The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-02-12
Five Members of Legis-
lature Paid With
Marked Bills.
MONEY is FOUND
IN THEIR POCKETS
Arrests Follow Unearthing of
Alleged Bribery Scheme in In
tcrests of Some One of Sena-
torial Candidates by Detec-
tives-Entire Situation
to Be Investigated.

Charleston. W. Va. February IL
with marked money in their pockets
alleged to be the price of their votes
in the United States senatorial contest
which liz causing deadlock in the
Legislature four members Of the
House Of Delegates and one member
of the Senate OF West Virginia were
arrested in a hotel here late this af-
ternoon By Sheriff Bonner Hill. in the
presence of the public prosecutor
Thomas c. Townsend They were
taken before Justice of the Peace c. w
Deering, where they each waived a
hearing and were held in $1,000 bond
The accused men are Representatives
L. s. G. Rhodes, DR.. II. F. Asbury
David f. Hill. Rath DuH and Senator
b. a. Smith.
Ever since the Legislature assembled
there have been rumors that money
was being used TO influence members
of both houses in the interests of some
one of the senatorial candidates. but
the stories were not supported by tan
gible evidence. and the entire matter
was passed as an ordinary feature OF
Il hard fought political battle. Re-
Gently. however. Rhodes Is alleged to
have said, according to the prosecutor
that for something over $4,000 he
could change six votes in the two
houses.
Detectives Employed.
Acting on this report II is stated
Prosecutor Townsend employed detec-
tivcs. They had been watching the
balloting for several weeks, and were
in close touch with the situation. After
the arrests. II was said. arrangements
had been made for the change in vot-
ing this week. AS reported. 1t was 10
start with change OF vote or two
the first day. followed by other change.
until the necessary number had been
won over Part of the program was
carried out. and to-day was arranged
as ''pay day"
The men were called TO hotel.
and. it is charged, they were there
paid with marked bills. In an adioin-
ing room Prosecutor Townsend and
Sheriff Hill awaited the signal that
was TO lay bare the alleged bribery.
They had only few minutes to walt,
FOR. the transaction over, the door was
opened and the men invited to en-
ter.
There stood the sheriff and prose
cutor. both OF whom all the legis-
lators knew. For moment no one
moved. and then, without hesitancy,
the sheriff told the accused they were
under arrest
Prosecutor Townsend had prepared
his plans SO that the men could be
In no CTR, ,f
of the Peace Deering, where they
would be permitted to plead. They
lost no time in summoning counsel
and within few minutes after the ar
rests were in the Justices office.
Votes Delivered.
II is reported the men arrested were
To have voted for one OF the leading
candidates for United States Senator.
and some OF the votes were to have
been delivered to-day, when the
House and Senate, in joint session.
took it's sixth ballot for Senator
which resulted as follows:
Republicans-William Seymour Ed
wards, 16; Isaac T. Mann, Is: Davis
Elkins. II; A. 3. White. 4; N B. Scott.
/: w. +. Hubbard. 3: Nathan Gon. 2;
Governor Glasscock, 1.
Democrats-Senator Watson. .45;
John NJ. Hamilton, l; Judge DALEY. |:
John w. Davis. /.
Rhodes. the delegate who placed
Isaac Il. Mann in nomination, is said
to have been the man for which the
prosecutor played from the beginning.
1t was stated after the arrest that
of $4,000 alleged to have been paid in
marked money to the legislators he re-
ceived $4,000. Duff is alleged TO have
received $4,000 and each of the others
$1,000.
l believe that there is more of this
thing going on and propose TO rout it
out" said Prosecutor Townsend to-
night 1T is my purpose to go into
every phase of it. and from what |
know now l think we have only start
ed. AS soon as possible, will CON
suit with the court concerning the
calling OF a special grand jury. not
only that this charge may be taken
up, but that the entire situation may
be thoroughly investigated. While l
can't say at this minute that there
will be additional arrests, / can saw
that there may be. don't want to say
that the candidates for Senator have
been buying votes, but 1 have reason
to believe there are votes for sale in
West Virginia, and IL there are we
want to know it,"