Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1867-07-09
THE s5OOO BRIBERY!
MEETING OF THE BOARD OF
ALDERMEN TO IHVESTE-
GATE THE Question.
The Charge FOHnd To be Rase-
less and 80 characterized.
More Light On the Phgnix
Questionable. Smith Exon
crates Aid. johnson.
What Constitutes Residence in
a WaTd-Tlle Case Of Alder
man Boiling.

Another meeting Of the board Of alder
men was held az the city hall yesterda,
afternoon. All the members were pres
ent.
The mayor stated one OF the objects o
the meeting TO be receiving an explana
ton relative to the recent charge Of Al
dermau Smith that Alderman johnson
E had been offered 5000 as a bride fJ
changing his vote.
{ Alderman Johnson desired the charg,
to be explained or investigated and haC
Z called the meeting with that view, as n;
designed leaving the city to be absent
several months, and wished to stand
right before the community.
! Alderman Smith requested Alderman
/ johnson to send him The statement be
desired him to sign. He alluded to the
charge, and presumed Alderman John.
son felt aggrieved. He felt assured nc
gentleman would make such a charge
unless he believed there was something
in it. The charge had been made
by q citizen of high standing-e
tax-payer-in presence of several par
ties. The citizen alluded to had Teit-
Grated it, and ne (Smith) in making il
to the board, was actuated by none
other than proper motives. It was not
for him to prove the charge, but for Al
derman johnson to disprove it. Alder
man. Smith proceeded to read the state
ment drawn up by Alderman Johnson,
aud then remarked that he would not
sign it. Alderman Smiths informant
was Patrick q. Meath; to him he would
direct Alderman johnson; If the latter
would sign it, then he would. If Mr..
Meath failed 10 come up and prove the
charge, hell should sink him in infamys
He would say, in justice to Alderman
johnson, that Mr.. Meath had not come
up to his promise to sustain the charge.
He had given Mr.. Johnson his author;
he could go TO MIN but he (Smith)
would not sign the paper. Wa he
Smith TO sign such a paper and
damn himself and his children after
him No, he would not do so
until Mr.. Meath had first affixed his sig
nature. Mr.. Meath had also said to Al
dermsn Smith that he could speak to
| him tJchnson} Of the curbstone business,
What that meant, he did not know.
Alderman Powers understood the
charge made by Mr.. Meath to have been
merely q street rumOT, and regretted
that Mr.. II. wa not present to explain
the matter.
Alderman Boiling, who was absent at
the last meeting, desired information
relative to the charge against Alderman
Johnson.
Alderman Smith then narrated the
conversation between himself and Mr..
Meath, in which the latter promised TO
furnish the necessary evidence the next
morning. He had asked Mr.. Meath
about it twice before revealing the mat
ter to the board.
Alderman Johnson said that it had
been his intention to have an iHvestiga-
ton as soon as the board adjourned Fri
day. He reiterated that the charge was
false no one had approached him on the
subject. He then read from THE AP-
PEAL that portion Of the proceedings rela-
tive to the charge. Alderman Johnson
continued that lie went text morning to
alderman Smith and asked an immediate
investigation. The latter promised to
prove the matter, or set him right.
Alderman Hoist, being called upon,
remarked that he saw Mr.. Meath. When
he asked about the charge, Mr. Meath
replied that ia going along the street he
had heard somebody say there was
$4,000 to be divided Out-S5CO0 to Alder
man johnson, and the balance to the
others. He alderman Hoist regarded
the whole affair as a joke, and thought
Alderman Smith bad been sold.
Ex-Alderman Martin Kelly, being
call on, said he met Meath on the street;
Hoist said What does Meath say about
that bribery question Both went 10
Meath, who laughed and seemed to re-
gard il as q good joke. Meath said he
bad heard that there was $4,000 to be
divided cut, and he understood 5000 was
for Alderman Johnson.
Alderman Shaw reviewed the whole
question, abiding to Alderman Smiths
rF.snFv RfEHrVrHrfEHrE md nlVarr4anRanF
Of the new proposition that when
e. gentleman IS charged win a crime it is
Incumbent On him TO prove his limo
cence. He thought Alderman Smiths
pbuuiX a new one, with new tail feath-
ers, and arising FROM Old ashes.
Alderman Smith reiterated that he
would not r~etract, and that Alderman
Johnson should 90 to his informant.
As Alderman johnson had not cleared
the matter up it was pTiD5G fUciG evil
dence of his guilt. Alderman Shaw OBJ
jected to the use Of such language. Not
an iota of evidence had been presented
yet the gentleman from the Seventh
ward had said there was prima tdcid
evidence Of guilt.
Alderman Johnson explained that AL
derman Smith had promised to either
sustain OrTetract the charge. He John
SOM had hunted all day Saturday for Mr..
Meath, but could not find him.
Alderman Smith said he would him
self write 2 statement, that would prove
satisfactory TO the gentleman.
Alderman Boiling deprecated the whole
proceedings which be characterized as
the most ridiculous nonsense. The
members Of the board were making an
unenviable reputation for themselves.
The proceedings published in the papers,
were unprecedented He counseled the
members TO moderation, and hoped that
in future all would act together for the
common good.
Alderman Clancy was satisfied there
was nothing ia the charge.
Alderman Lynn remarked that, to
settle this foolish business, he would
offer the following resolution:
G5SoiyeZ, That in the estimation Of
this board, the charges preferred against
Alderman johnson by Alderman Smith;
at the last meeting, have in no wise
been sustained, and that they We're IN
worthy Ol being entertained by the
bOart or by any member OF it.
Alderman Lynn explained that the
charges made had not been sustained
they were a dead failure, and, therefore,
were unworthy of being entertained for
q moment by any member.
Alderman Townsend said that the
direct charge having been made and BOt
sustained, IL Yas honorable TO retract and
say he was mistaken in the ~aattet.
Alderman Smith rejected upon Mr..
Meath, who bad not done IA he had
promised. He wanted the public odium
to rest not upon him, but upon Mr..
Meath.
Alderman johnson said that in pres
sence of several parties Alderman Smith
had remarked that he did not believe the
charges.
Alderman Smith denied that he had so.
Alderman Johnson called upon Elder-
nan Cochran ana Mr.. Bridges, who
stated they understood Ar. Smith to so
say.
Alderman Lynn would press his resO-
luton unless Alderman Smith mad some
thing better to offer. He thOughb an
honorable TetractiOn necessary.
Alderman Shaw presented the follow
ing as q substitute for Alderman Lynn's
resolution
Re8olyed, That not the slightest proof
has been furnished to ~substantiate the
charge Of bribery against Alderman
johnson, and IN the opinion o. this board
the charge was made without just cause.
Alderman Psssmore explained that on
Friday afternoon Mr.. Meath had IN
formed him he could s~ubstantiate the
statement by nine O'Clock the next morn
ing.
Alderman Townsend regarded the
Meath story something which the alder
man from the Seventh ward too quickly
snapped at.
The question being called, Alderman
Smith protested against any stigma being
cast upon him.
Alderman Boiling, in order to settle the
matter, rea4 the following, with the re
quest that Alderman Smith sign *. The
request was complied with
To the Board OF Mayor and Aldermen, aud the
Public /
Having made certain charges against
Alderman johnson Of the Sec
ond ward, based upon certain
stateR4enta made to me by Mr..
Patrick G.. Meath, aud Mr.. Meath not
sustaining said charges by the proof, l
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 fasteBs the
odigm upon him. THOS. .. SMITH.
The vote vas then taken on the substi-
tute offered by the alderman from the
sixth ward, the words " without fognda-
ton being substituted for =" Just eause.h