Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1910-07-07
BRINGS NO VERDICT
JURY IN BROWNE BRIBERY CASE
FAILS TO AGREE-IS DIS
CHARGED BY COURT.
OUT MORE THAN 115 HOURS
Men Stood Eight for Conviction and
Four for Acquittal Throughout
Twenty Ballots Taken-Prosecuto
Charges Panel Was Packed.

Chicago.-Jurors in the Lee O'Neil
by Judge McSurely in the criminal
court building after having been out
lis hours and 10 minutes. Foreman
Henry F. Mueller and other members
of the jury told the court that 1t was
an impossibiIity for them ever to
reach an agreement. The subject of
new trial was set for July 7. The jury,
it is said, stood eight to four for con
Viction from the start.
AS the Jurors arose to go Attorney
Forrest leaped to his feet and ex-
claimed: Your honor, I move for an
order restraining all officers of this
court, through the press or In any
of this jury"
Judge McSurely denied the motion
The Browne bribery trial will go
down In history as one of the most
sensational in the political annals of
Illinois, say authorities The indict-
ment against Browne, based upon the
confession of Representative Charles
A White of OFallon, Ill, shocked the
political life of the nation Whites
amazing story was printed in the Chi
cago Tribune on April 30 On the wit
ness stand Brownies accuser dis
played his contract with the Chicago
Tribune showing that he was paid
s3,250 for the story.
The indictment against Browne was
based upon the charge of White that
Browne paid him $1,000 for his vote
In support Of Senator Lorimer Nine
hundred dollars of the money, it was
claimed, was passed in Chicago
White further confessed that he was
paid 5000 from an alleged Jackpot
slush fund, divided in the Southern
hotel in St Louis by Representative
Robert E Wilson of Chicago Judge
McSurely ruled out of the Browne
case all reference to the Jackpot"
holding that only testimony bearing
upon the senatorship was competent
Panic seized certain members of
the legislature who were mentioned in
Whites confession as possible parti-
cipants In the alleged graft, resulting
La two confessions in Cook county and
one in Sangamon.
Representative H. ]. c. Beckemeyer
and Michael S. Link, who were in St
Louis the day White said he received
his Jackpot" money along with 9TH
ers under suspicion, were hailed be-
fore a special grand jury that inves-
tigated the White charges. After
hours of grilling, Beckemeyer and
Link finally each confessed that they
were paid $1,000 each after voting for
Lorimer and following the adjourn
ment of the legislature Beckemeyer
on the witness stand swore that
Browne handed him $1,000 in the
Southern hotel, saying it was "the
Lorimer money" Link said Browne
paid him $1,000 without mentioning
Lorimer's name. Both Link and Beck
emeyer denied they had been prom
ised anything before voting for the
junior senator.
Springfield, Ill-The Sangamon
county grand jury's probe into the
legislative bribery scandal resulted
in the following indictments being re-
turned Saturday:
Representative Lee OFNeil Browne.
Ottawa, conspiracy to bribe-
Representative Robert E. Wilson,
Chicago, conspiracy to bribe.
Frank j. Traut, Beardstown, con-
spiracy to bride.
Louis D. Hirsheimer, Pittsfeld, con-
spiracy to bribe
A. B. Johnston, Springfield, bribery
and perjury.
The return of the indictments Gre
ated sensation that rivaled the con-
fession of State Senator q. w. Hoist
law Of Iuka to the effect that he had !
received $3.50 from State Senator |
Broderick for his vote for Mr.. Lori |
mer and had been promised 81, 500 for |
his vote on the furniture contract
Judge Creighton in the circuit |
court fixed the bail of Browne VIII |
son, Hirsheimer and Traut at $4,000 !
each, and Of Johnston at $4,000 on /
each of the two indictments returned |
against him
The indictment against Browne, |
Wilson, Hirsheimer and Traut is
broad and charges that the four men |
conspired to promise pay, give and |
present Representative H ]. C. |
Beckemeyer, Michael s. Link and |
Charles A White with certain sums
of money to cast or withhold their !
votes on certain measures under con
sideration by the Forty-sixth general !
assembly.
Browne and Wilson were indicted |
on the conspiracy charge as members
of the general assembly who distrib- |
uted portions of the Jackpot" to |
Beckemeyer, Link and White