The San Francisco call., 1910-05-29
LORIMER Agent
INDICTED FOR
Buying A VOTE
State Senator COnfeSSeS Being
Bribed, Under Promise of
Immunity
Says BrOderick, a Chicago Dem.
Ocrat, Paid Him $500 for
Senatorial Ballot

SPRINGFIELD, Ill, May 2s.-Burst-
ing Ike a bomb within a few hours
after United States Senator Lorimer's
speech at Washington. State Senator
John Broderick. a leading Chicago dem
ocrat. was indicted on a bribery charge
by the grand jury here today. Broder-
ick's indictment was the direct result of
a confession made TO the grand Jury
by State Senator D. W. Holstlaw of
1uka, III, who says Broderick paid him
$500 TO vote for Lorimer for senator.
A capias was at once ordered for
Broderick and bench warrant issued
for his arrest
IMMUNITY WINS HIM
The unexpected turn in the Lorimer
scandal was an offshoot Of States At
torney Burke's investigation Of alleged
graft IN the Legislative furniture deal
senator Holstlaw had been indicted on
q perjury charge in connection with the
furniture contract, and upon advice of
his lawyers. when offered immunity,
agreed to make a confession Then he
told the grand jury that he had received
$500 for his vote for Lorimer; 500 as
his share of a legislative Jackpot" and
g promise of S1,500 as his share of the
state house furniture deal
Senator Holstlaw's confession regard
ing the furniture deal was corroborated
before the grand jury by Otto FREEZER.
VINO as agent for the Ford-Johnson fur
nlture company of Chicago obtained
The furniture contract.
The two confessions regarding the
furniture contract resulted in two addi-
tlonsl indictments on conspiracy
charges These were; State Senator S.
{. Pemberton. republican. of Oakland,
~ ..
democrat, of Vandalia. III.
Capiases and bench warrants were
ISSUED Immediately for Senator Penn
berton and Representative Clark on the
conspiracy charges in connection with
the furniture contract.
CoNFEgSES HIS BRIBERY
Although an Indictment charging
conspiracy was returned against SEN
stor Holstlaws ii was Immediately
notleo and Immunity for Holstlaw was
oroereo by Judge James A CREIGHTON
Before going to the grand jury room
holstlaW made a statement to States
Attorney Burke, in which he said in
part:
I voted for William Lorirner for
united States senator and received
tneretor $500 I also received $500,
Whlch was given me without explana-
non, with the statement that IL was
coming TO me I was promised $500
Tor my connection with the letting of
the furniture contract"
Holstlaw later told in detail of the
meeting he had with Senator John
Broderick of Chicago in front of the
st. Nicholas hotel in this city the day
before Lorimer was elected senator
After some desultory conversation.
Holtslaw said, Broderick asked him if
ne could vote for Lorimer and he re-
piled that il was possible. since some
or his democratic constituents had told
him such move would help toward
disrupting the republican party in the
state.
Holstlaw declared Broderick then
said to him that if he would vote
for LOrimer there would be $4,000 in it
Tor him and he then agreed to cast his
vote the next day, May &c, for Lori
mer- lie said that he had never been
approached on the subject before and
denied that Lee O'Neil Browne. minor
ity leader Of the house, or Senator Lori
mer had ever brought the subject to
his attention
Holstlaw up to this time had voted
consistently for the democratic candf-
date, Lawrence Stringer. During their
conversation, Broderick told him Lori
mer was going to "be put over the
next day and that there was no cues
tion about il, said Holstlaw, so he CON
GUIDED that he might just as well get
in the bandwagon."
At this time. according to Holstlaw's
statement, there was nothing said as fo
when or at what place the nonev
should be paid. Later, he SAYS. he re-
ceiNed q communication from Broderick
but could not remember whether IT wa
by letter or otherwise. In any event
on June IL, 1910, Holstlaw went to Chi
cagO. He visited Broderlck's saloon and
there ii ba
for LOrimer. Most Of the money was
IN 800 bills, he says.
in regard TO the Jackpot" Holslaw's
memory did not work well. and he
could tell but few OF the details of
the transaction. He denied he had any
previous understanding regarding the
distribution of money at the close of
the session. and the first he knew of
the existence Of such a jackpot was
when he read about IL in the news
papers.
''THIS Is COMING TO YOU"
He said that a month after he was
paid the s2,5o0, he received a letter
from Broderick asking him to come to
Chicago, which he did. meeting Brod-
erick at his saloon. He said the first
he knew of the reason for Broderick's
wanting TO see him was when he was
handed 500, Broderick remarking this
IS coming TO you"
Holstlaw said he asked no questions,
but went back home.
FREEZER was taken before the grand
jury late today. States Attorney Burke
told him Holstlaw had confessed. that
he would give him the opportunity to
tell what he knew about the transac-
tion and that he might consult an at
tOrney.
Freier corroborated in every detail
the story told by Holstlaw.