Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-05-31
State Senator's Confession,
Given Under Promise of I'M
munity, Bursts Like Bomb in
Bribery Scandal

| Washington, State Senator John Brode-
erick, a leading Chicago Democrat, was
indicted on bribery charge by the grand
! jury here today Broderick's indictment
was the result of a confession made to
the grand jury by State Senator d. w.
Holstlaw, of Iuka, ILL.,, who says Brod-
for senator A capias was at once order
ed for Frederick and bench warrant
issued for his arrest
The unexpected turn in the Lorimer
! scandal was an off-shoot of States At
| torney Burkes investigation Of alleged
graft in a legislative furniture deal. Sen
ator Holstlaw had been indicted on
perjury charge in connection with the
! furniture contract and upon advice OF
his lawyers, when offered immunity
agreed to make a confession. Then ne
told the grand jury that he had received
81, 800 for his vote for Lorimer; 500 as
his share of legislative Jack pot and
a promise of $500 as his share Of the
state house furniture deal.
| CONFESSION CORROBORATED.
Senator Holstlaw's confession regard
L
before the grand jury by Otto FREEZER. OF
| Chicago, who as agent for the Ford
| Johnson Furniture company, obtained the
/ furniture contract.
The two confessions regarding the fur
| niture contract resulted in two addltional
| indictments, on. conspiracy charge
| these were: State Senator s. Z. Pemper-
ton Republican, of Oakland. ILL.,, ana
Representative Joseph s. Clark Demo-
GRAFT, of Vandalia, Ill.
| As in the case of Senator BroderlcK'
IN the Lorimer alleged bribery matter
! copiases and bench warrants were I'M
| nediately issued for Senator Pemberton
and Representative Clark on the consplr-
arv charges In connection with the 1or-
| niture contract.
Although an Indictment charging con
| sniracy was returned against senator
Holstlaw, it was Immediately nollieo ana
Immunity for Holstlaw was ordered ey
Judge James A. Creighton upon the re-
/ coroTendation of States Attorney Burke.
| When the indictments had been re-
turned and the court orders entered In
/ the two separate scandals. the members
of the grand jury adjoined until next
| Tuesday.
| IMMUNITY OFFERED.
| After conferences with Attorney A. M
/ Fitzgerald his lawyer, Senator Holstlsw
this morning communicated with state 5
! Attorney Burke. Worn, haggard ana
1 driven almost to distraction during
sieepless night, Senator Holstlaw told the
prosecutor he was ready to confess and
all liability to prosecution and punish
ment was waived when immunity was Of
| rered and later granted because Hoist
! law was a material witness.
Before going to the grand jury room
| Holtslaw made a preliminary statement
| 10 States Attorney Burke in the pres
| ence of his attorney. This statement
was as follows;
I'm making the statements to the San
| canon county grand jury regarding the
| payment of money to secure the contract
| for furniture and for the purpose OF
| electing william Lorimer United States
senator. / have been governed by the
| firm belief that my actions in this mat
| ter have been reprehensible and in this
connection l offer no defense. l have,
however, determined to make such repair
alton as is within my power, and the
| only means by which l can do this, as
! it seems to me, is by fully and honestly
stating what 1 know about these trans
| actions.
GOT $500 FOR VOTE.
II voted for William Lorimer for Unit
ed States senator and received therefor
g, 500 1 also received $500 which was CIV
on me without explanation, with the
| statement that it was coming to me- /
was promised $3.50 for my connection
| with the letting OF the furniture con-
| tract"
| Holstlaw went before the judge at 2:30
| o'clock an dit was late when he emerged.
| Following his appearance before the in
quisitorial body Holstlaw repeated his
| conversation to the Associated Press.
He told in detail of the meeting he had
IL. IT.
| go. in front of the ST Nicholas Hotel in
this city, the day before William Lori
mer was elected United States senator
| He and Broderick talked for some time
about other matters and then the sena-
| torship question was brought up Hoist
| law says that Broderick asked him IL
| he could vote for Lorimer and he replied
that 1t was possible for him to do so,
that some of his Democratic constituents
had told him that such a move would be
| a good thing towards disrupting the Re-
publican party in the state. Holstlaw
says Frederick then said to him that IL
he would vote for Lorimer there would
be $500 in it for him. Holstlaw saws
that he then agreed to cast his vote the
next day, May 26, for Lorimer. He said
that he had never been approached on
| the subject before and denied that Lee
ONeil Browne or Senator Lortmer hal
ever brought the subject to his atten-
| ton.
Holstlaw said that up to this time he
had voted consistently for the Demo-
cratic candidate. Lawrence B. Stringer.
of Lincoln.
| During their conversation In front of
| the st. Nicholas, said Holstlaw. Broder-
| lex told him that Lorimer was going to
be put over" the next day and that
there was no question about II. SO he
] concluded "he might just as well get In
| the band wagon"
! At this time. according to Hoistlaw's
statement there was nothing said as to
when or at what place the money should
be paid. Later he says. he received a
communication from Broderick, but could
| not remember whether IL was by letter
or word, was sent him In some other way.
At any event on June II. 1909, Holstlaw
went to Chicago. He visited the Broder-
lex saloon and was there paid the s.. 500
| for his vote for Lorimer. Most of the
| money was in 500 bills, ne said.
ABOUT THE JACK POT"
! In regard to the Jack pot" HoIstlaw's
memory did not work well, and he could
| tell but few of the details of the trans
action. He denied he had any previous
understanding regarding the distribution
OF money at the close of the session and
the first that he knew of the existence
of such Jack pot" was when he read
! n ho,,t II in th enewsDa pers He saws that