The herald., 1895-07-06
Councilman Kingery and P. A.
Howard on the Stand
ONE SAYS YES, THE OTHER NO
The Councilman From the Fourth Ward
More Positive Than Ever
The Inquiry into the Bribery Charges Is Con.
eiuded, and the Verdict viii Probably
Be q Case Of Not Proves

charges that P. A. Howard had offered to
bribe Councilman S. A. Kingery to vote
for certain school site began the hear
ing Of the testimony in the case shortly
after o'clock yesterday afternoon. The
com mittee OF the council having the mat
ter in charge were somewhat at loss as
to how to proceed. II was finally decided
to swear the various Witnesses. A STE
nographer was in attendance upon the in
vestigation.
The FIRST witness was Councilman
Kingsry, who, after repudiating several
newspaper interviews which were not he
said, held with him, he related the details
OF Howard's visit to his residence on the
afternoon Of June %. Kingery stated that
the superintendent of streets first con-
versed with him concerning street sweep
ing. II knew there was something else
coming" said the speaker" and presum-
ably, after Howard had told me about
the great availability Of the Miles Dodd
lots, he boldly remarked that ii would
arise in my place in the council on the
following Monday and oppose the read.
vertisement of the school sites in the
Fourth ward there was 5000 in it for me.
said. "Oh, no, and he answered that 5000
was not to be picked up every day, and
that no one else would know anything
about it. I still said no. and after
Mr.. Howard hadstold mo to think about
the matter he left the house. He was
there about fifteen minutes all told"
Howard cross-examined KiEgery, but
brought out nothing new. Kingery told
for making the story public. and he re-
piled that he could not see that the su-
psrintendent OF streets and the council
man from the Fourth ward could have
any public business which should not be
talked about.
School Director ]. S. Pitman. who was
the next witness, stated tnat Howard mad
spoken to him about the lots, but had
never made any improper proposals in
the matter. His interview was held about
one week or ten days later than the al
legged kingery interview.
when Mr.. Howard spoke to you, were
you not afraid that ne might also make
you some sort of an illesltlmate offer?'
asked Mr.. Kingery.
~ did cut him short, 2" answered Mr.:
Pitman, "and to be frank with you, y
(turning to Howard) 81 tried to do ell of
the talking. l didn't care to prolong the
conversation. Mr.. Kingery had told me
his story. l knew him, and had but very
little it'll. i personal acquaintance with Mr.
Miles Dodd denied ever having author
ized Howard to approach any one in his
interest in the attempt to sell his prop
erty. He had at one time asked the
street superintendent to help him. the
same as he asked others.. simply upon the
pose of his property upon its merits
alone. or not at all. Il certainly did not
tell Mr.. Howard to cali upon you in my
behalf" said Mr.. Dodd, in lelly to a
positive inquiry from Councilman Kin.
gery.
Ed O'Gara, the partner Of the preceding
witness III the property offered for sale.
also denied all knowledge of the alleged
attem pted bribery, affirming, if the al
eyed facts are as they have been related,
that he was in no way connected with the
matter.
The accused then took the stand and
made the following statement: II did
have conversation with Mr.. Pitman re,
garding the podd lots. but informed
him explicitly that if the property was
not suitable my interest in the matter
must cease. T. did 60 to Mr.. Kingery's
mousse on June 22d, but remained alto.
gether only about five minutes. We did
not discuss the Dodd proposition.
have never been authorized BY Mr.. Dodd
or anyone else to offer money in the pur.
chase of Mr.. Dodd's property. I did not
know until today where the Dodd lots
were located"
Councilman Kingery asked, "Will you
swear, Mr.. Howard. before your God,
that you did not offer me 5000 to vote not
to readvertise the school sites in til,
Fourth ward?"
~ WILL" said the witness.
| Councilman Kingery was shaking will
| suppressed excitement, and the scene wa
very impressive.
"rhat is all wanted to know ,
remarked Kingery:
"There is not location IN the wart
that would not rather have than yours. ,
said Mr.. Kingery. in answer to ques
tons submitted by Miles Dodd; "but th'
selection Law with Mr.. Pitman." Coun
| Gilman kngery related at this points
| that as soon as Howard left his premise
| he informed his wife of what hau trans
| piIed. The next day he consulted an at
| torney, who advised hici to see the chic
| of police. which he did. He also related
the alleged facts to the mayor and to sew.
eral OF his colleagues. Again Ringer,
personally asked Howard to swear tina
| he mad not offered to bribe him. ant
| again the witness denied tho allegation
-"Calling SPADE SPADE remarked
! President Teed, 'this matter has simpl,
resolved itself into question of veraclt,
| between Mr.. Howard and Mr.. Kingery.
There are other things coming up t,
be inquired into," remarked Councilman
| Kingery, as the hearing adjourned.
The committee will make report II
| the council on Monday. The finding
will probably be that as Kingery says yes
and Howard saws no. and there is no cor