Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1913-05-30
WILL STRIKE BACK
Attorney Gregory and Associates 20
Charge Senatorial Candidate Is
Real CuIprit.

Attorney Robert L. Gregory OF Par
kersburg chief counsel Tor the a.
legged legislative bride takers, is pre-
pairing TO leave for Webster Springs
on Saturday next to be on the
ground Monday. the End OF June.
ready to proceed with The trials Of
the cases. His associates are Judge
S. c. Burdett9. Of Charleston. Elmer
Stone. Of Ripley, w s Wysong and
J. c. ThGrmond OF Webater, while
the state viii be represented BY Con-
gresham s. b. Avis, Thos. C Town
send, OF Charleston, Abe Lilly, attorn.
ey general Of the state. Prosecuting
Attorney Wooden. Of Webster com.
ty, and his assistant, S. II. Morton
There have been several hundred
witnesses summoned from all parts
of West Virginia and number from
other states. Therefore. il is expect
ed that each one of the several trials
will consume number OF weeks.
The indicted legislators are Sena.
/ tor Il. AZ Smith, 81 1toane. Represan'
tative Rath Dun. of Jackson. David
Hin, of Mason, S. U. G. Rhodes. Of
Mingo, George $. VanMetre, Of Grant.
H. f. Ashbury, of Putnam. and Rev.
j. f. Smith, Of Doddridge county
These men are all promipepte in t4sil.
Respective counties and lisye hefato.
fore borne a good reputation. From
the array .df COUNSEL It wll be se@p
that. the cases swip be lhos Mtuaig
fought and the public Will be greatly
interested in the result of eacb trial
The defense. claims dat hfiqF. 10
tie Session 81 Che last i6gfslatnTe
William Seymour Edwards, then. %
candidate for United rstates 4onator,
employed a detectiye 6oree' froar ese
Office of the w. j. Burns agency in
New York, and had the sleuths in
Charleston carly in the game in or
der 10 become acquainted with the
members of the legislature and find
out who. eoud be bribed and who
could not They also alloge that
Although this agency, Edwards intend
I'd to- purchase his seat in the sen
ate; that he and his alleged hire
Ilings created the crime and when
caught themselves entrapped the de-
fndants, several Of &hpn rev thqen
Edwards most stauiic6 Supporters
having voted for him ,og oeeh ballot
both in the Republican, ealftsa ana II
/ the Joint ASSEMBLY. The defense fliE
Their claims that if thklk shsvn, thAA
under the Jaw OF entrapment, neither
Of the defendants can Bel a'ta sfat is4
crime,
Mr. Gregory has no hesitancy mi
saying that he and his associates VIII
show the Burns agency to be fraud
and noyices in the detective business.
that he will produce evidence, clear
and convincing in the shape OF copies
of reports made in Burns Office sent
out from Charleston and purporting
to give the inside of the workings of
the legislature. which are fakes, pure
and simple. He says that history
of the entrapment will read like a
dime novel and that those who were
connected with the conspiracy will be
shown up in the courts.
On February last the public were
astounded to learn OF the arrest of
seven members OF the legislature Of
this state charged with accepting
brides on the 18th day Of that month.
The men were enticed iut6 separate
rooms on the fourth floor of the Kama
wha hotel in Charleston and handed
arge rolls of money aggregating
more than $25,00O. The detective who
pulled off the stunt was Guy b. Bid
dinger, one OF Burns most trusted
men, He persuaded one senator and
six members. of the house to take
$1,000 to $1,000 each, stating to
them that he was personal friend
Of Mr.. Edwards and desired to aid
those who. were supporting him, lie
then politely invited them, one AT 4
time. into an adjoining room where
he had in waiting a sherih's posse.
The men were Immediately arrested
and the money taken from them. The
grand jury OF Kanawha county aHeg.
ed to have been political friends Of
Colonel Edwards. rapidly indicted the
accused legislators, but refused to in
diet either the detective or Edwards.
The cases were called some weeks
ago. but til edefense secured change
of venue to Webster county on ac-