Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-07-09
ANOTHER CHARGE On BRIBERY
1t has no Foun dation-" Much Ado
About Nothing"

A special meeting of the Board Of
Mayor and Aldermen was held yesterday
for the purpose of inquiring into the
alleged charge Of q bride Of $4,000 being
offered to Alderman johnson, TO change
his vote on the paving question. Alder
man Smith said that he had charged the
Alderman with bribery on tho word Of a
respectable citizen and large tax payer.
He was sorry that Alderman johnson
felt grieved about it; tho charge was
made to him in presence of himself and
another member Of the Board. Had
that charge been made by any scallawag
or popinjay he never would have re-
stated it, but it had been made by re-
spectacle citizen, and therefore be
had reported it in the Board, and
the man who told him said he would
prove it. 1t was not for him to prove
the allegation, but it was for Alderman
johnson to prove his innocence, in order
that the public might judge of the whole
matter. He did not propose to put him
self in wrong position before the public.
Alderman johnson had asked him TO
sign a paper, but he had declined to do
so. The following is copy of the paper
referrad to.
/ deem it duty / owe to myself and
to Alderman Johnson, this Board, and
the public, to say that the statement |
made in the Board at its last meeting
that Alderman johnson had been offered
a bride to change his vote is not sus-
tanned by facts, the party having made
the statement to me having failed to come
forward as he promised to do, and pro-
duce such evidence as would sustain the
charge. l will say that | made the state
ment / did it in good faith, without
malicious intent, based upon what / had
been told, and now do not believe the
statement made to me to be true, and
take great pleasure in making this
retraction, as | promised to do if the
party did not produce the evidence
against him.
Alderman Smith said Mr.. P. G. Meath
was the gentleman who had made the
statement about bribery to him. Mr..
Meath was man worth $250,O00, and
he had told him about the bribery in
presence of Alderman Passmore. AL
derman Hoist said Meath told him that
about $4,000 was to be spent, and that
he had figured up that Alderman John
son would get $4,000 of it, and that the
rest would be divided among the other
seven. When he heard this remark, he
told Alderman Smith that he thought he
had been sold"
Ex-Alderman Kelly being invited to
give his views on the subject, said that he
had heard Meath say that it was under.
stood that about $4,000 or $35, OOO
was to be divided, and that Alderman
johnson would likely get $4,000 of it, but
it was only street rumors. Alderman
Shaw said he was justified in stating what
he did at a previous meeting, that they
should entertain no more of these foolish
bribery investigations. Alderman John.
son said it was a strange proceeding oil
Alderman Smith to make charge, and
then ask him to prove his innocence. He
would say once..for all, as he had said
before, the charge is false. The fol-
lowing resolution was introduced:
Resolced, That in the estimation oil
this Board, the charges preferred against
Alderman johnson by Alderman Smith,
at the last meeting, have in no wise been
sustained, and that they were unworthy
of being entertained by the Board or any
part of it.
This resolution created considerable
debate when the following was read
Having made certain charges against
Alderman johnson, of the Second Ward,
based upon certain statements made to
me by Patrick Meath, and Mr.. Meath not
sustaining said charge by the proof, /
take pleasure in giving my opinion that
Mr.. Meath has made statements to me
and not being sustained by him, exone-
rates Alderman Johnson and fastens the
odium upon him. THos 0, SMITH.
After which the following resolution
was adopted:
Resolced, That not the slightest proof
has been furnished to substantiate the
charg of bribery against Alderman
johnson, and, in the opinion of this
Board, the charge was made without
foundation.