Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1879-09-10
THE BRIBERY CASES.
BILLS AGAINST FOURTEEN PERSONS.

U
the grand jury of this county for cor
rupt solicitation in and about the Leg
islature, for perjury and for conspiracy
to promote legislative corruption. Al
Of the persons arraigned are more OF
less prominent in political or business
circles, or in both, and the trial of these
defendants in November will attract a
large degree of public interest. Of the
fourteen persons indicted seven are
members of the present House, one is
the active man in pressing the prosccu-
tons against his colleagues, and two
part Of the Commonwealth. Charles
S. Wolfe, Representative from Union,
is the member who was the most active
man in pressing the investigation last
winter aud in pushing the cases into
the Quarter Sessions. He is a Repub-
lican member of four sessions expert
encc in the House, having been elected
in 1873. reelected in 1874 for two ses-
sions and again elected in 1873. He
was the leader in the expulsion Of Pc
troff from the House in 1876 for the
same charge Of conspiring to promote
corrupt solicitation that is now made
against him by our grand jury.
Emil J. Petrof, member from the
Fifth district Of Philadelphia, has had
a good deal of legislative experience
and more or less trouble in public life
He is now in his thirty-frst year, hav-
ing been born in Philadelphia in l848.
He received an education in the public
schools, and became n compositOr. He
was first elected to the House in the
fall Of 1874, for the sessions Of 1875
and 1876. In the latter year he was
expelled for what the resolution Of ex-
pulsion said was conduct unbecoming
a member" but it was more explicitly
for conspiracy to promote corrupt sollc-
itation in connection with the Susque-
hanna boom bill. In the fall Of 1876
he was returned to the House, how
ever, and reelected last year Mr.. Pc
troff is a Republican.
William F. Rumbcrger is a Repub-
lican member from Armstrong, who
had his first Legislative experience last
winter, although he had previously
held local Offices. He is native Of
Huntingdon county, where he was
born in 1916. He became a wooden
manufacturer and is still in that busi-
ness. He was deputy United States
marshal in 1860 and served as a JUS
ticc Of the Peace from 1868 to 1868.
Daniel G.. Clark, Of the Thirteenth
district, Philadelphia, is Republican,
native Of Lebanon county, and now
forty-four years old. He was educated
at the Lebanon Valley College, then
Annyille Academy, and after some ex-
perience as book-kccpcr at the Corn
wall Iron Works went to Philadelphia
and engaged in mercantile pursuits,
afterward becoming the head Of the
house Of ID. G. Clark Il Go. He retired
from business some time ago and was
first elected to public Office last fall,
when he was chosen member Of the
House.
George r. Smith, member from the
Twenty fifth district, Philadelphia, is a
Democrat. He was born in Canada in
1912. Had n common school educa-
ton and became dealer in hides and
taIlow. He is at present treasurer OF
the Frankford Tallow Manufacturing
Company. His election to the House
last year was his first appearance in
public life.
Alfred Short, Representative from
the Second district Of Erie, is the only
Democrat in the delegation from that
county. He was born in Potter county
and is thirty-two years old. He is a
lumber dealer and private banker, and
had never held Office until he was sworn
in as a member Of the House last Jan
uary.
Myron II. Silverthorn, who is also
one Of the members from the Second
district Of Erie, is n Republican. lie
il native Of the town Of Fairview, in
which he still resides, and was born in
1927 He is farmer and has held u
number Of local Offices, having been
County Auditor in 1860, Town Com
missioner six years, County Commits.
sioncr six years and a Justice Of the
Peace for several years. He was first
elected 10 the Legislature last fall
With the exception Of Wolfe and
Pctrof, who have before been coDspic.
uous in affairs Of Legislative bribery, il
will be observed that the indicted mem.
bers are all new men in the Lcgisla
turc.
William II. Kcmble, Of Philadelphia
is prominent politician and business
man, and largely interested in railroad
matters and banking lie is very
active Republican politician, and was
one Of the founders Of that party in
your city. He has never been Il can.
didate for Office, except before the Leg.
islaturc for State Treasurer, to which
| Office he was elected in 1865 and re.
elected in 1861, but he has served
on the Republican national committee
for number Of years, and IL one o
the most influential leaders Of the party
in both city and State.
| a. w. Leisenring, Of Mauch Chunk
| is also prominent banker, being cash
icr Of the national bank Of that town
and he is Democratic politician Of in
iluencc in his section Of the State. He
has not held political Office, but he is {
gentlcmun Of high standing in his com
munity.
DR.. Il. X. Shoemaker IL physician
Of good standing both personally y ant
professionally, and has filed the posi-
tion Of Lazaretto Physician at you
port. He is Republican in politics
Charles B. Saltcr IL an cx-Represcn
tativc from the Frankford district o
your city, having been twice elected
aud was an active member on the Re
publican side Of the House.
Christian Long is citizen Of Ship
pensburg, Cumberland county, and In
| .i A