The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-09-28
ross-Examination of Con-
fessed Taker of Bribe in
Lorimer Case Warm.
WROTE SOME LETTERS
THAT GET INTO EVIDENCE
Wanted $3.50 Per Word for
His Story on DOings of ILL
nOis Legislature.

CHICAGO, Sept 81 Direct and cross
examination OF State Representative
Charles A White, principal witness In
support OF charges that the election OF
Senator William Lorimer was procured
by corrupt methods, was completed today
before the senatorial Investigating COM
mittee.
In the session Senator Burrows of
Michigan. chairman OF the committee,
barred hearsay evidence from the pro-
maters advamage tus by gaa sena,oa oaeo
friends. II was specifically upon the
right OF Representative White 10 relate
conversations which he declared he had
with Representative Joseph S. Clark of
Vandnlia. in which White said Clark
admitted he, too, was bribed TO vote for
Lorimer,
Papers Story Barred.
Later the same ruling was invoked
to- bar, the manuscript story OF whites
alleged experiences In the forty sixth
general assembly, which detailed hts as
sertions OF the bribery of himself and
other Legislators In the Lorimer election
which was published in the Chicago
The privilege of recalling White was
granted 10 both Attorney Alfred Aus
trian, representing the Chicago Tribune,
for Senator Lorimcr.
The cross-cxamnation dealt primarily
with letters. messages and conversations
Of White \ number OF letters 10 MI
nority Leader Browne from White and
n,issivcs from the witness to Senator
LorImer wore read into tho record,
The latter part of the cross-eNamina-
ton was devoted to an analysis of testi-
mony OF White In the two trials OF DEM
ocratic Leader Browne. on the charge
OF bribery i'm an effort TO establish
ground for impeaching the present testi-
mony OF White by Witnesses who tesu-
fed in the other trials
Has Poor Memory.
This examination was objected to re-
pestedly by Attorney Austrian. The Wit
ness repeatedly declared that he could
asked him or what answers he made,
White denied absolutely statements at
trlbuted to witnesses In the Browne trial
relative to his having expressed a de-
termination to force Senator Lorlmer and
his friends to contribute much money TO
him on threat OF declaring falsely that
he was bribcd to vote for the senator.
II is expected that Representative Fl.
c, j, Beckmeyer. who has also declared
that he was bribed In the senatorial cleo
ton will be the first witness tomorrow.
Beckmeyer is to be followed on the wit
ness stand by State Senator D. w, Hoist
confessed to the Sangamon county grand
jury that he was paid $500 for voting
for Senator Lorimer. Holstlaw has not
yet testified In any trial and his testi-
llCIs VIII De DSlenGQ 10 Dy Ctdle Az
torney Edmund Burke OF Springfield. who
depends on the Iuka man as the principal
witness against State Senator John Brod-
erick now under indictment for bribery
Significant Admission.
Representative White admitted on
cross ~eXamina tion that he is now and had
been. since March. In the custody Of an
ney. He admitted that his travelling and
hotel expenses had been paid by the Of
ficers and declared that so far as he
knew, he was not under indictment in
any court.
White said that between the close of
the legislature and July Is. 1909. he re-
ceived $1900-sl0oo from Browne and 5000
from Representative Wilson
Attorney Hanecy then introduced a let
ter to Browne, Sept. S, 1909 asking for a
loan OF $50 and saying he, White, had
only 30 cents. The letter and the note
for $50. signed by White and made out
TO Browne were introduced. White said
he paid the note after Brownies first
trial,
l. 1909. White told Browne not to be
surprised at any action he. White, might
take In the future, as life was full OF
surprises
The letters read Included one to Sem
ator Lorimer asking for a position In
the secret service or some other depart
ment.
High Price for Story.
letter under date OF Dec. T. 1909
from White to Senator Lorimer. telling
Of Whites manuscript. of the doings Of
the Illinois legislature and placing a valu-
alton Of $3.50 a word on the writing. also
was read and admitted in evidence
Attorney Hanecy questioned White
closely concerning his acquaintance with
Miss Catherine Woods OF East ST Louis
a witness In the second trial OF Browne.
White admitted he had taken the Young
woman 10 a theater and 10 dinner. bur
denied that he had ever told her that he
VAS writing history OF his experience
In the legislature which would make the
Lorimer bunch pay him enough 10 keep
him comfortable for life. or he would
make IL hot for them. TIe also denied
that he had ever made similar statements
TO William Stermer. of the Briggs house
Chicago. and another friend or that he
had told them that he would get a largo
amount OF money without working for il
by threatening 10 declare that he had