Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-03-19
WHY THEY SQUEALED.
Disguised Chicago Boodlers Shabbily
Treated in the DlVyy.
GRAND JURYMEN ARE SUSPECTED.
A Detective Rented Room Over the Gangs
Clearing House.
WILD RUNORS FLY THICK AND FAST

| CHICAGO, March 18-The scenes about
the Criminal Court to-day were a repetition
of the exciting incidents marking the in
vestigation four years ago, that landed In
the penitentiary half dozen of the best
known politicians of the city,
The inquiry, which began TODAY, opened
with a supposed "squealer'' as the first wit
| ness, to disclose the secret monev-getting
| methods of his Acknowledgement. The wit
| ness was Alderman Stanley Kunz, who,
while in his cups, gave utterance to some
queer remarks the other night on the floor
of the Council Chamber, and who, it has
been stated, felt that he had not received all
he was entitled to when favors were passing
around.
While Kunz was within the jury room
and being put upon the rack, reports were
current among the interested groups ont
side that at least one Alderman had fled the
city and that number of others were un-
der detective surveillance.
The Grand Jury Not Above Suspicion.
States Attorney Longnecker had an earn
est conference with Detective John Bon
field, of Anarchist fame, before the inquisi.
tion began. 1t was whispered that the
prosecution had struck snag at the outset,
in the fact that the corporations interested
in the alleged fraudulent grants had repre-
sentatives in the membership of the Grand
jury.
The discovery is said to have been made
by detectives that the combine" met in
a room in the rear of a saloon owned by a
certain Alderman for the division of the
rlc T0hr pf.n11 4
done most of the detective work in the case,
rented a room directly over that used bv
the combine" as clearing house Through
q hole made in the ceiling and a microphone
communicating with the interior of the
lower room, the ex-chief of detectives saw
and heard everything that transpired below
him. Shorthand reports of the scenes and
conversation were made bv the detectives as
sistant, who sat beside him while taking OBJ
servations.
In addition to this, it is said that disap-
pointed political ambition has had consid-
cradle to do with the expose. Two Alder
men-one Republican and the other a
Demoerat-were turned down by their re-
spective, parties at the recent primaries, and
in revenge are diyulging tie secrets of the
gang.
His Conscience Troubled Him.
Alderman Roth was defeated for renomi-
nation, and a report was current TODAY
that to him largely the inception of the in
vestigation was due. He was said to have
received 81 900 in two bills of $500 each in
the retiring room of the Council Chamber,
or the Sherman House, on the night of the
passage of the Economic Gas ordinance
The story is that he kept the money, voted
'syea'' and then "wilted." He subse-
qnently, it is said, went to newspaper
office, gave up the money and told of other
transactions.
When the jury assemblies tomorrow morn
ing Alderman Kunz will be again put on
the stand. The next witness will probably
be President Billings, of the Gas Trust.
Billings fought the passage of the Economic
Gas ordinance. 1t is rumored he will give
positive testimony to the effect that he was
given to understand he could prevent the
passage of the Economic Gas ordinance by
bidding over the men behind it. 1t is,
also, understood that he will testify that
$780, 900 was the figure named as necessary
to prevent the passage of the Economic
Gas ordinance. He will also tell the names
of Aldermen who told him of the amounts
they had received to vote for the ordinance.
Statss' Attorney Longnecker states that
fully % subpenas had been issued. He also
confirmed the rumor that Mayor WASH
burne will be put on the stand.