Mower County transcript., 1892-03-23

THE ALDER N EN- BRIBED.
CHICAGO HAS ANOTHER Big DOODLE
SENSATION.
The Grand Jury Investigating the
Methods BY wbicl, tho Com 3 pr~ssed
Wind Ordinance was Passed - They
Find Plenty of Evidence OF a sspsa-
tional Charaotsr-Whnt Ordinances
Cost.
CHICAGO, March 81. - Indiotme ents
have besn returned by the grand jury
against the following aldermen: w. j.
O'Brien, D. R. O'Brien, Nicholas A.
Cremer, Patrick J. Gorman, Phillip
jackson, Stephen N. Gosselin, John F.
Dorman. Capiaees were at one issued
for the indicted aldermen and deputy
sheritfs were sent out to hunt them up.
Before court adjourned all had been
brought in except Aldermen Gosselin
and German. The former was arrested
in the council chamber in the evening.
Alderman German, it is believed, has
decamped, as all efforts to find him have
proved unavailing. The prisoners were
each released ON $4,000 bail. All the
indicted men excepted Alderman Cor
man, were in attendance ut the regular
meeting of the council but took no part
in the proceedings. @ "
Alderman Salo w. Roth was the first
witness on Judge Longenecker's list.
Roth was notified to appear at 10 o. clock
aud toll his story. Eleven and II O. clock
came and no Roth. Suspicion was that
he had disappeared. At noon the grand
jury, headed by Foreman Lieb, appeared
before Judge Clifford and asked for an
attachment for Koth's arrest. This was
ordered issued but before the paper
could be prepared and sent out for serv-
ice Roth himself, very much hustered,
appeared and said he was ready to give
his testimony. He was taken before
the grand jury and told q remarkable
story, and as result the indictments
We're drawn up. The charge against
w. j. O'Brien, D. r. O'Brien and Pow
ers is bribery, and the specifications in
the other indictments allege conspiracy
to do Al unlawful act. It is expected
that the indictments will now be found
at the rate Of one day. The conspir-
acy indictments will include the names
Of many other persons as accomplices.
Alderman Roth'A Story.
Roth's examination, while long, did
not extend to the particulars of his
knowledge of dishonesty by aldermen.
1t touched only the highest visible
peaks of the evidence around which
cluster many heaps of corroborative de.
tails. His story ran something like
this:
On July 13 the alderman from the Thir
teonth ward was approached by Alderman
Dan O'Brien, who suggested to him that
there would be big money in it for the
members of the council who would vote
for the Economic gas ordinance. Roth
pretended to acquiesce, but demanded
time to consider the proposition. This
WAS granted and the alderman sought The
counsel of friend, to whom he confided
The facts. saying: II think have good
chance now to trap the DOODLE aldermen ,
and asked for advice as to what course tx
pursue. This friend advised Roth to con
tinue acting Is if in accord with the prop
ositions made to him and to accept any
bribe offered him, keeping careful recorc
of all incidents connected with the trans
actions. Roth followed this advice to thu
letter. He was coy, however, and declined
to listen further to Dan O'Brien. TheI
he was approached by "Billy''* o 'Brien, tt
whose eloquence Roth appeared to yield
Promptly Paid for His Vote.
The Economic came up for passage and
Roth pledged himself to vote for it. Ii
return for this promise O'Brien gave hin
$3.50 which he promptly deposited with th'
men who are low conducting the investi
cation. Roth was now considered one O
the initial members 80 far as Doodle was
concerned, and when the Northern Pa
cific came up he was approached promptly
and for his vote he was paid s., GOO, th'
money being given him by Alderman
John Powers. The three other aldermen
named above also as stated approached
Roth at different times and offered hin
money to vote for different ordinances il
which they were interested.
The other witnesses examined wer,
President j. 8. Zimmerman of the Peo
ples' Gas company, who told the grant
jury that no aldermen held stock in hi
company, and President E. ID. Hosmer
of the Chicago and Jefferson Crbal
Transit company, who related tho story
of his unsuccessful attempt to secure ;
right of way and of the efforts of Ger
tain aldermen to blackmail him.
Some Figures Given.
1T costs deal of money sometimes t.
buy the city council" said an attorne!
who is closely connected with the state
attorney, "the Northern Pacific has al
the worst of it in the last three big dead
tho aldermen have made. The figures fo1
those three sales sales of city franchise
are just these: Northern Pacific, $3.50, ,OO0
Economic Gas, $1se, 600: Compressed Air
$13O,0O0 .. ...
Alderman Roth is believed to be tn,