The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1910-05-29


United States Senator Lorimer's speech
at Washington, State Senator Johr
Broderick. u leading Chicago democrat.
was Indicted on bribery charge o.
the grand jury here today. Broderlck'a
Indictment was the direct result Of "A
confession made to the grand jury by
State Senator H. w. Holtslaw of luka.
M. who says Frederick paid nini
$500 to vote for Lorimer for senator.
A capias was at once ordered for
Frederick and "A bench warrant ISSUED
for his arrest The unexpected turn
In the Lorimer scandal was an oif-
shoot of~State's Attorney Burke's In
vestigation OF alleged graft In the leg
islative furniture deal. senator HoIts-
law has been indicted on perjury
charge In connection with the furniture
contract and upon advice of his !sw-
yers, when offered immunity. agreed To
make a confession. Then he told the
grand jury that he had received $1,000
for his vote for Lorimer: 800 as his
share OF legislative Jackpot and a
promise of $1,000 as hi share of the
statehouse furniture deal. Senator
Holtslaw's confession regarding the
furniture deal was corroborated before
the grand jury by otto Freir. who as
agent for the Ford johnson Furniture
company OF Chicago, obtained the fur.
niture contract The two confessions
regarding the furniture contract re-
suited in two additional indictments
on conspiracy charges. These were:
State Senator =. c. Pemberton, re-
publican of Oakland, ILL.,. and Repre-
sentatives Joseph s. Clark, democrat,
of vandaia. H.
Capiases and bench warrants were
issued Immediately for Senator Penn
berton and Representative Clark on
the conspiracy charges in connection
with the furniture contract. Although
an Indictment charging conspiracy was
returned against Senator Holtslaw
1t was Immediately nolled and
immunity for Holtsaw was or
dered by Judge James A. Creighton.
Before going to the grand jury room
Holtslaw made statement To States
Attorney Burke In which he said in
part:
loltslaws Statement.
IL voted for william Lorimer for
United states senator and received
tneTelOT 3-,JuV. dlSo btNSiNNh WV
which was given me without explana-
ton. with the statement that 1t was
coming to me. was promised $l.5os
for my connection with the letting OF
the furniture contract"
Holtslaw later repeated his conver-
sation to the Associated Press. He
told In detail of the meeting he had
with Senator John Broderick of Chi
cago, in front of the st. Nicholas ho-
tel In this city, the day before Lorimer
was elected senator. After some desul-
tory conversation Holtslaw said.
Frederick asked him II he could vote
for Lorimer and he replied that II
was possible. since some of his demo-
cratic constituents had told him such
"a move would help toward disruptins
the republican party in the state
eroderiek's Offer.
IIoitslaw declared Broderick then
said to him that II he would vote fol
Lorimer there would be $1,000 In II for
him and he then agreed 10 cast his
vote the next day. May 26. for Lori
mer. He said that he had never been
approached on the subject before and
denied that Lee ONeil Browne, minor
ity leader OF the house, or Senator
I.orimer had ever brought the subject
to his attention. Holtslaw. up to this
time, had voted consistently for the
democratic candidate, Lawrence
Stringer. During their conversation
Broderck told him Lorimer was going
to 'be put over" the next day and that
there was no question about 1t, said
ha concluded that he
might just as well get In the band
wagon" At this time, according to
Holtslaw's statement, there was moth
ing said as to when or at what place
the money should be paid. Later, he
says he received O communication
from Broderick, but could not remem'
ber whether 1t was by letter or other.
wise. In any event. on June IL, 1909,
Holtslaw went to Chicago. He visited
Rroderick's saloon and was there paid
the $1,000 for his vote for L0rimer
Most of the money was In 500 bills
he said.
Tells Of Jackpot.
In regard to the jackpot" Holtslaw'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 Jackpot
was when he read about II In the
newspapers He said month after he
was paid $500 ne received 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. Broderlck remarking,
This Is coming to you"
Holtslaw said he asked no questions.