The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-02-12
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A BLIND GRAND JURY,
Can't See That Tacoma Water
Swindlers Gave Brides.
EVERY ONE ELSE KNOWS IT.
rsebabiy 100000 Kxpended In Get
ttaE the ysb IAreugh-1he Defr.ud-
ID Taxpayers Abanaea Hope.

TACOMA, Feb. u---TSpecial 1-whisexash
may De the final act In the 100000 city
saterworks steal. But IL the county grand
jury does apply the whiterash brush, it
VIII not be because il has not information
showing bribery Ia connection with the
Zeal, nor because IL could not secure stacks
OF information Of bribery on q colossal
scale. Those Who know the most about
the water loot do not hesitate to say that
no man could favor IL On its inertia Still
some men could perhaps be found who
wsrs sincere in their advocacy of the
gigantic steal. But that there were giving
and taking of bribss 70 secure the unload
Ing OF the plant upon the taxpayers the
grand jury must know, or If it does not
know It Is its own fault. Up 20 the very
last moment, when the question OF ap-
proving the so-callsd bond of c. b. Wright
was hanging In the balance, there were
brides to take There were brides every
where for those who wanted them, either
Tor silence or for assistance to sell the
water plant to the city.
IL 10. no doubt, too low . figure to say
that 100000 was spent in bribing the
oribabie into silence or securing their as
sistance. tnasmuch a. the sum Of SO, 900
was rendered to one councilman. There
is some of the blood money still in exist
ence. 1t Is to 60 to some charitable insti-
tuition finally. During the past year it is
estimated that q good ali-around city
council hustler of the bribe-taking sort
could have raked in At least SIS. 900.
Ii remains 70 be proved IL the statement
made by = Tacoma gentleman when the
taxpayers we're pstitioning for q grand
jury 20 investigate the water works steal
Is true. viz: That the manipulators of the
Naier steal had spent Sl0o. 900 to get the
people to buy IL. and that another 500, 900
would be spent to prevent an investiga-
ton. Bribery has become so chronic in
city hall circles that there are those who
show signs Of losing all faith in humanity.
They have come to the conclusion that, IN
Tacoma as least, humanity 10 damned
rascal"
The county grand jury may be too con-
servative about its powers. Judge Parker
seemed to think so yesterday when he told
II that it was expected to dig up something
extraordinary. something that the prose-
cutting attorney could not handle indi-
vidually. No wonder the court COM
planned. II has come to be a standing
joke about the courthouse corridors that
''the grand jury knows its business" That
10 what the clerks say when ASKED IL the
grand jury Is going to adjourn. Some
times the assertion IL accompanied by q
wink or peculiar jerk Of the head that is
suggestive. II 10 said this jury has decided,
upon the legal advice given II, that 1t can
not indict upon circumstantiai evidence.
the ILLUSTRATION accompanying this state
ment being that In the case of some tramps
accused Of stealing trunk the jury could
not find . true bill against them. although
1t il said part Of the clothes taken from
the trunk were found upon the back of one
of the rascals. and the trunk itself was
found In possession of another Of the gang.
The jury has until Tuesday to show Its
metal. If it fails to take hold Of some
thing extraordinary by that time the
court will give 1t its walking papers.