Jasper County Democrat, Volume 14, Number 87, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 February 1912 — CHARGES HINES TRIED TO BRIBE [ARTICLE]

CHARGES HINES TRIED TO BRIBE

Woman Telegrapher in Washington Makes Accusation. SAYS HE ASKED FOR MESSAGE Examination of Witnesses Is Hastened, as Committee Wishes to End Hearings as Soon as Possible to Do So. s . Washington, Feb. 9.—That Edward Hines offered, her money if she would let him see a message Detective Bailey had just sent to H. E. Kerr of Detroit is the charge made before the Ixirimer committee by Helen Seevers, telegraph operator in a local hotel. “He said he would ‘put something in my paw’ if I would let him see the message,” she said. “He came back and I saw the money in his hand. I told him T- would not be bribed to do wrong,” said Miss Seevers. Charles McGowan, the young Canadian who gave testimony favorable to Senator Lorimer before the committee and was charged by private detectives with having perjured himself and having been paid for it by C. F. Wiehe, continued as a witness. McGowan's testimony was hurried, as the committee has instructed attorneys for both sides that the taking of testimony, be expedited and the hearings closed.

Dr. J, P. Jupp of Toronto, Ont., was called to testify that McGowan was not in the room with the detectivesat the hour they swore he admitted having received money for “perjuring” himself. , ' John McGowan, father of young McGowan, told of Detective William J. Burns asking him to come to Toronto to talk about his son’s testimony. After promising to go, McGowan said he decided not to. C. F. Wiehe, secretary of the Edward Hines Lumber company, told of his dealings with young McGowan. He said he knew subpoena could not bring McCowan from Canada to Washington, and it seeme.d reasonable to pay him for his actual losses. Edward Hines made the following statement by way of comment on the testimony of Miss Seavers: “A young girbHn a telegraph office has been induced by Burns detectives to say that I tried to induce her to let me see a message that was sent by one of Mr. Burns’ detectives to another of his men, concerning the present investigation. She says that when I asked to gee the telegram I had a bill in my hand and she pretended to think I was offering it to her, if I could see the telegram. “I did not, directly or indirectly, offer the girl money or other inducements to see the telegram and had ho money in my hand at the time. The whole story is an absurd fabrication concocted by Burns detectives.