Omaha daily bee., 1889-03-29
BOODLERS In THE COUNCIL.
An Important Committee Attempt
ing to Discover Them.
Mr.. sHILLINeLAws STORY.
How Tirrell Says the Dorset Works
Chafrce In Chicago-Lowry
With His Hands Be-
hind Him.
Hunting the Briber.

adjourn the alleged Dorsett Franchise
bribery case, turnedo out to be q trip to one oil
the cemeteries just outside the city limits. He
was on hand at 10 minutes past clock yes
terday afternoon when Chairman Burnham
called the investigating committee to order
The entire committee, Councilmen, Burn.
ham, Bedford, Bailey, Kaspar and Ford,
were present. Messrs. Lowry, Lee, San.
ders and Schriver were the only other mem.
bers of the council present.
On calling the committee to order, MIR.
Burnham stated the investigation would be
necessarily an Informal one on account OF
the nature of the charges.
Attorney SImeral appeared for Mr.. Lowry
upon whose statement that he had been Of
fered bribe the investigation was started.
The first witness called was A. Shilling
law, the electrician, whose alleged attempts
to ''getin on the ground floor'' of the Dorsett
deal, caused the springing Of the bribery
deal. He testified that he was engaged by
Armour & Co., and had been an electrician
for the past fifteen years. He acknowledged
ihat he was the the auth author Of the
in these columns. He said that
Coupcilmen Chaffee and Davis had asked
him to assist them in their examination of
the systems used in placing wires under
ground. Had not known Mr.. Dorsett until
he had seen him in Chicago during the visit
of the Omaha council to that place. Mr.,
Dorsett promised the witness the position of
superintendent of construction of the Dor
sett system in Omaha II he would lend his
assistance in pushing the claims of
the Dorset system before the
Omaha council. Dorsett wanted witness
to withdraw his remarks against
the Dorsett system and to favor it in the
future.
.When asked Mr.. Dorsett,n explained
the witness, "What assurance I could have
that the Dorsett system would be adopted in
Omaha, he said that the matter had been ar
ranged with members of the council and had
majority of them fixed so that the matter
would go through"
MIR. Bailey-Did he mention any names of
the members he had fixedl
Mr.. Shilinglaw-No, he did not mention
any names.
and Davis were going to Chicago when you
,wentl
: Shllinglaw-I did not.
The witness was very positive that in all
of his conversations with Mr.. Dorsett no
mention had been made OF the names of any
members of the council.
Gross examined by Mr.. Keysor, who rep
resented MIR. Dorsett, the witness said that
he went to see Dorsett at the suggestion of
Councilmen Lowry, Chaffee and Davis, who
wanted him to see the matter through.
Mr. Keysor-Did the members of the coun-
Gil pay your eXpenSesi
Mir. Shillinglaw-No, sir, paid my own,
and any one who says didn't simply lies,
.luere'S one on you, DOTSeIu. you wanted
me to go, but wouldn't
Chairman Burnham requested the witness
to confne his remarks to the committee and
settle his trouble with Dorsett outside.
The witness said he would not accept the
superintendency of construction in Omaha of
the Dorsett system, as he now has much
better position. He opposed the system be-
cause any underground system would be
detrimental TO the interests of the Armour
company in Omaha.
,.,st,, ia, Aoiy, {,I @6a%
who had been represented by-Mr. Dorsett as
favoring his system, had come out in opposi-
tion to the system, among them Electrician
Patton and Prof. Barrett Of the Chicago Arc
Light company.
Councilman Lowry was next called In
reply to Mr.. Burnham's question as to
whether he had been offered stock in the
Dorsett system in order to favor the measure
he said, he had. He said Mr.. Kitchen
who is interested in the system hau asked
Gil. ~ promised him l would" said Mr.
Lowry, "lf found the system was good
one. When we went to Chicago found op-
position to the Dorsett system.
Chicago that he would give me the contract
for the work in Omaha, and would show me
how to make some money out of it. / con-
sidered the proposition bribe, in form, at
leastn
"Mr Bechel has been offered stock,m said
MIR. Lowry, Ito use his influence in getting
this thing through the council Do not know
OF any member of the council who has been
influenced by any consideration offered by
the Dorsett people,"
an Omana telegraph company when you went
TO Chicago, giving you authority to use the
telegraph free Of Chicago"
Mr.. Lowry lafter moments hesiIation)-
eyes sir, did,"
"Where did you get it,"
vt was sent by mail ~
'Did you know of it before you left
Omahaa"
mo sir, did not"
"Who paid your expenses3''
"Mr Kitchen, ut whose invitation we went
to Chicago"
"Did YOU ever ask Mr.. Kitchen IL there
was anything in this thing for you If IL vent
through the councill
mot by jug full, and Mr.. Kitchen won't
stand up and say so.'
w. Il. Bechel stated that he had never had
conversation with any person claiming to
represent the Dorsett subway system except
Mr.. Riall, and in that conversation no dona-
tion Of stock was limited at, The CONVERSE
tion took place in the council chamber four
or: five weeks ago, Tuesday or Saturday
night, and in it the witness was asked
whether he would not use what influence he
might possess with the members OF the
council to get the franchise passed and told
that in that event there would be some stock
gwen. He did not consider the proposition
at all. On crossexamination the witness
stated that he had no interest In the Grant
subway affair
Councilman Chaffee did not know of any
influence being brought to bear upon the
council. He requested Shillinglaw in Chi
cago to forward the letter that had been
published. He had been informed by that
gentleman OF what had been said to him. and
had requested that the matter be put in
writing. He and the other members of the
Chicago committee of the council had not
confined their observations In that city TO the
Dorsett system, but had posted themselves
on the workings of other underground con.
triyances. Shillingaw was living in Chicago
and he had been invited to 10 with the dele
cation as afriend.
Councilman OConnor was not aware that
any member OF the city council had been an
preached BY offers OF stock He certainiv
was not. Had been told not TO express any
opinion in the premises. Pressed 10 disclose
who had enioined his passiveness the coun.
Gilman saw loop hole in stoutiy as
serting that he had been discussing the gen
eral features OF the subway methods some
what emphatieally, when some mysterious
being suggested that he spoke his mind too
freely. Nothing more definite could he
wrung from O'Connor.
ID, III. Dorsett-"I dictated the letter dataa
ut Chicago March 20 and signed IL. The
electrical gentleman who figured SO conspic-
u0usly with the Omaha delegation Is Mr.
Shillinglaw Where write that he had had
business relations with several members of
q AtaA ..Elt nail M NA - ssAH -