The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1911-10-21
SHIELDS DENIED
GETTING $500
FROM ELECTION
Cooks Statement of Corrup-
ton Fund Flatly Denied
by Witness
DEMOCRATIC MEMBER PUT
THROUGH GR|ll|nG TEST

DEMUCRAIIC MtMbtk PUl
THROUGH GR|lunG TEST
Towns. Who Was Absent When ste-
phenson Was Elected, Could Not
Tell the Committee What He Did
After He Left the Session..
Milwaukee, Oct. 21.-Robert J.
Shields mentioned In previous testl-
mony as having been employed by
Edward Hines. the lumberman, on
special occasions, denied before the
senatorial investigating committes 70. O.,
day that he had assisted Improperly IN
the election Of United States Senator
Isaac Stephenson.
He denied that he had anything to
do with any agreement whereby Hines
and Stephenson were each to con-
tribute S55, 900 to put over" the cleo
ton, or that he received $7.bOO or
any other amount as his share IN
such work.
The witness admitted he was paid
about 500 to cover his e. expenses ems III, IN
maries in 1908 and that he was pres
ent at the Joint session of the legtsla-
ture on March 4, 1909, when three
Democratic members absented them
selves and thus gave Stephenson
majority. He said he did not know
the Democratic members were absent
until after the election.
Previous to Shields appearance w.
H. Cook, q lumberman Of Duluth, tes-
tiled he had had a talk with Shields
on a train between Duluth and Chi
caRo late in 1909. Having In mind
story told him by Daniel Haley. an
other Duluth lumberman, that Shields
had dispute with Hines because he.
Shields was to receive ssdM aSoUo bnt om,v rot
$500 for It, Cook testified that he
had asked Shields chow did you come
out ON that Madison job?" and Shields
had replied: ''That's all settled"
Shields on the stand said he never
had made such remark.
Shields also denied this testimony
by Cook: shields told me he would
shoot me i did him any harm. r,n. -
IAttiefleid, counsel for Senator Steph-
enson, referred to . conversation the
details of which had been given by
Cook. Cook testified In May. 1909. in
. hotel lobby in Chicago he overheard
Hines say to eHnry Turrish, Cooks
partner: y am having an awful
SON voting for free lumber and after I
elected him. too. have had terri
Bile time getting him lined up. It
also seems hard to get those southern
Democrats in Mne." Attorney Little
field called attention to similar testi-
case and wanted to know II Cook
wasn't referring to Hines attitude to-
ward southern Democrats and not to-
ward Senator Stephenson Cook de-
clared Hines had referred to Senator
Stephenson.
It is probable Hines will be called
to testify within 2 few days.
Shields appeared in Milwaukee after
Senator. Hepburn, chairman Of the
committee. had ordered bench war
rant issued for him. but he came be-
fore the warrant was served: He was
not taken into custody
IT Is charged that you secured Sen
use Of money. ID that true?" Shields
was asked.
"It Is not true"
"Did you ever work with Hines to
secure the senator's election7"
IT did not"
"It 10 charged that you went to
Washington to induce Senator steph-
the use of money"
''That isn't true have seen SEN
ator Stephenson to talk to only once
in twenty-five years, and that was five
years ago. never saw him in WASH
1ngton except from the gallery of the
senate"
Did you have any difference with
Hines over any amount you We're to
receive for distributing 100000 in
connection with the election?"
Never"
Senator Pomerene then asked:
Don't you recall making q remark
to Cook that it was all settled when
he referred to your having dispute
with Hines as to your claim for $16,-
900 when you received only $7,500?"
II never had such a talk"
did you ever tell Cook that you
would shoot him or kill him II he ever
did you any harm?"
Hines claimed. didn't he. that he
was responsible for the election of
Senator Stephenson"
"He never said so to me-
Didn't you ever talk with Hines
Is to the senator's election?"
mot before his election"
"Have you any stock in any Of the
Hines companies?"
"Yes some."
How long have you had it?"
For more than year"
Cook testified he had endeavored to |
induce Shields to tell all he knew
about Stephenson's election and had
Stephenson's election and Shields had
promised to call on him. but Shields
denied he ever had been invited to |
call on Cook.
Explaining his presence at Madison, |
when Stephenson was elected, Shields |
said he was there partly on other
business and only incidentally in |
Stephenson's behalf His interest in |
the senator. he said. was in the fact
that he had worked for him at the |
primaries and he wanted to see him |
elected.
Senator Pomerene questioned the |
witness about the inability Of a legis- |
lative committee to find him when he |
was wanted to testify in a previous
state investigation of the Stephenson
charges. Shields replied he was at
West Baden. Ind. and could have
been found.
When Shields left the stand he was
told to remain in attendance for possi-
BILE further questioning.
Silas A. Towne. one of the three
Democratic assemblymen who alb
sented themselves when Stephenson
was elected. was then called.
When he declared he could not re-