The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-06-02
Attorney and Governor Con-
fer Upon Charges and Ac-
ton Will Be Decisive
.BECKEMEYER WILL GIVE
HIS VERSION OF STORY
More Facts About the Jackpot Are
Expected When Bcckemcyer Tes-
tifes-Hot Argument Occurs
In Grand Jury Room


ney Burke is to confer with Governor
Deneen tomorrow regarding the legisla-
tive inquiry and the various charges Of
bribery which have been made concern
Ing the forty-sxth general assembly.
The county prosecutor will give Governor
Deneen an opportunity to discuss what
he knows about the doings of the general
assembly and will invite him to tell the
grand jury whatever he wishes to bear
ing on the investigation.
The action of the state attorney, which
was announced in the evening, is in re-
sponse to the published declaration of
Governor Deneen that he would willingly
go before either the Cook or the Sanga-
mon county grand juries If desired to tell
what he knows of the occurrences in the
last regular legislative session.
The announcement of the coming con-
ference between Mr.. Burke and the gov
ernor overshadowed the other develop
ments of the day in the minds of many
who have watched the course of the in
ouiry, and there was much speculation
over what information the chief executive
of the state would give.
In appearing before a grand jury the
governor would waive the privilege of his
office which exempts him from sum-
mons.
Mr.. Burke may visit the statehouse in
the morning, in which event the legisla-
tive witnesses would not go before the
grand jury until the afternoon.
Official announcement by States Attor-
ney Burke that Representative H. ]. C.
Beckemeyer, hitherto a witness before
the Cook county grand jury exclusively,
would be In the capital tomorrow to tell
his story to the sangamon county inves-
tigators, was one of the developments
today in the legislative inquiry.
Beckemeyers words SO far as they are
known, have corroborated the confession
of Representative C. A. White whose tale
of alleged bribery both in the election of
William Lorimer to the United States
Senate and in legislative affairs started
the investigation in Cook and Sangamon
counties.
Deeper delving into the Jackpot
scandal in all its ramifications was pre-
dicted with the news of the coming of
Representative Beckemeyer
No legislative witnesses were before
the grand jury this morning, and Rep
resentative B. F. staymates, who was
summoned yesterday, was not taken to
the jury room after he had talked with
the states attorney and his assistant.
The only one to appear before the
jurors was A. B. Johnston of the John :.
ston & Hatcher Co., the Springfield furni-
ture concern which obtained the con-
tract for supplying new desks and chairs
IN fIan ct fAh< t1<~rk kt-~~
letting of that contract by the legisla-
tive committee several days ago brought
out the confession of Senator Holtslaw
that he had been paid to vote for Will
liam Lorimer, had received share of
the< legislative Jackpot" and had been
promised $500 for voting for the furniture
contract, and in turn led to the indict-'
ment of Senator Broderick and Repre-
sentative Clark.
Johnston, who has repeatedly denied
culpability in the furniture contract, al
though accused by Holtsaw, emphat.-
cally repeated his denial in the jury room
and denounced Holtslaw as guilty of
falsehood. He used the word liar free
ly and, after declaring that States At
torney Burke has had repeated confer
ences with one of his (Johnston's) bus
mess competitors, was ordered out OF
the jury room by the states attorney,
who angrily retorted:
4,
After the Johnston incident the grand
Jury adjourned for the day without taxi
ing any action. az
During the day Representative McCul-
lom, democrat. who testified yesterday,
declared that he told the grand jury that
he voted for Lorimer after consulting his
people at home, and also because he be-
lieved Lorimer's election would bripy dis
sension and division among the repub
lcans and not because Of political obl-
cations to Beckemeyer or anybody else.
During the day counsel for Senator
Broderick repeatedly denied rumors that
the Chicago solon was contemplating a
visit to States Attorney Burke to make
. confession. Attorney Thomas Dawson
Of Broderick's counsel said:
There is no truth In the rumor that
Senator Broderick is going to confess.
He has nothing to confess and the sug-
gestion is absolutely false