St. Paul daily globe., 1896-03-27
BOARDS CHARGES rs BE
GUN.
CONLEY MAKES EXPLANATION.
DEGREE OF HONOR ADJOURNS TO
MEET IN ST. PAUL NENr
YEAR.
Fricnds-MinneapOI Dry Goods
COmpany's Opening.

The investigation into the alleged at
temptS at bribery of members of the
board of education by representatives
OF the Sturtevant Heating company
was taken up yesterday at the rooms Of
the board. Messrs. D.F. Simpson, Frank
M. Nye and +. 3. Snyder formed the
commission appointed by the board to
pry into all its affairs. to clear it's
skirts OF the faintest suspicion Of boodl-
ing.
The members of the board, with the
exception of Mayor Pratt, were pres
ent and took a lively interest in the
proceedings. In their chairs were Di-
rectcrs Rolfe, Norton and Mrs. Crays.
President Gjertsen and DR.. Quinby sat
out in the trial. room. There were
no spectators present except the re-
porters and Court Stenographer Mabey,
who had been engaged to record the
testimony
President Gjertsen was the first wit
ness sworn. He briefly stated the po-
sition which he has maintained all
along, that he knew absolutely nothing
of attempted bribery of members of the
board. Vague charges had been made,
and it was time they assumed definite
form. AS to the junket to Menominee,
Wis, he said he had undertaken the
trip with the best of intentions and
with a distinct understanding that it
should have no influence on his vote.
He denied that he had been "ap-
! preached" by anybody and asked that
| his official conduct be submitted to the
! closest scrutiny
! Ex-Mayor Eustis was the next wit
J 10
! in December or January MI. Conley,
| representing the Sturtevant company
| wished to retain him in connection with
some legal work. as he supposed. "A
subsequent talk showed clearly that he
wanted me to interest Mayor Pratt i'll
the interests of the Sturtevant system
of heating for the North side high
school. L told him. said the eX-mayor,
| that didn't see how L could be Of any
| service to him, but would see Mayor
Pratt. told him, however, the mayors S
| judgment was as good as mine. He
left me, and some two days afterwards
came back and asked me if had seen
the mayor. I called up the mayor by
telephone and we had quite a conver-
sation. I asked him If he had inves-
tigated the Sturtevant system, telling
| lilIll lldl ~ ldI elS L llcO lANSoliSoINS
it, it appeared to have some merits;
presumed, however, that he knew more
about it than I did. This conversation
on my part was had in the hearing OF
Mr. Conley. Afterwards he said a
majority of the board favored his sys-
tenn. I asked him why, then, he was Sc
anxious to have the mayors vote.
"He said he was anxious to have the
NntG-th1t thp whole h1JSinPSS
had already cost him $780, and that he
was willing to give or spend 5000 more
tC secure his vote. / then told him
that L did not think there was any
thing further that l could do for him
He turned and went out, saying he
would see me again. L replied thai
there was nothing for him to see me
about
Charles E. Hasey, a local steam1itter
said: Mr.. Noble asked me who there
was on the board that could be ap
: preached with reference to the adop-
} ton of the system"
Dr. Quinby then told of the incident
that gave Else to the investigation.
"Dr. D. H. Dorman called me up one
night in February by telephone" sait
Dr. .Quinby. He was exceedingly
anxious to see me, but was unable tt
see him that night. 1 met him by ap
pointment the next forenoon. We
talked about the Sturtevant heating
: system q little, and then he said HI:
| friend, Mr.. Conley, was very anXiou:
I should go to La Crosse He went or
to say the company was perfectly will
ing to pay all my expenses. 1 told hin
I didn't know what my time was worth
He said if $500 is enough to pay you
expenses, they will be willing to pa!
that I said, Mr. Dorman, I wouldn'
go if they offered me 100000 Afte
, a few more remarks Dorman left
Witness also testified to having two
, or three talks with Mr.. Conley, whC
: urged him to go on the trip, but sai(
nothing of money to him, or Of payini
him for his services or loss of time.
DR.. d. II. Dorman. clerk of the Beau
fort hotel, corroborated DR., Quinby il
| regard to the conversation.
! j. A. Conley, of Boston, Mass, VIII
! had been an interested spectator Q
the proceedings, was then given a.
: opportunity to explain it all. He said
II told Mr.. Eustis that we had alread
spent about 500 in various ways, tn
trip to Menominee. cost of specifica
tions, my time and salary, etc, bu
that we would spend about $500 more
1 told Mr.. Eustis some things abou
our system, and also that Mayor Prat
did not believe our statements, and
n was most anxious to convince him b
showing him the system Mr.. Eusti
declined any pay for his services"
Mr.. Conley proved a very good Wi
ness, agreeing with all of the witnesse
but placing an entirely different cor
v struction on the main point of the il
IS vestigation, viz: That he Indirect
IS offered $500 apiece for the votes {
ID DR.. Quinby and Mayor Pratt.
~ He said it was very foolish to SUI
Sc pose he would attempt to bribe a pc
N feet stranger in any such manner. H
le had been Jealous in trying to secul
" the contract, but had made no in
IS proper approaches" to anybody.
S, Several other witnesses testified
In Conley's statements, then it was d
rs cided to postpone the investigation III
i'd til Mayor Pratts return, which will
be some time after April 10.