Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-04-26
C.f.Wiehs Tells Of Errand
To Foil Process Servers
AT Time Of The Publication Of
lorIner Bribery Charges.
Many of W. N. Cocks Statements
CONFERENCE.-The Testimony.

opIiIlStElu, III, April 90 +.
Wiehe, brother-in-law of Edward
Hines of Chicago, lumbernan, today
admitted before the Senate bribery
investigation committee that Hines
sent him on midnight mission TO the
Grand Pacific hotel in Chicago. in an
effort to have w. Ii. Cook and William
@ Brien, Minnesota lumbermen, evade
Cook county process servers at the
time the charges that bribery was used
il the election of William Lorimer to
the United States senate We're first
published in May, 1910 Wiehes state
ment followed the statements OF w.
II. Cook of Duluth, who, it was
brought ont, had written a threaten
ing letter to Hines. Wiehe eorrobor-
ated some of Cooks statements, but
denied the pungent part of his charges.
Cook declared that he was in room
at the Grand Pacific hotel i'm Chicago
ON Nav -. 1909, with William O Brien
and Edward Hines when Hines tele-
phoned 10 some one called Governor
at Springfield.
During this alleged telephone CONVEX
sation by Hines. Cock said that Hines
declared to the Governor that he
WIS ready 10 tttkt tie HeNl tIiiu "
Springfield with all the money neces-
sary t. effect William Lorimer's elee
ton to the United States Senate. Lor-
liners election occurred later that same
day.
NJ Il. Coan, Investigator for the COM
mittee. testified that he had inter-
viewed William O'Brien in Duluth
within the last week and that o'Brien
told about the same story as Cook, on
" differing in that O'Brien got the
impression that Former Governor
Richard Yates was on the Springfield
end Of the telephone.
Following the recital of Cook, Gov.
Charles Deneen issued a statement in
which he said he had never ar any time
held such q conversation with Hines.
Former Gov. Yates also denied that he
ever had any such conversation.
Wiehc stated to the committee, that
he. although not in the room when
Hines got the Springfield call, be
lieved that Hines talked to William
Lorimer
Wiene testified that on May 90. 1909,
Hines returned to Chicago from Wash
ingtoa at $50 O'Clock in the morning.
Hines went direct to the continental
and Commercial National Bank. Wiehe
said that he did not go to the bank
with Hines. but arranged for the lat
ter TO met Cook and O'Brien at the
Grand Pacific hotel at II o'clock. The
Minnesota men We're TO confer regard
ing the Virginia &. Rainey Lake Lum-
Der Co. in which they We're stockhold-
erS and of which Hines was president.
Wiehe said that Hines had put in
several telephone calls to Springfield that
day. but did not know whom Hines was
Hines at a previous hearing tes-
tilted that he talked with Governor Den
cen on that morning from the Continent
tai and Commercial National Bank.
Cook today declared that he answered
the telephone in his room at the Grand
Pacific when the call came for Hines.
II understood the central girl to say:
Here's governor or the governor at
Springfield for Hines. " testified Cook
He then related the conversation as he
it as follows:
Hines took the receiver out of my
hand and he spoke in tho phone He
asked: Hello. hello, hello. Is this you,
He said: We'll, I just left
President Taft and Senator Aldrich last
night in Washington. Now they tell me
that under no consideration shall Hopkins
re returned to the Senate. No, | will be
down ON the next train. Don't leave any
thing undone l will be down on this next
train, prepared to furnish all the money
that is required. Now. don't stop at any
thing; don't leave anything undone.
will be down on the next train or words
to that effect, repeated it over three or
four times
Cook was specific in regard to the mat
ter of money being mentioned and on
cross-examination repeated this part of
the conversation. On this same point Of
the Grand Pacific hotel conversation
Wiehc testified:
why. the conversation was substan
TALLY or practically as follows; 1 have
just talked with the governor on the long
distance telephone and he assures me he
will do what you ask. You know that the
administration--you know what the adj
wants. Now leave no stone
unturned to be elected. l will get down
to Springfield if necessary in the morn
ing and when he got through talking he
turned to the people in the room and said:
4 have Just been talking to Senator Lor-
inner
Wiehe said that he. Cook. o Brien, Isaac
Baker and Hines were present at the
time. Almost a year later, according to
both Cook and Wiehe. Cook and O'Brien
were again in the same hotel. The Lori
mer story was. then being printed in the
Chicago newspapers
Cook testified that Wiehe came to him
and OBrien at midnight, saying that
Hines declared that process servers We're
looking for the Minnesota men TO sub
poena them before the Cook county grand
jury as witnesses in the bribery probe.
''Wiehe said Hines had got him out
of bed to warn us TO leave Chicago at
once" testified Cook. 'Wiehc declared
to me and O'Brien that he was greatly
concerned for Hines and feared that
those damned newspapers would Get
Hines for his part in senator Lori
mer's election"
Cook declared that Wiehe repeated
ly urged the two Minnesota men to
leave Chicago and the state that night.
XNiot,a an tha stand denied that he