Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1921-12-01
SCANDAL BREAKS AT
CAPITAL ON EVE OF
GOVERNORS TRIAL
Springfield, ILL.,, Dec. Changes in circulation
here for several days that the state was nvestigat
ing alleged attempts to bribe grand jurors who in
dicted Gov. Len Small,
Lieut.. Gov. Fred Sterling
and Vernon Curtis for

ana vernon curtis FOR
embezzlement, conspiracy and conf
dence game, eliminated today in a
statement from Governor Small assert
ing that William D. (Buck) Evans
member of the grand jury circulated
the story after failing to obtain money
or job from the administration.
The sensational charge was made
thru statement which the Governor
made public letter received by him
from c. II. jenkins, director of public
welfare, dealing with alleged grand
jury corruption and purporting to be
an expose of political forces at work
to destroy Small and some of his col
leagues.
In his letter to the governor. Jen-
kins referred to rumOrs ahoat for
some time that states attorney Nor
timer possessed information connect
ing friends of Governor Small with
attempts to fix the grand jury SO it
would not return the indictments last
July.
When these rumors finally reached
publication, Jenkins according to the
letter, was informed that they involv-
ed him in an alleged attempt to bribe
Evans
Gov. Small made public two letters
said to have been received by director
Jenkins from Evans offering to trade
information of grand jury scandal
for jobs for himself and son and
threatening to make damaging affida-
Wits if the jobs were not delivered.
Jenkins letter to the governor called
the bribery story "a damnable lie, the
result of a conspiracy long ago en-
tered into he dwelt at length on its
publication in two Chicago news
papers.
"Cloudinq ssues"-Brundage
Attorney General Brundage before
leaving for Chicago today said:
In answer to the statement given
to the press over the Governors
signature | will say that know moth
ing whatever about the grand jury
matters referred 10, except what
have read in the newspapers Ieam
not responsible for the publication,
niether do run a press bureau The
only propaganda ] know Of is that
put out at the expense OF the tax
PAYERS of Illinois by the press bureau
maintained in the capital building.
This cry of outraged justice is
but q repetition CT the th1nghl that
the king can do no wrong which de-
fers consideration of the merits Of
the charges and questions the legal
terhnicalitiea of tho matter in which
they are set forth"
Evans Has Nothing to Say.
"Buck" Evans had nothing to say
regarding Governor Smal's charges
against him this morning. In re-
sponse to a request for his side OF the
story, Mr.. Evans replied, 81 will not
say one word"
"You will have no statements?" he
was asked
Never" he responded, mot a thing
Don't ask me any questions
Goes to Waukeaan Monday
Sprin2lield ILL., Dec 1.-Goycrnor
Small plans to accompany his law
yer to Waukcesn Monday, attaches
Of his Office said. as finishing touches
on motions t. Quash the embozzla
ment and conspiracy indictments
as2inst the governor were made TO-
DAY
Although not REQUIRED to h2 IL court
whom the motions are argued next
week the governor expects to keen in
immediate touch with his attorney
during the preliminary court battle
fer freedom from the charges.