The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1880-05-08
Some crave Charges.

Some Grave Charges.
For several days grave rumors have
been In circulation relative to an alleged
crooked transaction in the matter Of the
Des Moines, Iowa, water WORKS. involved
the regulations of Mr.. Fred A. Cramer
superintendent Of the Rock Island water
works, and duplicating Mr.. james j.
Parks, and Mr.. Fred Conway. formerly of
this city but now 10 Dss Moines, as par
ties to the alleged crookedness. Those
who knew the gentlemen were 10th to
believe the stories, but when marked cop-
les of the journal the Register, and the
Leader. the three leading papers of Des
Moiues. were received by some of our
most prominent citizens, making the
charge that an attempt had beeu made to
blockmail the firm of Polk & HubbeIl. Of
that city-in which it was alleged that for
consideration Of $4,000. Fred Cramer
had agreed to make out two reports Of the
Dss Moines water works, SO as to influence
the city in the price, the rumor assumed
shape and, as is always the case, once
started, it grew in magnitude, until all
sorts of stories were circulated. The
ARGUS, desiring TO do justice to all
parties interviewed Mr.. Cramer and
Mr.. Parks. and was assured by.those gen
tleman that the accounts published in the
Des MONIES papers were misrepresenta.
tons. The Journal says of the affair. in
the course of its two column article that
I'VE have given no attention to Mr..
Cramer's estimates Of value-such esti-
mates being subject to the fluctuations OF
the market. Two estimates have been
had at different figures. Cramer agreed
with q committee of the council at $50 and
expenses, but he was to have had the
assistance of Mr.. Hamilton OF Indianapo-
lis: but as Mr.. Hamilton did not come,
and he had all the work to do alone. be
told his employers that $50 was not
enough. Mr.. Cramer' q services were for
sale, and for some reason. as yet unknown
to the writer, he expected another buyer.
but failed to receive bid while in the
city, However, he took partner here, an
agent" of experience, one Fred Conway,
now running coal office on Walnut street
but formerly resident of Rock Island.
This man Conway was entrusted with
the financial part of Cramer's business,
Last week he brought from Rock Island
two reports, written for the city council.
but first TO bs used in blackmailing the
Water Company. The first estimate
amounted to over 100000, the other
about $780, 900 lower. Conway proposed
to Polk & Hubble to present the higher
estimate to the council provided the COM
pany paid him $1,000, half OF which he
wSs to retain; the other half he was to
send to Crsmer. Mr.. Polk wished to
know if Conway was authorized, aud
wrote to Cramer, receiving an answer
satisfactory to Conway. We cannot now
detail all we know of this scheme. We
can say that Cramer and Conway are
much wiser now than they were two weeks
ago, There is sufficient evidence on hand
TO convict them of a conspiracy, to extort
money from the Water Company, aud of
the total failure of the villsinous scheme.
They have learned. to their sorrow, that
Rock Island immortality 10 net current in
Des Moines. This is the disgraeeful finale
to the expert" business.
There is a much more extended account
of the affair 10 the Leader, among other
points being the correspondence. kilograms,
etc., between Polk & HubbeIl, and Cramer
and Conway, and sons dispatches from j.
j. Parks to Conway, which we have not
the time or space to publish to-day, but
which may be published at some future
time, in order to explain properly their
true meaning. The Leader says:
Conway entered the Office of Polk &
Hubbell and assuming that the situation
was serene proceeded to explain the SIM
cerity OF his devotion to his expected
victims. A door crack observed by him
was pushed to but as If to acoo nmodste
the short hand reporter be took seat
close by the door. probably with the 10
tention OF being his own gUardgmap. He
could not have accomm odated Mr.. Mosier's
convenience better. Every word was
heard and noted as accurately as they fell
from his lips. Conway insisted on SIS 900.
Cramer was none of your low priced
men" The large report would stand the
test of scrutiny. and all such talk, and
when Mr.. Polk had everything out of him
that he wanted he moved Iiesurely to the
door at which Dir. Mosier sat, threw it
open, and the sane instant addressed
Conway. saying; "Mr. Conway, this is
my TREND, nr. MoSler. / want to intro
duce him to you as the gentleman Who has
been takinS your dispositions every time
you have been here" Conway started
and was startled. bat gathered himself
sufficiently to reply that this was not fair
play. You have taken an unfair ad
vantage of me-" said Conway. mo r.
have not, said Polk. ''Io came here to
rob u.s. and We made up our mind to trap
you and expose the whole thing"
Mosier Immediately dropped into
chair, and again every word was gathered
into short hand notes right in the presence
of Conway and Mr.. Vep Cleye who had
also been stationed by the cared: val. TIE
coloquy following this explosion took
another form. Conway begged for forbear-
ance ard for a shield to Cramer. The
latter was likely to lose his situation in
Rock Island if this thing came out and
this he gould not have occur for the world
Up to THIS tine Conway had not surrend-
cred tho small report, FOR the letter which
Cramer had sent With Conway to MIR.
Polk. He wanted to keep these documents
but Mr.. Polk told Conway that be must
surrender them as hostages for Conway's
good behavior. Mr.. Polk told Conway
that he believed that Conway had drawn
Cramer into the infamous plot and that he
was inclined to let Cramer alone and that
the infEPnaI Sohema of axtork;or -