The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-12-06
IHE SUIT AGAINST C.. Il. WRIGHT
wholesale Bribery of City Oficials and
Voters to Bc Alleged.

Tacoma, Dec. Especial. tions
Tor the 100000 damage suit brought by
the city OF Tacoma against c. B. Wright
and the Tacoma Light and Water Com
pany are occupying the attorneys of both
partles TO the action. For the company
harrls "A. Corell. of the law firm of Par
sons, Corei & Parsons, is engaged daily
al the city clerk S Office taking of a tyne
written copy of the proceedings OF the
council during the negotiations that led
up TO the sale Of the plant In April. 1893. as
Well as the record up TO and including the
transfer on August following. City At
torney James WickeTsham puts in his
whole time preparing evidence in the case
ana getting schedules. reports of commit
tees, correspondence between the city and
The company and other important docu-
ments together The case is set for trial
by jury in Judge Pritchard's court next
Monday, and IL is expected that fully
three weeks viii be occupied in the trial
II Is confidently expected that much of
the evidence VIII be os sensational char
acter. In the pleadngs the city alleges
wholesale bribery and corruption of both
city officials and voters. Much Of these
charges were stricken out. but ii is ex-
pected the testimony of witnesses showing
that money was spent in the election. If
the city produces such testimony, Will be
admitted. Nearly all of the officials of the
company have been subpoenaed or will be
by one side or the other Manager !. W.
Anderson. of the Tacoma Land Company.
who was active in his efforts 10 carry the
election. will also testify. Altogether. IL
is believed the public will know to what
extent. II any, money was used in inf1u-
encng voters at the election.
Among other things the city will set UP
that il never received all that was bar
gained and sold The city claims that by
the terms of the sale a flow OF 100000
gallons OF water daily was guaranteed ny
the old company at the Thomas and Pat
terson springs or al least that they were
represented to have that capacity. The
flow of these springs has been frequently
measured since the purchase, and II Is
asserted on the authority of the city Off
cIals that not more than one-quarter of
the flow claimed for the springs can be
obtained The city Is supposed to nave
paid something like 100000 for this source
of supply.
4 short time before the election. it is
clained a ship load Of cast iron p-pe Tor
use in the streets was on its way from
New York to Tacoma. purchased by the
company. and. II Is alleged. Included In
the original schedules OF property 70 he
sold furnished the FIRE and water COM
rnitteee of the council by General super
intendeut c. r. Hurley This ship IS al
legged 10 have been stopped az san ran
ciso, when the election carried and her
Arr1 discharged there The statement
has been made that the pipe has remain
Cd there since. Part Of the damages
claimed are alleged - he by reason Of the
failure OF the company to deliver this
pipe
At the time Of the famous raid on the
gas plant IN the fall II 1898. there was
considerable talk about lost schedule
which is supposed 10 have been surrepti-
tiousIv taken from the city hall just after
the election Certain e IS that members
or the council who Inspected the prop
ertv before the election claim that the in
ventorv Of personal property filed with
the deed differed in many important re
sports from that furnished the fire and
water committee In February 1888. by
which they were guided in placing vslu-
alto, on the plants The whereabouts Of
the February schedule. as u IS known,
has never since been deAnitely ascer-
t,fned II is supposed 20 have confined
much information now valuable II the
city.
u l.. Deurorost. ex-president of tho
hoard Of puhlic works. Is assisting The city
IN tho preparat!on oil It's case He IS ia
rilfar with the whole matter having been
a member - the board when The water
and light plants were sold and delivered.