The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-03-22
CHICAGO'S DOODLE GANG.
ONE OF THE ALDERMEN GIVES THE
OTHERS AWAY.

"a n ~ 40 - w - L.
he Accepted $500 for His Vote on the
Gas Franchise Bill in Order TO Use it
as Evidence Against the Bribe-Tak-
ers-A Thousand Dollars Paid for His
Vote on a Railroad Measure.
CHICAGO, March 2l.-Just before 3
O'Clock this afternoon the grand jury re-
turned indictments against the following
aldermen: W. J. O'Brien, d. r. OiBrien,
Nicholas A. Cremer, Patrick K. J. Gregan,
Phillip jackson, s. II. Gosselin. ]. F. Dor
man. The indictments are for feloniously
conspiring TO commit bribery.
Alderman Roth this evening makes pubs
lie, officially for the frat time, the part he
has taken in the bribery transactions OF the
city council This statement, after reciting
the manner of his selection to be mem
Der of the council, says: had not been
long in council: until found
that ordinances were not always
passed upon their merits, nor even
upon the friendship existing among alder
men. but in some cases settled down TO a
dispensation of money. At the time of the
passage OF the Economic gas ordinance over
the mayors veto, il was found by the
necessary to bring into line some aldermen
not in line on the original vote on the
ordinance. l suppose that thinking that my
voting forit would be worth more in satisfy.
ing the public ordinance was not wholly bad
the vote OF some whose regulations were
less satisfactory than mine, led them 90
prefer me to Others who might have been
bought.
TIE BlIBE OFFERED.
l was spoken to by one OF the O'Briens,
who said that could receive consider
alton for my vote. Knowing that the
Daily NeOs and other newspapers had
taken vigorous public stand against bood-
ling in the council, and that they would be
friendly TO any exposure Of the councils
methods, and with view Of bringing the
corruptionists to justice. called on
the Daily Ne,0s. The matter was
carefully talked over by various persons
interested in public affairs and arguments
were made for receiving the money
promised in such way that witnesses could
testify to the visit OF the man who paid the
money. Seven hundred and fifty dollars
was paid me in my office, which money
l Immediately showed to my
booBkeeper, explaining who had paid
it and why 1t was paid, on Wednesday after
the passage over the mayors veto, of the
Economic gas ordinance. This money, with
in five minutes after receiving it, took
over to the Daily NelVs Office and In the
presence OF witnesses deposited il cafe in
sealed envelope bearing the date and q state
ment as to what it referred to.
A SECOND BRIBE.
About two weeks after that the ordi-
nance of the Northern Pacific passed the
council d second time. A certain alderman
from assouth side ward informed ME about
noon on July %, the day after the ordi-
l1.I Nkae
the money aud that he was to meet O'Brien
at the Sherman house at 2 o'clock. i'm
mediately communicated the fact to the
Daily NetVS office, and l understand they
had the Sherman house watched and dis
covered that the statement which was made
to ME was correct and that the aldermen
met at the place appointed. Very
soon after 2 O'clock Billy O'Brien
met me in the city clerks
Office and conducted me into the wash
room, where he handed me an envelope with
the word "Roth" written on the outside of
It, Tue envelope was sealed. / went over
to the office OF Mr. Baker, attorney for the
Tribune, and telephoned for repre-
sentatives OF other papers. The
envelope was opened In the presence
Of all the other witnesses and was
witnesses took the numbers of the bills and
they were then carefully sealed up in an
envelope and the signatures Of those present
placed on the outside Of the envelope. This
was then taken to the Daily NetUs Office
and placed with the other money. After
ward. am told that various papers hired
detectives to watch various mem
bers of the council and in
this manner secured much corroborative
evidence, but with which l had nothing to
do. Imyself took no money for any other
purpose than to bring to light the corrupt
methods employed In the city council, aud
have profited In no way thereby, other
than in the feeling Of satisfaction that fol-
lowed duty performed. Although Alder
man Roth was before the grand jury for
two hours, he did not tell all he knew, and
will be again called upon.
OTHER WITNESSES oALLFD.
Among the witnesses before the grand
jury to-day was President Hosmer OF the
Jefferson and Urban Transit Company, Sec
retary Zimmerman of the Peoples Gaslight
and Coke Company. President Knapp of the
Equitable Gas Company. A. Bryant of the
Consumers Gas Company and Attorney
Darrow of the Jefferson and Urban COM
pany. Mr.. Zimmerman furnished
list of the stockholders Of the
Peoples company, and it is
said that among them were certain alder
men. All the witnesses denied having been
of any use to the prosecution. Not one of the
indicted aldermen would talk for publica-
ton this evening further than to express
great surprise that they had been indicted
and to profess to be perfectly able TO prove
their innocence of any wrong whatever.