Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1910-06-02
LEGISLATOR IN
FULL CONFESSION
TELLS GRAND JURY STORY OF
BRIBERY AND POLITICAL
CORRUPTION.
GOT $500 OUT OF "JACkPOT."-
WAS PROMISED $500
MORE.

Springfield, May 30-Bursting like
bomb, within a few hours after Sena-
tor Lorimer's speech at Washington,
State Senator John Broderick, lead
ing Chicago democrat, was indicted on
a bribery charge by the grand jury
here yesterday. The indictment was
the direct result of a confession made
to the grand jury by State Senator D..
| Holstlaw, OF Iuka, Illinois, who says
that Broderick paid him $4,000 to vote
for Lorimer for senator. A capias was
ordered for Broderick and a bench
| warrant issued for his arrest.
The unexpected turn in the Lorimer
scandal was an offshoot Of States At
torney Burkes investigation OF alleged
graft in the legislative furniture deal.
Holstlaw had been indicted On per
| jury charge in connection with the
| furniture contract and upon advice of
| his lawyers, when offered immunity,
agreed to make confession. He then
| told the grand jury that he received
$4,000 for his vote for Lorimer; $500
as his share in the Legislative Jack
pot" and a promise of $1,000 as his
share in the statehOuse furniture deal.
Holstlaw's confession regarding che
! furniture deal was corrOborated before
the grand jury by Otto FREEZER, who, as
agent for Ford johnson Furniture com
pany of Chicago obtained the furniture
contract.
Two confessions regarding the fur
niture contract resulted in two addi-
| tional indictments and one conspiracy
charge. These were: State Senator
S. c. Pemberton, republican of Oak
! land, and Representative J. S. Clark,
democrat, of Vandalia.
AS in the case of Broderick, in the
Lorimer alleged bribery matter, CAPT
asses and bench warrants were issued
for Pemberton and Clark.
| Although an Indictment charging
conspiracy was returned against HoIts-
law, it was Immediately nollied and
immunity ordered.
The grand jury then adjourned until
| Tuesday.
Ready to Confess.
After conferences with A. M. Fitz-
gerald, his lawyer, Holtslaw yesterday
morning, worn and haggard and driven
| almost to distraction during a sleep
| less night, told the prosecutor that he
was ready to confess. Before going to
the jury room, Holtslaw made pre-
| liminary statement to the prosecutor
| in the presence of his attorney. The
| statement:
I'm making statements to the Sanga-
mon county grand jury regarding the
payment of money to secure the con-
tract for furniture and for the purpose
of electing Mr.. Lorimer to the senate,
| have been governed by firm belief
| that my actions in this matter have
been reprehensible and | offer no de-
| tense. | have, however, determined
to make such reparation as is within
my power and the only means by
which can do this, it seems to me, is
by fully and honestly stating what |
know about these transactions.
Il voted for William E. Lorimer for
United States senator and received
therefore $4,000. | also received $500
which was given me without eXplana-
ton. with a statement that it was COM
ing to ne. | was promised $1,000 for
my connection with the letting OF the
furniture contract"
Following his appearance before
the jury, Holtslaw, to the Associated
Press, told in detail OF the meeting
he had with Senator John Broderick
in front of the st. Nicholas hotel
here the day before Lorimer was
elected senator Hoitslaw says Brod-
erick asked him if he could vote for
Lorimer, and he replied it was pos
sible for him to do so, that some Of
his democratic constituents had told
him such a move would be a good
thing towards disrupting the republi-
can party. Hoitslaw says Broderick
said if he would vote for LOrimer
there would be $4,000 in it for him.
Holtslaw said he agreed to cast his
vote the next day, May 26, for Lori
| mer. He said he had never been APP
| preached on the subject before He
denied that Lee O'Neil Browne or
Lorimer ever brought the subject TO
his attention He said that up to tn )
time he had voted for the democratic
candidate, Lawrence Stringer. of Lin
| coin. He said that Broderick told him.
Lorimer was going to be put over
the next day. Holstlaw said he con-
cluded he had just as we'll get IN on
the Dandwagon
This time. according to Holtslaw,
nothing was said as to when or where
he would be paid. He says that lat