The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-09-27
ALLEGED BRIBERY.
Taking of Testimony in the Pittston
Gases Continued
Yesterday.
Special to the Scranton Tribune.


PITTsToN, Sept. 25 The taking Of
testimony Of the alleged boodleism In
connection with the awarding Of the
contract to pave Main and Water
streets was resumed today and proved
fully as interesting. for Its ridiculous.
ness, as that otyssterday. Councilman
Henry Knowles was the first witness.
He testified in substance as follows:
81 had q conversation with Mr..
Tighe. wherein the latter told me that
Saxton stood ready to offer $4,000 for
eight votes. l voted for asphalt on its
merits. never offered Tighe 5000 to
vote for Barber asphalt O'Brien said
to me that II money was to be used
Halwood money was just as good as
any and l being a Valley employe
should vote for that brick. Knowles
denied having received any money, or
having offered any money, in connec.
tion with the contract"
Borough treasurer on being sworn
said Agent Townsend approached him
and offered him $4,000 with which to
get six councilmsn to vote for his
(Townsend's) brick ~ refused to have
anything to do with him or his money"
Borough Secretary J. E Dempsey
was next called to the stand He re.
fused to take the oath, but eondscended
to make a statement. He said: I
never had been offered any bribe by
any paving agent nor did l hear any
councilman being offered bribe to
vote for any particular pave. Knowles
told me that Townsend wanted to put
$4, 900 in his (Knowles) hands, but
he declined to handle it, Knowles
also told me that o Brien. Of Wilkes
Barre, had telegraphed for him, and
when he went down was told that il
he voted for the Hallwood block there
would be something in 1t for him. De-
tective O'Brien told me that if the
Hallwood block was not adopted,
Townsend was going to serve an in
junction on the borough to prevent
them from executing the contract.
Clifford told me that Townsend had
offered him a consideration, but Cliff
ford declined to have anything to do
with him.
John Connell, proprietor Of the st.
James hotel on North Main street, was
next sworn and said: Il heard Coun.
Gilman Tigus talking to Joseph Fshsy,
R. B. Cutler and his son Charles. also
Charles Curry and James O'Brien,
Councilman Hennigsn, @. R. Patter-
son and dozen others were there.
Tigue said Knowles told him there was
IS, 900 for eight councilmsn, but they
had TO give each $1O0 to the Sec
retary. He said, meaning Tigue,
Mike Langan offered him $500.
He said Thomas English approached
him. but did not offer him money.
Tigue also said the asphalt man. he
thought Furman, offered him $780,
Some days afterward l told 1igue he
ought to be careful Of what he said to
Langan, and then he denied having
spoken as quoted. l told him he did
Then he said. what he meant to say
was that Langan had said there
was $1,000 for six councilmen,
but that Langan had not offered it.
l heard P. F. Joyce say there was
money in town; that NJ. j. Langan and
Ed Barrett had money. Had q talk
with Langan. Told him 1 heard he
had money for the uptown couD silmen.
Langan said he had not. Have known
Lsngan quite awhile, and did not be.
lievs he was crooked. Heard Mangan
say that Townsend went around offer
in $500. Heard Knowles say to Ly-
not that Furmsn, the little man
they met in New York, was the
best one of the whole lot, as he
offered to leave $l00 in hotel to pay
their expenses. Never saw money Of
fered to any councilman to vote for
any particular pave. Tighe told me
about the meeting in Cliffords, that he
had 1t all fixed, but Furman, the as
phalt man, came in and spoiled the
whole business. In Wilkes Barre
Tighe told me again that Knowles had
offered him 5000 to vote for asphalt.
This concluded the testimony and an
adjournment was taken until Friday
morning at 9 o'clock,