The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-07-01
FOSTER ON THE RACK.
Hearing of the Charges Made
by Vitzthum.
ONE SIDE OF THE TESTIMONY.
The Aecuser Repeats His Statement Be
fore the City Council-The Trial
to Be Resumed Tonight.

fy. The hearing OF the charges against Fire
Commissioner Foster attracted a large gather
ing. Foster had retained Attorney White, ani
Corporation Counsel Donworth represented me
city ar the last session, but it seems tie Dsno-
Gratis thought Douworth too polished a weapon
to Use in such an ARRAY, aud decided TO meet
Whites Duzzsaw with a rasp- Junius Rochester
accordingly appeared on behalf OF the mayor,
although NJ. Donworth was present
The members of the council present were
Aldermen Carrie, Ingram, Cram, Wolfe, Daultoa;
Delegates Coryell, Calligan. Crichion, Cook,
Drew, Lyon, Ryan and Brace, the chair being
occupied by President Kioeber.
The chair asked If the accused were ready to
+ reply.
Mr.. White said the oral answer was mo.
guilty. provided the council was in position 70
hear the charges.
President KIoeber replied that the council was
in position; there was a quorum present.
There was some preliminary sparring about
a quorum and ss 10 allowing any other prose-
cu,or than the corporation counsel: the chair
ruled against White, and an exception was
taken. Rochester started in to address the
lobby. but President Kloeber called him down,
and he then related the incidents as already
published in Vitzthum's affidavit
Oswald Vitzthgm was the first witness. He
talked in very broken English, but was earnest
and persistent. He declared that he knew he
was in the presence of God, but he 'could not
twist his tongue quick enough" His quaint
way OF expressing himself kept the house in a
constant litter, which often broke into a roar.
Fi,z.aum was examined by Attorney Roehes-
ter. He testified that he had lived in Seattle
nine years; had known Foster since February,
1s9l; he was looking for a Job; did not know
the commissioners. but was directed to see
Foster; asked him how it was about a job il the
department; Foster tod him II witness could
lend him $50 he might fl it; they went TO
Keliogg's drug store: kellogg asked, ado you
want TO get in the fire department? Well. the
fee for engineer IS $780," witness said he was
not that kind of man: they separated,
but next day he again met Foster,
who, after some talk, said. ''iou must pay
that money first" they went to the Washington
National bank; witness drew out 1855,
and made up out Of his poke; sl5o, and gave il
&c Foster, who gave witness & note payable OF
or before the 18th of Ma ch. 1Ss2, A few days
sfterward Foster said they would give him q joo
of assistant engineer first; soon after he went
up to headquarters and the chief gave him 8
letter 10 Captain Allen for a position as stoker.
He 'snbbed" from April IS to the 10Th u of May
and was then sent TO a truck company. He met
Foster on Third street about two months later,
and Foster said: "How about that
notee You had better give up that
note witness said he didn't feel like giving
$50 for that kind of a position. but as Foster
was commissioner he supposed there was no
help for il.
h-N Il ~" Ac SdhC u 1ON~. II
Foster then told him TO put his lame on it
Witness said be felt awful hard about giving up
that money. but be supposed he had to do it;
Foster walked away, "the money was gone and
the note was gone, but l had q job in the fire
department.
Witness continued that he complained to
Foster about attempts to run him out, but
Foster said they couldn't get him out; he be-
longed 10 the ring: he related that Foster after
ward told him 10 wait until after election and
somebody would get II in the neck: told Foster
that ii witness got il in the neck he would tell
about Foster aud the money, but Foster said
Vitzthum would be all right. NitZ,hum
then related that in April he received a
note from Kellogg asking him TO let Foster have
500; he walked with Foster TO Bellevue
hotel next day, Foster remarked, That's what
runs away with money, you should eat at a Is
cent house" witness replied. "If you keep on
ike this I'll have to- Witness went to the
Peoples savings bank on April : aud drew 800,
which he gave TO Foster [eheck producedl;
witness and Foster went 10 the Branch, and
after dinner Foster told the waiter TO put all on
one check. and Foster paid it; at headquarters
Foster said, This is only a little Bit between Two
of us"-meaning Foster and somebody else; and
Foster added. This is q different administra-
ton"
Witness described himself as feeling frozen,
but he made up his mind Foster shouldn't get
away with that money, too. He drew up a note
but Foster gave him one made up by kellogg,
due on April l. IproducedI. signed By kellogg
and Foster; witness thought 70 himself, well,
he's a jim dandy II he gets away with this
money too after the 18th witness asked Foster
for the money. but the commissioner said,
lyon are all right Tor two years" Witness told
him he wouldn't pay for the JOB twice. Later,
witness wrote 20 Foster asking for the money;
Foster met him and said. "Some of
these fellows have got me over
a barrel" but that before he got out he would
discharge Peterson, an engineer, and give Wiz
thum the place. Foster told him they intended
TO send in Marlow's name for chief; Foster also
pretended that kellogg wcs awfully mad be-
cause witness had demanded his money: Foster
pulled out several notes from his pocket for
s35o, s75, 500 and others. and among them the
one Nitzthum had returned to Foster. Foster
said, "Iou think YOU paid an awful lot, but
look here"
White showed him three notes, aud asked
him ii he could identity them. but he could
not, and admitted that he was mistaken az to
| Foster having written the first note. White
asked why witness wrote paid in full" if il
was not paid. Witness answered: why. ! had
10; i'll hadn't there would have been 10 fight
daughter
! In c-OsSeXaminatiou witness said his applies,
ton had been put in by Commissioner Clark,
but Clark told him there was no place vacant:
on the l5ta of July Foster said il was time that
money matter was settled; witness began 10
understand II was not u loan. but Foster was
going TO keep the money. White asked him if
Foster had not borrowed So and returned it: he
answered yes: Foster said he didn't want 20 rob
him altogether.
White asked Il. early in September. Foster had
not psid him $40; but witness denied IL
White asked If Foster did not show him some
notes and say he had been paying these ana
was pressed for money at the time he said he
saw his OWE note in Fosters possession. Wit
ness said he had never seen these notes: there
must have been ten or fifteen; they had little
red stamps Alter closer examination
witness Identified one Of them. He wss sub
iected to a long c"ross-examlns;ion, but without
shaking his main testimony. He made The
sta,ement that kellogg told him the fire COM
missioners got no salary aud that the fee 70. an
engineers position wss slSA
On the suggestion vi the chair, the further
examination OF the witness was postponed.
soon after II o'clock the council, adjourned
until ) o'clock tonight