The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1910-09-30
CLASH AT
LORIMER PROBE
Admission CT lack Pot Ed-
danC3 Resisted,
WHITES TALE OF BRIBERY
illinois Representative swears Browne
offered Him $1,000 to Vote For Lori
mer For United States Senator.

State Representative Charles Z.
white of OFallon, ILL.,, was the nrs'
witness to take the stand in chi
caqo in the investigation into the
election of United states Senator VII
liam Iorimer by the seiNtorial sub
committee on privileges and elections
Six of the seven members OF the
committee we're present when MS eA'
animation by Mr. Austrian an attor'
nov representing the Chicago Tribune,
began It was the Tribune which nau
caused the investigation by printing
Whites revelations Of bribery.
The Jack pot bobbed up early IN
che case and caused the first clash OF
the attorneys.
Senator Lorimer was on hand WIN
his attorney, Elbridge Hanecy. r. H.
ODonnell. who represented Browne IN
The latter's two trials on charges OF
bribery, sat beside Mr. Hanecy.
White, on direct examination by Mr..
Austrian. declared he had been asked
by the minority leader, Browne 10
vote for Lorimer, and that Browne
told him he would receive $1,000 Tor
his vote. The testimony was the same
as has been given by White IN the TWO
trials of Browne.
The first severe clash Of the near
ing came when Mr.. Austrian asked
what money was promised White. Inc
representative replied:
81 asked Browne how much l woulG
get from other sources and he re-
nlied oh. about as much more.
Senator Lorimer's attorney objected
TO this answer, arguing that the other
sources were entirely outside OF the
case
This brings up" he said, what has
been referred to as the Jack pot. 10y
the words of the winess-'other
sources'-it is shown that it has no
connection with the election OF Sena-
tor LOrimer."
To which Mr.. Austrian replied: I'VE
contend that this line of testimony Is
relevant because we will show that
the Democratic state senators and rep
resentatives who voted for Senator
Iorimer voted for him as part Of
system in which their votes on other
measures and their vote for Senator
Iorimer we're correlated. We are trying
to show there was a general state OF
corruption in that legislature, and
that meu were there trying to Drloe
others"
The committee retired into executive
session to consider admissability Of
this line Of evidence.
The issue between the attorneys was
clear cut Mr.. Austrian insisting that
the jack pot" testimony was ma
terial and admissible and Mr.. Hanec!
as vigorously arguing against this ad
mission.
The committee considered the ad
INSTABILITY of the Jack pot testi
mony for some time in executive ses
sion. and upon returning to the hear
ing room questioned the witness con
corning his understanding of the prom
ise of money from other sources.
White said he had heard rumors o
what was known as a Jack pot whicl
was to be divided among legislator
for "strangling or passing bills Whit
said: q considered it all part Of Tn
agreement-th $1,000 and my share o
the jack pot.
Senator Gamble asked: WAS tn
money from other sources part of you
promise to vote for Senator Dorime
or did it have an influence on you
vOte?'
81 think it had an influence" r.
piled White.
"Would you have voted for Senate
Lorimer for that SCOOP asked Chai
man Burrows.
Eyes, think I would have" reptile
White. after some hesitation.
Senator Hepburn then asked tn
witness: "This conversation you hay
related did not mean to you that 20
would get any more than the $1,000 fo
voting for Senator Lorimer?"
NO. / did not think so, was tn
answer
After a whispered conference wit
his colleagues Chairman Burrows al
nounced that the committee woul
give it's ruling on the formal motto
of Mr. Hanecy 70 exclude all test
moDy relating TO the Jack pot"