St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-02-25
JENNINGS ADVENTURE
A Scar-Facad Stranger At
tempts to Bribe the Third
Ward Alderman.
The Affair Winds Up in a
Rather Sensational
Way.
The City Council Attempts to
Depose It's President, Or.
BraZie.
The Meeting an Exceedingly
Lively One--Fioup City
News.

There was a bold attempt at bribery
yesterday afternoon. Some cunning
and INSCRIPTIONS individual put rol
of bills in his pocket and sailed forth
with the intention of brIbing an alder
man. Unhappily for himself, he fixed
upon Aid. jennings, of the Third ward,
and by so doing ran against snag. 1t
would appear that there was some hid
den motive behind the act of bribery
and it was insinuated around the city
hall when the news became known that
those who were interested in having
Aid. Jennings accept bride had i'll
view his impeachment ami consequent
removal from the fire investigation com-
mittee. They took rather roundabout
way To get at it, but the end was what
they sought. Happily for his Third
ward constituents and the city i'll gen
eral, Aid. Jennings was an honest man.
On Thursday evening, when Aid. Jen-
nings returned to his residence, SIG Rus
sell avenue. he found a.stranger waiting
for him in the paror. He was SIMS
ter-lOoking fellow, with deep red scar
across the left cheek, Saudy-t0pped
head and bushy mustache Of the same
description. He did not accord the al
derman the felicity of learning his name.
but proceeded at once, in very mystic
rious manner, TO recite the object of his
Ia inf nI ha cold II q
matter that would come before the coun-
Gil Friday night, and was DESTROYS of
discussing it with the alderman. His
tine was limited, but if the alder man
would kindly meet him the next after
noon at 2 O'clock at the NicOllet house
he would recount to him the nature OF
the business lie desired his assistance
in. Yesterday afternoon Aid. Jennings,
on his way to the city hall, dropped into
the Nicollet house and found his scar
faced acquaintance waiting for him in
the lobby.
Il have not had my dinner yet" said
the scar-faced man, suavely, land if
you will accompany me to fisherman S
we will talk over matters in one of the
private stalls"
There was something so mysterious
about the stranger that Aid. Jennings
decided to accompany MIN and ascer-
tain what his game was. The TWO went
to Taberman's. on Washington avenue
south, and were uShered into one OF the
stalls. The stranger called for bottle
of "Duc de MontebellO," and while sip
ping the sparkling liquor he remarked,
leaning over the table and looking. with
a trustful air, at the alderman: The
council tonight will take up the matter
of the vacation of Eighteenth avenue
north, from Second street to the river.
| am very much interested in the vaca-
ton of this street and want YOU to vote
for it, if you can consistently. How do
you stand on the matter?"
Well" replied Aid. Jennings, 81 will
vote for the vacation, if | think my con-
stituents desire it. Otherwise L shall
oppose it. The matter was referred to
the committee OH roads and bridges
and the aldermen of the Third ward,
but | have not thoroughly considered
it,
''By the way" continued the alder
man, intent on seeing what the scar
faced man was up to, "Ald. Kichli is
the senior alderman of the ward. Have
you spoken to him about this matter"
"Oh, he's all right" replied the man.
smiling significantly. 'kiichli has ueen
'spen.'''
'Oh, he has?"
Eyes, indeed. and" continued the
scar-faced man, 81 can make it worth
your while to vote for the vacation. |
am go-between, and have $500 in my
pocket for you. if you will do so. OF
course l might like little percentage
myself, but am not particular.
He pulled out a roll OF bills and
stretched it out toward the alderman,
whose choler was rising like the tide.
But Jennings proved himself a rare
diplomat. He had heard suspicious
noises in the adjoining stall, and could
distinctly hear the heavy breathing of
men next to the partition. Instead of
taking the money, lie clenched his fist
and remarked
This has gone far enough" Then
he jumped upon the table and leaned
over the partition. TO say he was aston
iShed at what he saw would be drawing
it mild. Leaning with their ears against
the partition were four men, three of
them strangers, and the fourth eXAld.
George Durham, who was defeated by
Jennings in the recent election. The
latter jumped off the table and started
for the would-be briber, but he made a
break through the door of the stall and
ran out upon the stleet and disappeared.
The two strangers and eX-Ald. Durham
emerged from the adjoining stall look
ing very sheepish. Aid. Jennings
called Taberman to his aid, and the
three men ran out of the back door. but
Durham remained. Aid. Jennings
turned upon him with:
"Durnam, thought you were gen
tleman, but now | know you are a
IorN fni III
sQuarely by over 400 majority, and now
you put up this kind OF job to besmirch
my character."'
Mr.. Durham stated that he knew
nothing about the matter, and his pres
ence in the next stall was purely acct
dental, but Aid. Jennings told him
fatty he did not believe him. He hur-
ried over TO police headquarters for an
officer, but the man with the scar on his
face could not be found. Later in the
afternoon he held consultation with
the county attorney, and today war.
rant will be issued for John Doe, charg-
ing him with attempted bribery. Jen-
ningS says the man Is stranger to him,
but he thinks he will be found sooner or
later.
Il am convinced" said the alderman
in speaking of the matter, THAT it was
a JOB to do me up in the council. They
probably thought would accepta bribe,
and then Durham and the others would
come out and testify to what they had
heard and seen. l think L know who
the interested parties are Che mentioned
an alderman and another public Officially.
and it will not be long before something
will drop. They sized me up wrongly,
that was all. Had been dishonest and
fool enough to have taken the money,
my enemies would have been in high
clover Thank God. DON'T have to ac-
cept bribes."
Sensational developments will surely
follow, and there is no telling where
the matter will end.