New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-01-24
DANV|LLE INQUIRY BEGINS
City Attorney Accused Of Admit
ting Buying Votes for Sheriff.
ELECTION OF Mr.. CANNON
Probable Immunity for Vote Buy
ers Who Confess and Leniency
for Repentant Vote Sellers.

Danville Ill. Jan. 2S.-Speaker Joseph
C. Cannons home city and county were
brought under the scrutiny of grand Jury
to-day I'm he hunt for Illegal traflc IN
votes The Veremilion County grand JURY
sitting here. heard eleven witnesses. Twelve
moro. Including Speaker Cannon's son-in-
law. T. y. lie Seure, a banker. are SUD
rnnaed 10 appear on Tuesday.
The investigation will go into the alleged
huyng and selling Of votes on past cleo
,ions in the county. but will inquire chiefly
into the general election Of last Novem-
bor. in which Joseph G. Cannon, Speaker Of
the National House of Representatives,
WAS elected.
The grand Jury to-day heard Danviuos
City Attorney accused Of having admitted
buying votes and received a list ~ fifty
possible witnesses from the accusers. The
City Attorneys alleged traficking, II was
testified. was I'm the interest Of the pres
ent Sheriff, John T. Shepard. AZ the last
general election.
The fact that the investigation may dis
close irregularities in tho elections OF TIC
States Attorney. and even the court itself,
has not stood in the way Of orders TO have
the investigation thorough
\ newspaper man IUlu lllc Jurors ne Udu
been approached to-day by persons offer
Ing him q vacation and several good
things" II he would not so before the
grand Jury with his story.
Two newspaper reporters who sent out
story last week purporting 10 contain a
confession" from City Attorney Frank w.
Jones that he had bought votes, which
story later was denied by Jones, demanded
A.
and tell their story.
The newspaper men we're r. II. FRANKIE
berger a reporter for The Danville Com
nercial News" who claims 20 have OBJ
tanned Joness alleged confession. and
George a. Martin, correspondent Of an
Indianapolis newspaper, who was with
Trankeberger when the alleged converse
ton took place.
Frankeberger told tho grand jury the
story which. when published last Saturday
brought forth prompt denial from City At
torney Jones and Sheriff John 7. Shepard.
It was for Shepard. whose campaign man
sger he wss, Frankaberger said. that Jones
admitted buying the votes.
part OF the alleged conversation, as
given before the grand jury. was:
Martin-Mr Jones, did you have a list Of
bought votes and the amounts paid for
them?
Jones-Yes, ] had a partial list of those,
but haven't got it any more; l burned it.
Frankeberger-Can YOU remember the
names Of any Of those voters on the list
Jones-Not right of, but might have my
memory refreshed by some Of those ward
captains there in the I'd or the It'll
Frankeberger-Le Seure was before the
grand jury and he lost his memory.
IoneS-Well. / could refresh his memory /
on e few points if I was d mind to. There's
lot Of those fellows whose memories could
he refreshed on this thing.
The preliminary TO the alleged converse |
ton was said by Frankeberger to have been
statement made by the newspaper man
concerning vote buying of which he had
some personal knowledge.
AS repeated 10 the grand jury, 1t was.
That Jones had rented a small room in
in" rear of the butcher shop of H. VI. Mar
til az no. 500 West Tairchild street: that
lere on tho last Election Day Jones met
number of approximately seventy
tNo--instructed them how 10 vote and paid
them; that later Martin. who is FRANKIE
l'reers father-in-law. and not related TO
III newspaper man from Indianapolis.
asked for and saw the list Of men Jones is
alleged 10 have paid
7, was this information which FRANKIE
horgcr testified he brought 10 Joness office
ON saturday and uron which he obtained
-, alleged confession.
The city attorney has denied absolutely
that he confessed and has said he would
tell what nc knows it asked by the Grand
jury. Ilie statement was followed by a
subpoena. issued TODAY.
States Attorney John Lowman is con
duct,ng the examination OF witnesses. Inc
grand Jurors interfering questions as they
occur 10 them
Judge T.. r.. T.. kimbrough. who instruct
81 tho grand jury 10 clean mp the votin.;
situation mas left the path wide open. hay
ing caused IL to become known thar l..
VII IN an probability hold as immurs an
vote buyers if they viii confess end will
to reasonably lenient with sellers who come
M al once ond confess
The grand jury faced n situation wnich
may prove crisis in political affairs Of
tic county The outcome OF this weeks
investigation OF the vote selling. winch
has been generally known 10 na,c been
taking place in the county foy years. may
n said 90 depend upon Circuit Judge
T. u. r. hlnbioNSu ana IT OGCiu1l isaac
woodward OF the grand jury.
Judge Kimbrough viii have chlrse Of
the court ia which tho vote sellers viii
appear if tho situation approaches that
which developed In Adams County. Ohio
Foreman woodward viii be a central Gc-
ure in the actual search for the truth. and
he has said repeatedly that ne would 90
into the question with all the means OF his /
command. However. tho real key D the
situation is believed 90 liz IN the attitude |
the alleged buy CTS Of votes take