquiry Continues.

Chicago, Ill.-Lee ONeill Browne
of Ottawa, Democratic leader of
the Illinois house Of representa-
tives, was indicted on a charge OF
bribery and Representative Robert E.
Wilson of Chicago and Represents
tive Michael s. Link of Mitchell were
indicted on charges of perjury here
by the special grand jury which for
a week has been investigating the
election, on May 26, 1909, of William
Lorimer Of Chicago to the United
States senate.
The evidence upon which the in
dictments were returned was supplied
by Representative Charles A. White
of O'Fallon and Representative H. J.
G. Beckemeyer Of. Carlyle. Wilson
and Link, as we'll. as White and Becke-
meyer, are Democratic members Of
the legislature.
Specifically the bribery charge
against Browne is based on the
charge that he gave Representative
White $3.50 in a hotel in Chicago late
in May, 1909. as alleged compensa-
ton for Whites vote for Lorimer for
senator. The perjury charge against
Link is based on his testimony before
the grand jury. In this testimony
Link is alleged to have sworp that
he vas not in st. Louis July Is, 1909,
and that he did not there meet Rep
re%sentative Robert e. Wilson of Chi
cago.
The grand jury declares that it
finds upon investigation that Link was
in st. Louis on that date and did
meet Robert Il. Wilson of Chicago.
The jury further declares that Link
willfully perjured himself after full
realization Of the value of his state
ments in the investigation.
The perjury charge against Wilson
is based ON his testimony given be-
fore the members of the grand jury
May 5. The indictment alleges that
Wilson testified that he did not hand
sums Of money to Representative
White and Representative Becke-
meyer in the Southern hotel at st.
Louis, July Is. 1909. The grand jury
states in it's bill against Wilson that
it finds that Wilson did hand money
to both White and Beckemeyer at St.
Louis on the date specified.
Upon the return of the three indict-
ments Judge Kersten fixed Brownies
bail at $4,000, that of Wilson at SIS
900 and that of Link at SIS, 900.
Another Indictment, not bearing on
the Lorimer investigation, but in con-
nection with another case of alleged
legislative bribery, was returned by
the jury against William ]. Henley,
former president of the Chicago g.
Western Indiana railroad.
The specific bill was house bill No.
TIT, validating a $5O,000,0 900 bond is
sue made by the Chicago & Western
Indiana railroad.
Fetzer said that a ''slush fund" Of
$4,000 was distributed among legisla-
tors by members of the railroad.
passage of railroad legislation.
Following his indictment Represent
tative Link was taken into the private
office Of States Attorney Wayman,
where he was closeted with the pub
lie prosecutor for several hours, Mr..
Wayman, it is said, is attempting to
get a confession from Link that the
prosecutor thinks would strengthen
the testimony Of White and Becke-
never.