The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1921-04-29
Felfs, Lawyer Who Gaze
EANeged Bride Is Star
Witness for Committee
(From Fridays Daily Herald)
Special to The Herald


NASHVILLE, Tenn, April 22,-Sam
l.. Felts, Nashville lawyer, who posing
as representative of chewing gum
interest, is alleged to have trapped
Seantor'E. N. Clabo in bribery trans
action, was the first witness before
the senate committee this morning.
He told of being called into. a confer
'ence at which it was suggested that
a move was being considered to eX-
pose alleged bribery conditions in the
legislature. ,a.e
The plan, he said, was that he
should become acquainted with mem
bersa and see If they were open to brib,
cry He said he agreed to the plan
but With the idea that nothing would
be done that would subject him to
criticism. He said he was assured
by JEFF tMcCarn that the criminal
Judge was acquainted with the project
and there would be. no danger of other
results as far, as he was concerned.
Mr.. Felts told of engaging two
rooms at the AHermitage Hotel and OF
receiving 5000 exsnse money. Mr..
McCarn taking record of the money
and taking receipt, Witness said that
he had insisted that any suggestion+of
bribery must come from Legislators
and not from him.
Important developments in the Cha
BIO hearing are expected this after
noon when counsel for Clabo will pre-
sent a motion in writing to the senate
investigating committee. Just what
that motion will contain is problemat
ical, but it is understood to be based
on the action OF the committee today
in excluding questions asked Sam l.
Felts regarding the source of liquor
used during the episode at the hote
when Clabo is alleged to have beer
bribed.
Witness quoted Senator Clabo as
saying to him: 1--WE have line III
in the senate and If Ike can come t
an agreement we can defeat this bill.
Witness said this made him shy, fear
ing that perhaps the senator was try
ing to trap him. ....,. ..... ......
On a later occasion he said Clabt
said to him: "What will you giv'
me IL | go down on this bill and sta.
with it until it is killed. Witnessed
said that those associated with hin
in the project construed this as al
Invitation" from the senator. Thu
following day, witness continued, Cha
DO asked him if he was ready to "clOs,
the matter up" He had asked thu
senator what he would take and thu
latter replied $500. II had Offered
him $780," witness testified, and ella
he answered, IF you will get $3Ot
I'll undertake to kill it." Witness
then made an engagement with the
senator in his room and proceeded t.
notify Gen McCarn, Capt. Amis ant
Mr. Forbes, and the several partie,
went to the hotel rooms by differen
routes and tried out the acoustics
there. A record was also made by
McCarn of the $500 in bills to be. of
fered Senator Clabo, the witness said
Witness Felts told of the little leg
islative. party he had entertained, in
GLIDING Senator Clabo and others
They took about two drinks apiece
the witness said OF the alleged pass
ing Of the money to Senator Clabo wit
ness said he took out the money and
said, This Is matter about which
we should have an understanding,
am giving yop three hundred perfect
ly good dollars"
Senator Clabo, he testified, declared
that he would have to use his best
judgment in handling the bill in
question. Witness said Clabo took the
bills in his hands, spread out the mon
ey and said. This is correct" He
took out bill folder, put the money in
1t and said, TN, have to go out and
get lunch" Senator Clabo had fur
ther said that he'd like to have a half
pint of the liquor, but having no bot
tie to put it in, witness said he went
out.
Witness told of returning the unex.
pended part of the expense money he
had received, He had received no
compensation for his services, he said
"The basis of my motive in entering
upon this matter, was my duty as a
citizen to clear up conditions"
On cross-examination witness said
list had been given him of legisla-
tors supposed to be susceptible to cor
rupt influences. He said there were
six names on It. Four were demo-
Gratis, he said; one was a republican,
and he thought the other one was too
Witness did not recall whether the
back tax bill was to be voted on in the
house the afternoon of the day Clabo
was arrested or not Question was