The Oskaloosa herald., 1910-10-27
FURNITURE PLOT
IS TOLD IN COURT
Witness involves Three Solons In
Legislative Scandal.
BRIBE OFFER is RELATED
Senator HolstIaW Tells OF Meeting In
Springfield Hotel and Asserts
$500 Was Promised for
.t His Vote.

Springfield, ILL.,, Oct. 26.-Direct evL
dence that Senator Stanton c. Penn
Z berton, Senator David W. Holstlaw
and Representative Joseph g. Clark
wanted money for letting the con-
tract for legislative chamber furniture
was brought out In the conspiracy
case of Pemberton and Clark In the
Sangamon circuit court when ]. w.
Knox of Chicago sales agent of the
Derby Desk company, testified.
Knox said that he had a converse
ton with Holstlaw and Clark regard
ing the letting of the contract and
, they asked him what there was in it
for them If the contract was let to
the Derby Desk company. Knox tes-
titled that he met Clark in the repre-
sentatives hall and that Clark said
Pemberton wanted to see him (Knox)
Knox Tells of Conversation.
81 went over to the senate chamber
testified Knox. "Pemberton said that
he, Holstlaw and Clark would vote
together on the furniture contract.
He asked me what the contract price
would be and l said about $4,000.
Pemberton said that they ought to get
about 10 per cent. out of 1t.
"Holstlaw later asked me what was
in 1t for him in letting the contract"
testified Knox. Il asked him If $500
would be satisfactory. He said 1t was
not enough ! saw Senator Pember-
ton the next day after my talk with
Holstlaw asked him how things
were getting along In the furniture
contract affair. He said my company
wouldn't get the contract; that the
other two were going to- vote else
where and that he wouldn't have any
thing to do with the question"
Senator Holstlaw Testifies.
Senator Holstlaw was the first wit
ness examined by the state. He tes-
titled that A. b. Johnston of Spring
field met him In Otto M. Frier's room
in the st. Nicholas hotel the night
before the legislative furniture con-
tract to the Ford & Johnston COM
pany was awarded and that Johnston
said to him:
81 will give you $1,000 If we get the
furniture contract. That is $500 more
than | am paying either Clark or
Pemberton."
No One Else Hears Offer.
No one else was in the room, said
Holstlaw. Frier was in the room
when Holstlaw entered, but left be
fore Johnston began his talk. Hoist,
law testified that Clark said he
thought the members of the commits,
sion should get something out of the
contract He did not remember hear
ing Pemberton say anything about
getting money ,out of letting the con-
tract.
"Pemberton and Clark both said.
declared Holstlaw, that we all want
ed to stick together in this transac
ton
Holstlaw declared that every state
ment he had made In his confession
to the states attorney and grand jury
was true.
Tells Of Attorneys luka Visit.
States Attorney Burke asked Hoist
law II any person connected with the
defense had called on him and talked
with him regarding his testimony,
Holstlaw said that Emery Andrews
of Nation came to him at his home
in Iuka and told him that he was an
attorney for Senator Pemberton and
desired to know what Holstlaw In
tended to testify in regard to the fur
niture case.
Successful Bidder Is Called.
The testimony of Otto E. Frier. the
successful bidder for the contract
who followed Holstlaw, bore out thai
given by the. senate when he said
Clark asked for $1,000. He said that
Holstlaw told him he would have tc
have $500 and that business ar
rangements would have to be com
pleted with Pemberton.