The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-02-18
CANNON'S CLOSE
FRIENDS IN PERIL
Testimony Of Witnesses Con
meets Them With Bribery
and Perjury Charges.

Danviilc, Ill. February 17.--The
grand jury mas obtained evidence of
direct perjury against two of Joseph
G. Cennon's most influential friends
and campaign managers in the Yer
million county election investigation
There Will be Il State wide sensation
II indictments for perjury arc return
cd at the end OF the week, which is
declared to be the present intention
Of tho runaway inquisitors.
Eastern Illinois has no more pronli-
nent citizens than the two said TO ba
involved. Their Indictment would be
staggering blow TO the Cannon ma
chine The politicians We're witnesses
Before the grand jury in an important
criminal case. They were asked II
they knew anything about vote buy
ing and answered negatively. Sub
sequent witnesses have directly con
Hccted them with the use of large ca m
paign funds in the purchase OF votes.
we have certain evidence of per-
jury against these men." said mem
Der OF the grand jury, but We have
not yet reached the matter OF voting
their Indictment. True bills should
follow as matter OF course. as the
grand jury does not believe in favor
ing men who are wealthy and promi
nent and Furnishing only the poor vo-
ter who sold out"
Out for RenI HouscclenninE.
Alarm signals We're sounded through
the corrupt Democratic camp when it
became known that the grand jury had
Knocked down the eighteen months
wall OF limitation set up BY Judge L
r. +. kimbrough when he delivered
his now famous charge. The election
which put the millionaire judge on the
circuit bench is now being probed, as
we'll a 5 the city election which made
his business associate, Louis Plat,
Mayor OF Danvillo.
The grand Jury. having definitely
cast out States Attorney John Lew
man. has literally run ainuck 1t has
declared itself independent of all court
officers and out for a. real houseclean-
ing.
Part of Tuesday was spent in in
vestigating the automobile pay car in
which Judge Kimbrough and Mayor
Plat rode TO various polling places
last city election day. Judge ISimbroush
has already told the grand jury that
the money thus carried about Danvine
was used TO pay the workers Of tho
Platt machine. Witnesses declared
that the coin was used to pay voters
AN effort is being made to find out
Just how much the pay car carried,
1t was loaded for its several trips at
the First National Bank. OF which
Judge kinbrough is vice president.
President OF Bank Summoned.
G.. l. English, president OF the
bank, was summoned by telephone He
was greatly perturbed by the sudden
call and emerged with u troubled ex-
preston on his face. Then there was
n hurry call for his son. Ben c. English
assistant cashier OF the bank and
mana ger OF the Danville Clearing
House. lie is supposed to have paid
out the funds drawn for election pur
poses.
County superintendent Of Schools
Otis p Haworth. a Cannon supporter.
who campaigned last fall with the
Cannonites, was q witness. Ex-Alder-
man Charles O'Neil, ex-Sher!m William
Thompson and alderman John j. Bel
ton, of the Third Ward, were Republic
can wheelhorses who were forced to
enlfghten the grand Jury as to corrupt
election methods.
Jury Breaks With sherin's Ohice.
Incidentally the jury broke" with
the sherln's Office. No longer will sub
poenas he issued in patches. The SUBJ
poenas sent out We're marked forth
with" and the deputies were kept on
the jump serving them.
Under the old system OF sending
subpoenas to the shefiff, fifty at a.
time, there were serious leaks. The
politicians knew in advance who We're
to be summoned and had time to lin
ject ginger which is a Danvilleism
for persuadng the witness to tell
nothing.
George B. Weisiger stood out as
Foreman Woodyards chief lieutenant
In aiding the grand jury. He handled
the subposnas, examined witnesses and
kept notes OF testimony. 10 all in
tents and purposes, he is serving the
grand jury as States Attorney.