Los Angeles herald., 1892-03-22
The Chicago Grand Jury
Gets in Its Work.
indictments Against Seven AL
dermen Returned.
Many More Bribe-Takers Expected
to Be in the Tolls.
subduing Eject on the Proceedings In
the City COunciI-The Corruption
lists Neatly Trapped-Other
Eastern News.

Associated Press Dispatches.
CHICAGO, March 2l.-After three days.
investigation the grand jury this after
noon returned a true bill against seven
aldermen, charged with conspiracy to
commit bribery in connection with vari-
GUS ordinances which have been the
subject of investigation. Those indicted
are W. J. O'Brien, Daniel r. O'Brien,
Nicholas A.. Craemer, 7. ]. German,
Philip Jackson, s. M. Gosslin and John
M. Dorman. Two more indictments
were found, but not returned.
Against the first named, w. J..
O'Brien, they charged bribery and state
that O'Brien gave A lderman Roth $1,000
to vote for the Northern Pacific ordi-
nance and $3.50 to vote for the Economic
Gas ordinance.
Among the names OF witnesses sign ed
to the indictments, is that of Hannah
Larkin. In regard to this appearance
Of "a woman in the case" States At
torney Longnecker said: "There are
certain houses of ill-repute which GER
tain aldermen visited while under the
influence of liquor, and where they
talked too much for their own good.".
Being asked if more indictments
might be looked for the states attorney
said one a day might be expected until
the whole outfit is run down.
As soon as the indictments were out,
Judge Anthony fixed the bail at $l0,-
900. Capiases were at once issued and
placed in the hands of deputy sheriff,
and this evening all those indicted, ex-
cept Alderman Gosslin, have come in
and furnished bonds.
Alderman Roth tonight made public
officially for the first time the part he
has taken in the Doodle transactions.
He says he had not been long in the
council until he found that ordinances
we're not always passed upon their
merits. At the time of the passage of
the Economic gas ordinance over the
mayors veto, it was found by the bood-
lers that it would be necessary to bring
into line some alderman whose vote
-~origInHliy Wae aYxlnrt tv. re tRUVlI3
was spoken to by one of the O'Briens,
who said he could derive consideration
for his vote. Knowing that the News and
other papers had taken vigorous stand
against boodling, and that they would
be friendly to any expose, and with the
further view of bringing the co ruption
lists to justice, he (Roth) called on the
Daily News. The matter was carefully
talked over and arrangements made for
receiving the money promised, in such
a way that witnesses could testify to the
visit OF the man who received it. Roth
saye $3.50 was paid him in his Office, and
keeper, explaining the nature of the
case. Immediately after, he took the
money to the Daily News Office. and in
the presence OF Witnesses, deposited it
in the safe, in sealed envelope.
Two weeks later the Northern Pacific
ordinance passed the council the second
time. A certain alderman from the
south side informed Roth the day after
that Billy O'Brien had the money, and
that he was to meet Billy at the Sher-
man house that afternoon. Roth inn
mediately communicated the fact to the
Daily News, and they had the Sherman
house watched. That afternoon Billy
-.O'Brien met Roth in the city hall and
handed him an envelope with the word
"Roth" written on the outside of it.
Roth went over to the Office of Mr..
Baker, attorney for the Tribune, and
telephoned for representatives OF the
other papers. The envelope was opened
in their presence and found to contain
two $500 bills, which were again sealed
up and placed with the other money.
Roth says he took no money at any
time for any other purpose than that
of exposing the corruptionists, and
has profited in no way, other than in
the feeling OF satisfaction that follows
duty we'll performed.
Not one of the indicted aldermen
would talk this evening further than to
profess their ability to prove entire in
nocence. In the face of possible i'm
prisonment for number of them, the
members of the city council, at the reg
ular meeting tonight, exhibited dispo-
sition to be facetious, but the proceed
'ings were rather subdued. One of the
members of the council finally intro
duced an order that the corporation
counsel be instructed to assist the states
attorney in any manner possible in in
vestigating boodling. Alderman O'Neill
exclaimed laughingly that "there ought
to be honor among thieves" and didn't
think the council should order anything
of the kind. The motion was placed on
file.