The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-02-08


the senate committee investigating the
charges of Sherman M. Townsend. de-
posed assistant sergeant-at-arms. &C
cusing Senator William Bradley. or
Kent county, of soliciting a bride OF
SIS for an inquisitor when the hearing
was resumed yesterday afternoon. and
drilled Townsend with regard TO an
offer he was alleged TO have made TO
retract his AFFIDAVIT
The incident referred TO occurred
in Lieut. Gov. Ross room Friday aft
ernoon when q 15-minute recess was
taken to see IL the matter could not
be settled without a scandal. The mat
ter was not brought out at the in
vestigation Friday evening, when AS
sistant Attorney General Chase was
examining. Those present were the
lieutenant governor, f. V. Chilson.
secretary of the senate, and Senators
Bradley, Newton and White.
1t came out In Townsend's testi-
mony that Just before the conference.
Townsend was called into Secretary
Chilson's room and that Chilson told
him that Bradley was on the point OF
starting a suit for SANDER and that
lie WAS W bCGuic Jua6hDhs
that would cost Townsend his farm.
Senator Miller asked Townsend II
he did not say at that conference
that il Bradley would refrain from
bringing suit, and Townsend would
be allowed to retain his job he would
Ietract his affidavit
Townsend hesitated and 1t was hard
to hear him.
Lieut.. Gov, Ross asked IL I was
prepared to go before the senate and
say that the a.idavi. was false.
Il asked Senator Bradley IL he would
refrain FROM bringing suit for Sian
der. He said that he would
Senator Newton said you wouldn't
lie about II, would your 1 said No sir.
The afidavit was true and IL wasn't
In my heart to go out and deny the
AFFIDAVIT"
"You have spoken Of a settlement,
said Senator Miller. What were you
to do as your part of the settlement
They wanted me To say the am
davit was not true" said Townsend
after five-minute pause.
What were you willing to do?
II wanted to drop the matter"
"NVas there any offer Of such set
Element made by you or Senator Brad
ley What called forth Senator New
tons remark that you wouldn't lie to
them?"
II said I'd settle 1t up"
'Js that all you said?
ut was In reference to having the
matter fixed UP and the suit dropped
az rutnnfl
pause). II asked If | made the state
ment that the afidavit was false, would
get my job back"
did the lieutenant governor say:
We are not trafficking in jobs here
IL was nervous, and ] can't remem'
Der what was said"
| Townsend Was asked il he had been
active In politics.
"Only like any citizen"
why were you so afraid or q civil
suit IL you were positive OF your
grcund?"
II was informed previously by Mr.
Chilson that ] had no corroborative
evidence and Bradley might bring a
suit and get judgment and take my
farm.
Then when they suggested that the
matter could be fixed up. l thought
maybe could give in some and Sen
ator Bradley some and we could get a
settlement"
Ibid you realize that the only pos
sible settlement would be by with
drawal Of the charges? Was II with
that idea that you went into the gov
ernor's room?"
Something like that"
did you know at the time OF the
conversation in the Downey house,
Jan. 8, that it was morally wrong for
you to pay money for a position?'
Il think so"
You testified once that you knew
before Jan. 8, IL was wrong TO pay
for job. and at another time that
your consciousness came about the
time you talked to Msj. LOOMS, Jan.
10. Which was right?'
Il knew II vas wrong from the
start"
Senator Miller tried 10 trip him as
to whether the conversation was be
fore or after the governors message
asking for a reduction In the forces
and as to his real motives In talking
about the natter.
Ex-senator futile. counsel for Brad
lev, pressed Townsend as to whether
he had not been an nspirant for the
Job ut previous sessions.
did you have In mind TIC IL Sen