St. Paul daily globe., 1888-08-31
Alderman Gehan Reit crates
The Charges of Attempted
Bribery.
But Mr.. Brayton Says No
Specific Offer Was Made
By Him.
An Ordinance Giving the
Elevated Railroad Fran
chise the Issue.
Three Persons Testify Con-
cerning an Alleged $1,000
Bid For a Vote.

The committee appointed to investi-
gate the charges of bribery against the
Enos Electric Railway company, pre-
ferred by Alderman Gehan, met in the
council chamber last night, and listened
| to the testimony in the case. All the
members of the committee were present.
In calling the meeting to order Alder
man Cullen read the following:
Alderman Gehan's charges: Alderman
Gehan moved that committee of five be
appointed by the chair to investigate the
charge made by him as to his being offered
certain money or real estate should he vote
tor the Enos Electric railway ordinance etc.
The motion prevailed, and the President
appointed as such committee Aldermen
Cullen, Hamm, Melady, Kavanagh and
Minea.
Mr.. Gehan, under oath, was the first
witness. He said: l am an alderman,
acting at the present time. / know B.
|. BraYton. There has been an Ordi-
nance before the council for some
weeks. | have known Mr.. BraytOn for
| four years, but when he came to me
about 10:30 o'clock, at my place of bus
mess, Oh the morning in question, I
did not recognize him.
He came in, and l said, ''What can
do for you?" He replied, 81 want to
know whether you are in favor or
against the passage of that ordinance?"
Il told him that it blocked up one or
two streets running out of the city.
That we needed half dozen streets out
of the city, and | thought it would be
an imposition now and greater one
ten or twenty years hence. Then l
thought it was not practicable.
''Mr. BraytOn cOntended that it was
thing necessary for the benefit of the
public.
81 left him that morning, and about
$50 O'Clock the same afternoon he came
again. | said: What the devil are you
doing here again? Are you up here again
in regard TO that electric elevated rail-
way matter' He said, Yes and that
he would give $1,000 to see that ordi-
nanced passed"
MI. Gehan here explained the loca-
ton of his saloon and grocery store on
Jackson and Valley streets.
Il looked at him." continued Aid.
Gehan, ''and said to him Il have been
thinking where | have seen you before;'
are you not Mr.. BraytoD?'
''He said yes and again talked about
the franchise. Il don't wish to influence
your vote,' said he, but l will give
$1,000 if you will vote in favor of this Or
dinance.' bsmiled, and as he had been
up in the morning thought he came up
to induce me to see the ordinance pass.
| walked out to the sidewalk. He
followed me out and said: 1
ordinance pass. l have lot in West
st. Paul worth $1,000, and will give
that to you if you will vote for the Or
dinance.' Another gentleman came up
and the conversation stopped. After
awhile said L guess l will go home to
supper He insisted on driving me
home, and we went The proposition
was made to me dozen times. l told
| him that I'd meet him at the city hall
that night, and did to find out what he
would give. | found that was the size
| of his pile, so l saw nothing more of
| him.
To Mr.. Kellogg used to do business
with Mr.. Brayton, just when or how
often | cannot state.
The cross-eXamlnation was continued
| for some time. II said" continued
Aid. Gehan, that did not think the
railway company was responsible to paw
| the damages that would be incurred by
| the road. He did not say he would be
willing to give $1,000 to have the ordi-
nance pass. He offered it to me. He
| spoke in ordinary language. He did
| not whisper, but spoke in an over-confi-
| there were no membranes on it, and
he said he would give the lot for the
passage of the ordinance. That seemed
| to be the size of his pile. didn't kick
| him out OF the store, but rode home with
| him at his request. | don't know where
| the lot was, but understood him to say
near some park. The first man | men
| toned the fact had been offered 81 600
was to R. J. Walsh on the way to the
council. don't know whether he
was in favor or opposed to the
| Walsh said, whether he was in favor of
| it or not. The next man l mentioned it
| to was Mr.. Stevens; the next Mr. Ber-
landi, who had previously endeavored
| to get me to vote against it, but who
| tried to get me to vote in favor of it at
| that time. The next time was in the
council chamber after the final vote was
| taken.
To Il. D. O'Brien-I kept leading the
man on to see how far he would go, not
for what [ could get out of it.
Thomas Conroy, a gas filter, testified
that he was sitting outside of Aid. Ge-
hans saloon and heard the latter say:
''What the devil are you doing here
again?" Mr.. Brayton said it would be
worth $1,000 to him to have the passage
| of the ordinance, and he would give
$1,000 to have it pass.
Thomas Gehan, brother of Aid. Ge-
han, heard Brayton say he would give
$1,000 to have the ordinance pass.
| r. j. Walsh was the next to testify
in the matter. He said Aid. Gehan told
him he was offered 81, ZOO to vote for the
| franchise.
To Mr.. Kellogg was in favor of the
ordinance, and tried to convince MIN
it was good.
| Mr.. BraytOn then took the stand. He
had known Mr.. Gehan for about three
years, and had sold him butter and eggs
| for almost three years. "The reason
went to see Mr.. Gehan." said he. twas
that was better acquainted with him
than the other aldermen. | went to see
him because l thought it would be
benefit for me. He said he was in favor
of an electrical railway. but not ON
Wabasha street. He was in favor of its
running on Third street, and said he
would offer an amendment to the effect.
| said had some property on Robert
street, and my boOkkeeper had some.
so supposed that the road would be
| good for it. He said he had enough
votes to get the road to run up Third.
In the afternoon / met West side
man with petition in favor of the road.
| said that MIR. Gehan claimed he had
enough votes to take it up Third street.
thought Mr.. Gehan might be mistaken,
so went back to him. He claimed
good deal of damage would be done
against Wabasha street, and spoke
about the number of suits in New York
said the only damage in this city
would be to property in the center
| of the city, and that l would
be willing to give $1,000 to
see the ordinance pass. Then we
/ went ont ON the sidewalk and he said he