The Detroit times., 1911-02-17
Committees Report
Finds Bradley Guilty
orrom a SIAN Correspondent.


LANSING, Mich. Feb. l6.-(Spe'
ciaD-The special committee, appoint
ed to investigate the charges brought
against Senator Bradley, OF Green
vile. by Sherman NJ. Townsend, OF
Ionia, reported 10 the senate this al
ternoon that il is impossible TO recon
cile the conflicting evidence OF both
Bradley and Townsend, but the pre-
penderance of testimory indicates the
truth of the main facts In Townsend'3
charges
The committee says II feels no con-
clusion can be reached which woulc
not admit of a reasonable doubt. IL
has reached no conclusion as TO who
made the first suggestion that Sena.
tor Bradley should be rewarded out
il finds from the testimony that "a
conversation was held in the room OF
Senator Bradley at the Hotel Downes
substantially as Mr.. Townsend has
testified"
The report consisted OF 70 type
written pages.
IL reads in part as follows:
"A review OF the evidence indicates
Bradley and Townsend substantially
agrees as TO the places and dates,
there is a direct contradiction as to
everything which might constitute TN
offense of any nature without any
direct corroboratien of either party
This would make il impossible for the
committee to submit any conclusion
TO the senate IL the rules OF criminal
procedure were to be observed, as We
do not feel that any conclusion can
be reached which would not admit OF
a reasonable doubt.
1t Is believed however, that the
Senate expects the committee, il il is
able after consideration OF all the
evidence TO say whether fair pre-
ponderance OF IL favors one or the
other of these conflicting statements
and IL will so report The difficulty
of the committee in discharging this
duty is enhanced by the fact that II
Is established by the testimony oi
many of the prominent citizens 81
Greenville and Ionia that both tho
principal witnesses have excellent
regulations for truth and veracity as
well as general integrity in their re
spective communities.
The committee has, therefore, con
sidered with more than ordinary care
all OF the testimony tending to cor
roborate or discredit either OF the
principal witnesses, also the motive
or lack OF motive Mr.. Townsend
might have in making the charges
in question: the extent TO which
either witness is contradicted by the
testimony of other witnesses. or his
own statement, the relative proba-
bility and onableness of the con.
fiicting statements. and the degree OF
interest which each one has In the
result OF the investigation.
While we have reached no conclu.
sion as to who made the first sugges
ton that Senator Bradley should be
rewarded. we do find from a pre-.
ponderance of the evidence that a
conversation was held in the room OF
Senator Bradley at the hotel Downey
substantially as Mr.. Townsend has
testified.
The testimony taken before the
committee is transmitted herewith.
In analysing the testimony the re-
port says Bradley called Townsend
10 lONu tNltt W Rte MIN dDOul llC
job and that Townsend did not try
10 communicate with him till the
meeting in the Downey house Jal.
uary 3.
Bradley's letter from Saginaw 70
Townsend also is regarded as dam
aging testimony as the Downey house
talk corresponds closely enough TO m
dictate the interview actually oc-
Cured.
The committee, which is composed
OF Guy Miller, chairman; Walter II.
Taylor. of Kalamazoo and l.. Whit
ney Watkins, OF Hill5dale, was ap-
pointed by Lieut. -Gov Ross to inves-
tigate after Townsend declared that
he was asked TO pay $75 to cover
Bradley's expenses for visits To vari-
Gus places in the state.
Senator Arthur Tuttie was counsel
for Bradley before the investigating
committee. and Deputy Attorney.
General Chase looked after the In.
terests OF the state.
Senator Bradley stated at noon to-
day that he did not know VIVA he
would do II the findings were against
him