The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1890-05-30
ELEVEN INDICTED.
Des Moines Ex-City Dads in
Hard Luck.
TOO FREE WITH THE OITYs CASH.

Seven Late Councilmen, Three of Those
mt Present I'm Office, and Clerk Charged
with BoOdlery Trouble Brewing for
Some Others-Money Taken Unlawfuliy
Looking Case.
DIES MONIES, Ia, May 23-The Polk
county grand jury returned indictments
yesterday against eleven of the so called
boodling officials of Des Moines. They in
clude seven ex-aldermen, three present al
dermen and clerk to the board of public
works. Those indicted are John G. Macy,
M. II. King, Frank T. Morris, Mark Egan,
Michael brady, Charles Weitz, and Alvin
G. Hammer, ex-aldermen, and George w.
Sheldon, j. p Smith, and ii. r. Reynolds,
members of the last and present council.
Adam Baker, clerk to the board of public
works, was also indicted
Charge Against the Culprits.
The offense charged is willful miscon-
duct in office, and in addition thereto two
other indictments were returned against
brady, one for malfeasance and another
for obtaining money under false pretenses.
1t is expected that ex-Treasurer Slope, ex-
Auditor Laird, City Clerk Hammer and
Bookkeeper Christy will also be indicted.
The indictments are the result of these
official increasing their salary beyond the
legal limit by the issuance of warrants
to fictitious persons. These were ne
gotiated, the proceeds being divided
among these alleged boodlers.
How the Law Formerly Stood.
Prior to 1888 the regular salary of men,
bers of the city council was $50 as alder
men and $50 as members of the board of
health. For years, however, and certainly
as far back as 1880, the council voted an
allowance to members for committee work.
This at first was fixed at $500 per year, but
from time to time was increased until it
reached 5000. 1t was claimed openly that
as the aldermen were compelled to do this
committee work which took nearly all of
their time, they ought to be paid for it.
The claim was made openly, it was allowed
openly, and the money was openly drawn.
The practice may be said to have received
public sanction.
The Changes That Were Made.
In 1885 there were several changes made
in the law. To relieve the aldermen from
the pressure of committee work the board
of public works was created, and its MEM
bers allowed liberal salary. At the same
time the compensation of aldermen was
raised to $3.50 per year, and it was provided
in the law that "this amount shall he in
full compensation of all services of such
councilmen of every kind and character
whatsoever connected with their official
duties"
Ugly Facts Brought to Light.
Suspicious were abroad that all was not
correct, and the exit of the old members
and the advent of the new has resulted in
bringing some very ugly facts to light.
The stubs of the warrant-book show that
Jan. II, 1890, there were three warrants,
two for $500 each, and one for 500, drawn
on judgment found in favor of j. Q. John
son or bearer, and these stubs are re-
ceipted in the handwriting of DR.. Ham
mer, clerk of the council. On it's face this
is a fair and legimate transaction, indicat-
ing that j. q. johnson had a claim for
81, 200 which had been allowed and war
rants drawn to pay it.
by Ways That Were Dark.
But further inquiry revealed the fact
that no claim had ever been filed by j. q.
JOnnSOu, UldU Cuere was ITO rtCOTu OI Tie
council allowing such a claim and indeed
that there was no such person as j. Q.
johnson. The warrants, when executed,
being regular on their face, were signed
by the mayor, who had nothing to put
him on his guard, and then were taken to
the treasurer's Office and stamped as not
paid for want of funds They were then
taken by Mr.. Christy, the city booKkeeper,
and sold to the Equitable Insurance COM
pany for 95 cents on the dollar.
All Scared Except Three.
Other claims were made, allowed and
paid in the same way. Through one of
these transactions it was clearly shown
that Treasurer Shope and Auditor Laird
had knowledge of the way this steal was
being worked, and were, in fact, parties to
it. The drawing of these fraudulent war
rants was kept up from time to time
throughout the year. When the exposure
came by the change of administration the
recipients of the money became frightened,
and all of them turned their illegal receipts
back into the city treasury, except Macy,
Shope, and brady, but this does not exon
crate them under the law, hence the in
M re