The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-06-23
CHARGE OF BRIBERY.
The Mayor Suspends Fire Com
missioner Foster.
TO BE TRIED BY THE COUNCIL.
Special Session Ordered to Hear q
Charge or Foster Having Taken
Money for an Appointments.

The war between the mayor and city
council on the one side and the board of
fire commissioners on the other took
new and unexpected turn last night in the
suspension by the mayor of Commissioner
James Foster on the charge of accepting
bribe from Oswald Vitzthum for an APP
pointment as stoker and assistant en-
ginecr in the fire department. The order
of suspension was read to the city council
last night and the mayor ut the same
time convened that body to meet in joint
session on Friday night at O'Clock to try
Foster on the charge. The suspension is
officially proclaimed in the Posr-INrELLI-
eENcEB, as city official newspaper, today
Following is the text Of the mayors
message:
TO the City Council Of the City Of Seattle: You
are hereby notified that l have this day sus-
pended James Foster from the Office of fire COM
missioner of the city OF Seattle. for the follow
ing causes, to-wit:
First-That the said James Foster. being such
fire commissioner, did. at Seattle, Wash. on the
first lstl day of March, A. d. 1891, accept and re.
ceiye from Oswald Vitzthum the sum %
$50, lawful money of the United States, to him
offered for the purpose OF inducing and infuene-
12g the said James Foster to appoint said Os-
waii F.tzthurn 20 the Office of engineer in the
Seattle fire department an to give his vote IS
such commissioner in favor OF the appointment
OF said Oswald Vitzthum an appointee of
the said Seattle fire department with partially
and favor, 20 which Office said Oswald Vfsztftlm
was Afterwards appointed by said james Foster
ana the other fire commissioners OF said city
secoud-The said James Foster beng sIeh
IRE commissioner, did. at said city of Seattle
Washington, on the 18th day Of July. A. D. 1891,
accent ana receive from one Oswald Vitzthuin
ncsztain reward towit. the promisory note in
writing OF him, the said James Foster for the
sum o. $50, payable 20 the order of the said
FitztsuD, being OF the value OF $780, which said
Trcmissory note said James Foster did than
auf there accept and receive, to him offered In
consideration thas said James Foster as such
nFe commissioner, had caused said Oswald
NItzthum 10 be appointed to Office by said fire
commission and az n meeting of said fire COM
mission had voted and exercised the power in
him vested as such fire commissioners with
partiai1ty ana favor in favor of the aDpointrneat
OF said Oswald YitZthum to Office in the seattl.
IRE department rs stoke- and assistant engineer
1hird-Thst the said James Foster being
such ire commissioner. at said Seattle, Wash
fngtou, On the 9TH day of April, A. D. 1892, dii
accept and receive ffom one Oswald Vitzthum
certain reward, to-wit, the sum of $780, layinl
money OF the United States, to him offered for
the purpose of inducing and influeuciue said
James Foster, az such fire commissioner To e.
ecute the powers I'm him vested as such fire
commissioners with Partially and favor in favor
OF retaining the said Oswald Vftzthum in the
Ciice of stoker in the Seattle fire department 10
which Office the said Oswald Vitzthun, had
heretofore been appointed by the fire commits
sion OF said city, and in consideration that the
said James Foster. such fire commissioner
had heretofore voted and exercised the power
in him vested as such fire commissioner with par-
tiaiity and favor in favor OF the appointment of
said Oswald Vitzthum as stoker and assistant
engineer in the ire department of the city of
Seattle
And I. J. 7. Ronald, mayor of said city, do
hereby call n joint convention of the members
OF the city council of said city, to be held at
the council chamber of the house OF delegates
on Friday, the 9th day of June. A. ID. 1S92 at 3
O'Clock IN the afternoon, at which convention
shall present charges against said SUSPENDED
ot1cer, James Foster. and you shall further
proceed on said charges in tho manner pre-
Ecribed by the charter of said city,
Witness my hand as mayor of the city of se-
attic this odd day of June, A. ID. 1892
j. 7. RONALD, Mayor
TIL affidavit of Oscar Vitzthum. upon
which the charge is based, was not read to
the city council, but the following is a
copy of it at length:
State of Washington, county of King. So.
Oswald Vitzthum, being first duly sworn on
oath, deposes and says:
am citizen of the United States of German
birth, of the age of 81 years / was admitted to
citizenship in Seattle about five wears apo
Since that time have lived IN Seattle nearly all
the time except about eight months. Nv bust
ness is that of engineer which business | have
followed all my life, ever since l left school
About the drst of March, 1891, was out OF en-
plpyment aud wanted TO get situation in the
Seattle fire department l made inquiries as to
the best way of getting this position. and was
told that James Foster was one OF the fire com
Iuisstouers and was the proper party TO secure
me place About March |. 1891. I was on the
street and some person pointed out Mr. Foster
rs being the fire commissioner had made in
quries from time 70 time find him.
On learning who he was l introduced myself
and told him would like to get a situation az
engineer in tho fire department. l told him
that times were hard aud most any position
wonld suit me, although was an engineer lie
said that he thought he could make 1t all right
that the places we're fun now, but he thought
be could get place for me. lie then asked mo
II could lend him $50. / said; ayes, have
got that much money; guess can let you have
it." Then ne said: "Well, that il all right"
and repeated ii three or four times, and told ne
that he would see me later.
About three or four days afterwards me: Mr..
Foster again on South Second street. Just beyond
Occidental square, and I went up 10 him .nd
spoke 10 him. We walked around to Front
street, IN front OF the drug store of Gardner
Kellogg, and met Mr.. kellogg in front Of tha
store l already knew Mr. kellogg by sight az
chief OF the FIRE department Mir. Foster told
Mt Kellogg who was. Mr.. Kellogg asked ne
u ! wanted 70 get into the fire department
told him did. lie asked me IL wanted Job
as engineer told him yes Mr. Kellogg thasa
turned To Foster and said, " l am not that kind
OF a man TO give $50 for job" After ! had
spoken Mr.. Foster and Mr.. kellogg walked
away.
About a week later met Mr.. Foster again on
Second street l spoke to him again. and 10
said: Hello. hello, Nitzthum, you ready
for the fire department. l said: 81 am" We
then walked UP Second street II the Washing
ton National! baak- on the way mp he said that
the money must be paid first. He said Is they
a. not pay the rent IL advance they do not pay
after they get il. I said: "ihst IS he'll a. =
Job, but i guess I Will have to 30 IL" / asked
him ii he wanted the money then. lie SAID
rns then went into the Washington National
hank vherr ! had some money on deposit. aud
drew out enough to pay him $50, aud some
thing more. I forget the precise amount tEen
stepYed out OF the bank aud told him that had
tha money; he then went in the bank ana
nrsftv sooa returned with note in my faycr.
1fsued uy him, Tor $40. ! 90 not remember
gusc when the note fell due gave him The
Stsl ana he gave me the nose. which I
took sud nut il my pocket lie then asked ne
tTIhad any Job on which was working. tod
him YES that / had Job that l could get fo-
snort time, for about four weeks. He said, ''Wsli
a. vou can get JOB you better take il, because I
cannot put Won IN Just now said, 'When you
have f. chance for ne you send me note - that
sE-et" and gave him my address told kim
' would be working on NcGees piie-drIyeE at
Eevdeabzucr bay. We then separated.