The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-01-14
RONALD is RETAINED
He Will Get Five Per Cent. Fees
From the City.
THE PILES INVESTIGATION.
It Was Mere Farce-Frant street Cable
Cempany's New ChArser-other
Council Proeeedlngs.

TIE pretended Investigation of the charge q
bribery for some time against s h. Piles, cifs
attorney, by the common council iGst night. VS.
OF curse q snere farce. Practically no e2or
was made 90 inquire iEt0 the srnth OF tht
charge. The Kveafng Pyssss. ~ which ths
/ charge was recently printed. attempted R0thsns
rscFc than 10 show thar It's pub.lea don was 5lSs
fed by enFrSns reposs Mhea this was de1aon
sixRfed the Press Withdrew fNofn tie cass
There was, in fact, no effort to prosecute Ths
defense satisfied itself with denial by Mt
Piles, and by the denial Of any connection with
the alleged bribery bs one or two persons whose
names haa lssea invelvesS IN The general gossip
When NsycF Moran announced that the ensla
ell was prepared 70 take Up the charge &walnsi
CRY Attorney Piles, +. u Carr appeared Ia ese
hall OF The EreaSag Ers8s DE read trom the
editorial. Which appeared IN the Press oi peeem'
bsr y IL contained no charges Unatc7er, he
said, against the character II Pies Il called at
teurion 20 street rumorS. formerly in common
circulation about him, aud rejected upon The
aciion Of the council IN eiecttng Piles without
an investigation 70 determine their truth Of
IA Sity. The Press had not presumed 20 ssy
whether Piles was guilty or ianoesnt. hnt what
4 had published relative 10 him il was prepared
10 pzase.
j T. Ronald. saying that he appeared Tor bis
partner. Mr.. Piles, accused the Press Of begging
the eacstioz. and edaes that re hoped Il wo1id
produce It's Witnesses. - which counsel answered
that he had not the power to compel the al.
tendance OF witnesses.
samuel +. Fraser the editor OF the Prsss, wal
called aad testified substantially Is follows;
In May last heara tAe aaacial integrity OF the
then city attorney, Pies, questioned. The story
was that he had eiven note for $50 or 81 eco to
= woman, and that AZ his request the note had
been paid By some OF the gamblers" An sffiaa-
Wit sworn 10 b. NJ Soderhefg, was here intro
a. arts
menis
Witness was cross examined at length by
Ronald. who eslncsa great temper, but his story
WAS not shaken IN the least
samuel Crawford testified 10 having heard the
street reports concerning the alleged dishonesty
of Piles.
Jack Egan, city editor aI the Press, testified
that he had heard from Detective James Hamii-
ton ard other sources that Piles owed May
Cook $50 and that she held his note for thas
amount: that subsequently the nss3 vas taken
up by 3 gambler for Piles and the money paid 10
Mr.. Ronald.
After some further comparatively unimpcrt.
ant corroborative evidence. Attorney Carr
closed bis case saying that he had shown all he
desired.
Mr.. Piles then testified ia his own behalf max
ing a specific denial Of any knowledge Of the
current rumors Of his official dishonesty aud
strenuousiy protesting his innosence,
Justice OF the Peace Miller testified that Piles
was formerly bold and fearless prosecutor Of
be gamblers.
Tx 3sheEia cochrane also testified to tie
official activity OF Piles against the gamblers.
Hsnk Carlton. a gambler, testified. denying
ever having bad any financial transactions with
Piles, and declaring his utter Ignorance OF the
pTomissory note in question.
The case, On motion OF Councilman Jones, was
then dismissed and Piles declared 10 be exoner.
aiea.
An ordinance. authorizing the employment of
J. T. Ronald as assistant city attorney 10 prose.
euta the delinquent tax cases, under the per
cent fee system. WAS adopted.
The report of the Judiciary committee, reject
ing the payment OF south Fourth street scrip.
owing to . lack Of funds, was adopted.
communication was received from the
Front street Cable Railroad Company relative
to changing is franchise, and referrei % q
special committee. consisting Of Councilman
Hall, Jones aud Niexg.
communication from The Black Rock
Mining Company. OF California, relative TO
paving streets add Sidewalks wsth Unanimous
rock, was read ard referred.
The following petitions we've received and re-
serred to the usual committees;
Frem T. Newman for reduction Of hts as
scssmept from Si00e0 To s. DO
From F. & Hosktnsou, for permission 20
transfer water privilege.
The plans aud specifications for two Of the
new fire engine houses were referred to the
committee on public buildings aud grounds
The CRY attorney and councilman Niesx were,
on motion oi Twicheli. appointed a special CON.
Tnfttce TO 20 20 Olympia 10 expedite pending
legislation affecting seattle