The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1913-12-31
For the State SoIons Who
Stand Convicted of and
Sentenced for Bribery.

~ NS@AtI<i .7NN0ttNA0A1A VI eAltN
Sentenced for Bribery.
CHARLESTON. w. Va. Dec. 31.
That members Of the West Virginia
Legislature are guilty Of accepting
brides In connection with the election
of q United States senator at the reg
ular session held In January and Feb
ruary, 1913, and should be expelled
from membership therein Is the find
ing of special joint committee OF
the two houses Of the Legislature, ap-
pointed TO inquire into the charges
Of bribery, made by Prosecuting At
torney Thomas G. Townsend, of
Kanawha county, and others, assisted
by Burns detectives.
One members Of the State Senate
and six members of the House Of Del
.egates were indicted by grand jury
in the Kanawha county intermediate
court last February on a charge of
accepting brides 70 vote for William
Seymour Edwards, Of Charleston, for
United States senator, to succeed
Senator Clarence w. Watson. Five
of those under indictment have since
been tried, convicted and sentenced
to terms in. the state penitentiary. In
Idictments against two members are
still pending and the special commit
tees report Is not made public con-
corning these two.
Those whom the committee finds
guilty of accepting brides and recon-
mends their expulsion are the follow
ing:
State Senator Ben A. Smith, Of
Roane county.
county.
Delegate Rath Duff. of jackson
county.
Delegate. H. F. Aseury, of Putnam
Delegate David Hill, of Mason
county.
Indictments are pending against
Delegate George S. Vanmeter, of
Grant county, and Thomas ]. Smith,
of Doddridge county, but the COM
mittee's findings in these two cases
are not made public at this time be-
cause of the fact that their cases
might be prejudiced when called for
trial.
Senator Smith. Delegates Rhodes,
Dun, Asbury and Hill were tried in
the circuit court Of Webster county.
at Webster Springs, on a change Of
Venue in June, July and August, last,
each convicted and sentenced to
terms in the penitentiary. They are
now in jail at Webster Springs pend
ing the action of the Supreme Court
of Appeals on their application for
new trials based upon alleged error
In the trial court.
The report Of the committee shows
that contradictory testimony was
taken in several instances and recon-
mends that the Kanawha county
grand jury make investigation of this
alleged perjury. The campaign ex-
penses of the candidates for United
States senator are referred to- as
large sums. very much larger than
could lawfully be expended, or is le-
gally rouLemplatea, auu resonl-
mends that stringent corrupt prac-
tices law should be enacted since the
present law Is inadequate.
A sensation was sprung in legfsla-
tive circles when the accused legis-
lators were arrested at local hotel
last February following adjournment
lie
gave bond and continued to sit in the
daily sessions. There had been a
deadlock on in the election OF Unit
ed States senator for several weeks.
William Seymour Edwards, leader of
the Bull Moose element; Isaac T.
Mann and Davis Elkins were the lead
ing candidates for senator and there
were many scattering votes. Neither
came near receiving the necessary
number of votes of the legislature,
which was Republican on Joint bal
lot. The Republican members had
refused to caucus and 1t was not until
the last day of the session, ten days
after the graft exposure, that Judge
Nathan Golf was elected. M
Following the arrest of the accused
members it developed that Edwards
had placed at the disposal of Prose-
cutor Townsend a fund to be used In
detecting bribers and those accepting
bribes. Townsend employed Burns
detectives on whose evidence the ar.
rests were made.
\ The committee consisted of Sena-
tor Oliver s. Marshall, of Hancock
county, who was chosen chairman
Senator G. A. Hood, of Mineral coun.
ty; Delegates Charles A. Sutton, OF
Harrison county, who was chosen sec.
rotary; Vernon e. Johnson, of Nor.
gan county, and Arlen G. Swiger, Of
Tyler county. The report, except al
to Delegates VanAieter and Smith
has been made public by Secretary
Sutton, and will 0e presented IN IuI
to the legislature at its next session
The report shows that the commit
tee began its investigation Februar&
II, 1918, and continued until ii
May, the sessions beng heId 10 TAX,
evidence in this city. The commit
tee completed its work of FORMULATING
US reuort at a session held at Wheel
ing May 81 to 26, a few days be
fore the first of the accused isgisla
tors was placed on trial at Webster
Springs. The entire record contains
more than one thousand typewriter
pages. .s
According to the report the chic
witnesses concerning the acceptanc,
of brides were Jesse v. Sullivan, a 10
cal newspaper man, Grant p. Hal
and EnV n nfdlf~aa, 4