Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-03-22
SIX In THE MESHES
True Bills Found Against Chi
cago Aldermen
ROTH PROVED TO BE RELIABLE
Long After Tine Was Called He Re-
spontet and Gave Some Remarkable
Testimony Against His Colleagues.

CHICAGO, March 3l.--Lats this after
noon indictments were prepared against
ssx aldermen, and will probably De re-
turned before night. This was decided
on after hearing the evidence of Alder
man Roth. Following are the victims:
William j. o'Brieu, Sixth ward; John
Powers, Ninsteenth ward; Nicholas
Cremer, First ward; Daniel Z. O'Brien,
Twenty third ward: John J. Dahl
mann. Sixteenth ward; Patrick j. Cor
man, Thlrty-third ward. lt was ru-
mvred--and for awhile the story looked
p.aus. ble-that the combine" IN the
city council had succeeded IN seducing
tue states chief witness from his fealty
70 honesty and had persuaded him 10
leave town. Alderman Salo W.
Roth Was the first witness ON
Judge Longenecker's list this
morning. Roth was notified last
night 70 appear at 10 O'Clock today and
tel his story. Ten, IL and II o'clock
came, but no Roth. Suspicion on the
part OF the state that Roth had been
tanpered with became almost GER
tanly. At noon the grand jury
headed by Foreman Lieb, appeared
before Judge Clifford and askei sor an
attachment for Roth's arrest. TINS
was ordered issued, but before the
paper could to prepared and sent out
for service Rotn himself, very much
flustered, appeared and said he was
ready TO give ms testimony. He was
taken before the grand jury and told
remarkable story, on which the above
indictments were drawn up.
@tory of the Boodlfne.
His story ran something like this:
On July u tho alderman from the
Thirteenth ward was approached by
Alderman Dan O'Bnen, who suggested
to hIm that there would be big money
IN IL tor the members OF the council
who would vote for the Economic gas
ordinance. Both pretended to acquiesce,
but demanded time to consider the
proposition. This was granted and the
alderman sought the counsel OF u
friend, to whom he contided the facts,
saying: 81 think | have a good
chance now to trap the noodle alder.
men," and asked for advice as 10 what
course TO pursue. This friend advised
Roth TO continue acting as If IN accord
with the propositions made 10 him and
10 accept any bribe offered him, keep
ing a careful record of all incidents
connected with the transactions. Roth
followed the advice TO the letter. He
was GOV. however, and declined to
listen further to Dan O'Brien.
Then he was approached by BILLY"
OBrien, to whose eloquence Roth
appeared to yield. The economic came
up for passage and Roth pledged him.
eel to vote tor IT. In return tor this
promise O'BrIen gave him $3.50. which
he promptly deposited with the men
who are now conouctlng the investiga-
ton.
Roth was now considered one of the
initiates SD far az toodle was concerned,
and when the Northern Pacific came
up be was approached openly, and for
his vote he was paid $1,000. the
money being given him by Alderman
John Powers. The other three alder
men named above also, as stated, ap-
preached Roth at different times and
offered him money To vote for different
ordinances in which they were inter-
ested. On this testimony the indict-
msnts for conspiracy will be based.
All But One Arraigned
Before court adjourned this after
noon all the boodling aldermen had
been brought IN except Gosselin and
Gorman. The former was arrested in
the council chamber this evening.
German. IL IS believed, has decamped as
al efforts to fad him are unavailng.
The prisoners were each released on
SO, O,0OO bail. Alderman Roth made a
stasemsnt TO the public this evening
declaring that the leading newspapers
OF the city are behind the prose cution
and that ne sold bis vote on the DOODLE
ordinance TO ASSIST the papers in expos
ing the corruption among the city
fathers