The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1913-03-04
BRIBERY CASES WILL
BE PUSHED VIGOROUSLY
Hon. 7. {. Townsend Talks Of
the Legislative Scandal Dur
ing Legislature.
LEGISLATORS LITERALLY
PEDDLED THEIR VOTES
They Were Not Tempted and Be
trayed. but Seemed Anxious
Sell Their Votes.

Hon. 7. G. Townsend. former State
TAX commissioner. and now Prosecu-
ting Attorney of Kanawha county.
was visitor i'm the city yesterday.
Mr.. Townsend mas recently come into
the lime light 50 To speak, from his
activity in connection with the arrest
ut several members OF the West Vir-
Slnia legislature on the charge of ac-
CeptinG bribcs for their votes for the
nited States Senatorship. Speaking
10 an indulgence reporter last even
ing. Mr.. Townsend said:
The cases OF the members OF tha
Legislature indicted for bribery will
come up in criminal court OF Kanawha
county AT the April term ! have
gone over the evidence OF these cases
thoroughly. and | want to say to the
people or West Virginia that the evil
dcnce in each and every case Is COM
plcte and conclusive as 10 the guilt
or the men indicted. From some
pubic statements that | have read.
there seems To be an effort TO Greats
Ihe impression that these members
We're trapped into selling their votes.
In other words that they were tempted
ana that by some improper means.
men who might otherwise have been
honest were lead To involve them
selves in unlawful practices. In SO
lar as my individual statement may
sion
Ample Evidence.
W" have the evidence to show that
most. n not all of these men not only
accepted bribes cheerfully and willing
~. but IN fact practically peddled
ih"lr votes and sought to be bribed.
~ " haNe me evidence TO show that
ihey NOT only approached one man.
but mat several of rhem approached
several men. intimating that they
WaH1ed money for their votes. There
mas bHen no tempting of honest men
minis case All that was done was
10 ser a trap for men who had already
practically confessed themselves 10
De corruptionists who we're willing.
ana anxious to sell their votes for.
money was personally familiar
WIN every part OF the proceedings,
lead ng up 10 these arrests. The de.
lectlFts we're secured under nv d.
I'ciion. ] knew every step thew
'ooh ana ! want 10 make il as clear
ana emphatic as possible thai the hon.
est man vas tempted. no man who
"d9 NOT Wiling 10 sell himself was
corrupted and in fact, the entire pro-
c.eclnES wcr" simply for the PURPOSE
OF exposing men who we're willing 10
Hril ihelr votes. and for the further
purpose. To prevent the United States
'Nators hip I'm West Virginia from
h"ihE bought and sold As said be-
lore. nave every confidence that the
.'.donc" presented To the Jury will
be sufficient TO convict and nothing
Icss Than an act Of Providence will
prevent me from pushing these cases
20 no extreme limit. ! feel thar in
So doing J will be performing a great
PUBIC duty and one that the entire
1'opi" OF West Virginia will apprec.
Criminal Cases Purely.
know that "A commission has been
appointed 10y the LEGISLATURE 10 inves-
Itdie these cases I'm 50 far as the
~ N're oi this commission will tend 10
produce new evidence and To strength.
'n Tine hands OF the prosecution.
|lI gladly welcome its cooperation:
hI' entirely regardless OF this com.
mission these cases VIII ne nusbed
(conunued on Page Eighty