Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-03-19
.CHICAGO'S BAD ODOR.
How Big Franchises Worth Many
Millions Were Obtained.
THE GRAND JURY AT WORK ON IT.
Aldermen Alleged to Have Fled the City to Escape
the Threatened ProSecutions-JOhn Bonfslds
Splendid Detective Work in Capturing
'EVidsncs-A Booty Members Talk.

CHICAGO, March 1s.-The scene:
about the Criminal Court to-day were q
repetition of the exciting incidents
marking the investigation four year:
ago, that landed in the penitentiary hall
a dozen OF the best known politicians in
the city.
The inquiry which began to-day open.
ed with a supposed "squealer" as the
first witness to disclose the secret
money getting methods Of his fellow
Aldermen.
The witness was Alderman Stanley
Kunz, who while in his cups gave utter.
ance to some strikingly queer remarks
the other night on the floor Of the Coun-
Gil chamber, and where it has been
stated he felt that he had not received
all he was entitled to when favors were
passing around for franchises worth
hundreds OF thousands.
While Kunz was in the jury room
and being put upon the rack, reports
were current among the interested
groups outside that at least one Alder
man had fed the city and that mum
ber of others were under detective sur
veillance. 1t was stated that President
c. X. &. Billings, of the Gas Trust
would be the next witness after Kunz
and would be followed by City Clerk
Vancleve, the latter of whom is pres
ent at all meetings of the Aldermen.
States Attorney Longnecker had an
earnest conference with detective John
Bonfield, OF Anarchist fame, before the
inquisition began. 1t was whispered
that the prosecution had struck snag
at the outset in the fact that the cor.
porations interested in the alleged
fraudulent grants had representatives
in the membership of the grand jury.
Color was lent to this report by an
announcement after Alderman Kunz
came out Of the jury room that no other
witnesses would be examined until to-
morrow. Kunz denied having given up
any valuable information, but admitted
that he was to be called later on.
The discovery is said to have been
made by the detectives employed by the
investigators that the combine" met
in room in the rear OF saloon owned
by certain alderman for the division OF
the spoils or the planning of other
''sand -bagging" schemes. John Bonfield,
who is said to have done most Of the
detecting In the case, rented room
directly over that used by the Com
bine" as a clearing house. Through
hole made in the ceiling, and micro
phone communicating with the interior
OF the lower room, the ex-Chief OF De-
tectives saw and heard everything that
transpired below him. Shorthand re-
ports of the scenes and conversations
were made by the detectives assistant
who sat beside him while taking obser-
vations. n
In additiongto this it is said that dis
appointed political ambition has had
considerable TO do with the expose.
Two Aldermen-one Republican and
the other Democrat-were turned
down by the. respective parties at the
recent primaries and in revenge are d.
vulging the secrets OF the gang.
Alderman Roth was defeated for re-
nomination, and report was current
to-day that to him largely the inception
of the investigation was due. He was
said 20 have received 81, ,0G0 in two bills
of $500 each, in the retiring rooD- OF the
Council Chamber or the Sherman House
on the night of the passage OF the Eco
nomic Gas ordinance. The story is that
he kept the money, voted Yea" and then
"wilted." He subsequently,, 1t is said.
went to newspaper Office, gave up the
money and told of other transactions
that had come to his knowledge.