Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-03-31
MORE MEN BRIBED
The Allegheny Corrupt SOlic-
itatiOn Circumstance
BECOMING INTERESTING.
Two Prominent Citizens Are Arrested
on a Serious Charge,
BUTTHEY BOTH DENY THEIR GUILT
Statements From Men Who We're offered
Money for Votes.
ISBECOMING INTERESTING.
But THEY BOTH DENY THEIR GUILT
OTHER ARRESTS LIKELY TO FOLLOW.

WHEN AhhGO1D llhEh4 Az 1OAbS"s
The attempt to bribe Councilman Ebbert,
of Allegheny, to vote for Thomas A. Parke
for chairman of Common Council, to-mor-
row, caused a big sensation on the
Northside. The charges were fol-
lowed by the arrest of two
prominent citizens VIM. A. Hadfeld, the
liveryman, and Richard Scandrett, Secre-
tary of Board of School Controllers. De-
tective Sam Mcclure made the information
against the two gentlemen, copy of which
is appended:
Commonwealth of PENN
sylvania
Richard Scandrett,
VIM. A. Hadheld
Personally appeared before me, r. P. Pear
son. Mayor in and for the city of Allegheny,
Samuel Mcclure, who, being duly sworn, doth
depose and say that on information received on
the 18th day of March, A D. 1889, in the city
and county of Allegheny, Pa, certain Rich
ard Scandrett and certain William A. Had
field, did unlawfuly solicit and offer and de-
posit the sum of $500 in the hands of a certain
c. W. Fisher. to be paid to a certain John G.
Ebbert, providing he would vote for Thomas
Parke for Chairman of Common Council of the
city of Allegheny, Pa, at the organization of
said Councils, Monday, April i. lSS9, being con-
trary to the provisions of an act of Assembly
ant therefore desires that a warrant may ISSUE
and the aforesaid defendants, Richard Scand-
rett and w. A. Hadfeld, may be arrested and
held to answer the charge OF corrupt solicita-
tion. SAMUEL MCCLURE.
Sworn and subscribed before me this SOth
R. T PEARSON, Mayor.
OTHER INFoRMATIoNs MADE.
A like information, it is stated, was made
against two other prominent citizens but
as they have not yet been arrested their
names cannot be mentioned.
The arrests were made by Detective Muir
phv. Mr.. Scan6rett was found in his Office
on Diamond street, and Thomas NJ. Mar
shall, Esq, went on his bond for 81 900 for
hearing before Mayor Pearson next Thurs
day. Mr.. Hadfeld was arrested in Allie
gheny, and d. P. Urben, the druggist, went
on his bond.
The publication of the bribery yesterday
brought out several other cases, and all per-
sons mentioned were promised money, or
something, to vote for Mr.. Parke. The
latter issued letter to his friends yesterday
in which he stated that he knew nothing
whatever of the attempted bribery, and that
he should not suffer by it. He discounten-
ances anything of the kind, and, if elected,
wants to be elected fairly.
1t was stated that Chris Deitzel, the newly
elected Councilman from the Eighteenth
wife had been offered 500 to coax him to
do so. This Mr.. Deitzel denied last eve
ming, but said: Last Thursday week
some gentlemen, 1 will not mention their
names, offered me check for 500 made
out for my wife on condition that 1 prom
ised to vote for Mr.. Parke. l refused, and
last Saturday was offered 5000 to vote for
Parke. OF course refused, as am kept
busy turning the money over that now
have n order If frOm orottiOO
rusty"
A $3.50 VOTE.
Henry Smith, the new member from Com
mon Council, was offered, it is stated, $3.50
TO vote for Parke, but refused. Mr.. Smith
could not be seen last evening, butth state
ment was vouched for by a very reliable
citizen. Mayor Pearson said: 'sI saw Mr..
Smith to-day and he told me he had been
offered money by the Parke people, but did
not mention the amount"
Arthur Hunter, an old member from the
Tenth ward, lost his position in the Allie
gheny County Light Company's works, on
account of the Craftsmanship contest. Mr..
Hunter says he cannot say anything
against the company, but the pressure
brought to bear on him was too strong and
he had to quit 81 did not resign" said
he, "and 1 was not discharged, but when
they asked me not to pledge myself to any
candidate for Chairman knew what was
coming, and have not been at the works
since"
Candidate Parke is a member of the firm
of Logan, Gregg & Co., the Wood street
hardware merchants. Chairman Lindsay,
of Select Council, is member of the firm
of Lindsay & McCutcheon, manufacturers of
hinges, and is also a brother-in-law of
Squire Charles W. Lighthill, a member
of Common Council from the Fifth ward.
1t is stated that an offer was made to Mr..
Lindsay to purchase all the hinges used by
the hardware firm if he would use his infiu-
ence with Mr. Lighthill and secure vote
for Mr.. Parke.
NOT FOR HINGES OR GOLD.
Councilman LighthiIl had very little TO
say on the subject. In response to a ques-
ton he replied: 81 would not change my
mind for hinges or gold. Hunter will be
elected Chairman, and will vote for him, no
matter what is offered mesor what influence
is brought to bear on me to vote for Parke."
Several other charges of bribery are
made, the most important being to one
prominent member. It is said that he re-
ceiYed letter from his employer demand
ing that ne vote for Park under penalty of
discharge. 1t was also stated that he re-
ceived $500, but as the gentleman could not
be seen, the latter charge cannot be SUBJ
be correct, as several reliable citizens claim
to have seen the letter.
The only charge of bribery mentioned on
the Hunter side is an offer made to Council
man Ebbert, which is denied by that gen.
tleman. 1t is said that he was offered the
position of undertsker to the Coroner on the
Northside, and that a morgue would be
built for his use provided he voted for
Hunter. Mayor Pearson also denies this,
Gorrinu that Ehhprf hod yoyaanicad him To
vote for Hunter several days ago.,
Chairman Hunter was around last even
ing, but when approached by DISPATCH
reporter, had very little to say about the
contest or the bribery charges. 81 learned
more about the bribery charges than L
knew before from the newspapers
tnis Ig morning, said he. 1 do
thing to do with the Offering
Of money for votes. That is all have to
say for publication on the subject, except
that have enough, and more than enough.
votes pledged to elect me-"
A STATEMENT FROM scANDRErT.
Mr.. Scandrett, one of the defendants in
the bribery suit, last evening sent the fol-
lowing communication to this paper for
publication:
10 the Editor ofThe Dispatch:
DEAR SIR-I wish to state to my friends and
the public in general that the allegations made
in this evenings papers duplicating me in GER
tain corrupt solicitation of Councilman Eb-
bert. of the Third ward, Allegheny, are ma
liciously false and designed. in my opinion to
lnjuriously affect the candidacy of Thomas A
parke for Chairman of Common Council. NV
regret is that the hearing was fixed by the
-iayor for next Thursday instead of to-day.
r. B. SCANDRETH.
An amusing bribery story is told in con-
nection with the Craftsmanship contest and
was repeated a number of times among the
men who congregated at CITY Hall last