The Saint Paul globe., 1896-12-18
MINNEAPOLIS ALDERMEN SUM-
MONED BEFORE THE GRAND
JURY.
JURY IS AFTER THE FACTS.
ONE REPORTER MAY co BEHIND
BARS FOR CONTEMPT OF
COURT
HANEr IS HEARD FROM.
Promises TO Return Whenever He Is
Wanted-Latest Stories of
CroOkedness.

Yesterday was a busy one in Mime
apolis municipal scandal circles. The
grand jury met promptly at 10 o'clock
in the morning, with a large line Of
witnesses in waiting. Some of them
waited all day and will have to ap-
pear again this morning, but the ma
jority Of those called were examined
and departed
The work Of the jury in the morning
and a portion of the afternoon was de-
voted to the Waterman deal worked by
detectives from Chicago upon certain
city aldermen. City hall officials who
are connected with the water works
department directly or indirectly, were
on hand with data of all description,
including the books used in the vari-
GUS departments.
City Engineer Cappe1en seemed to
be a very much needed man and was
examined in the morning and recalled
in the afternoon for examination, but
was finally allowed to depart until
this morning. Aldermen Adams, Har-
vey and Snyder were also on deck and
told what they knew to the members
of the jury. Registrar Frank Moody
was another witness and spent consid-
erable time with his books and papers
and in imparting what information he
might possess in connection with the
workings Of the department Late in
the afternoon Assistant City Clerk
Chaplin was also sent for, but had not
appeared prior to adjournment at )
o'clock
Considerable of the valuable time Of
the jury during the afternoon was
wasted in an attempt to find out from
certain members of the newspaper pro-
fession, reporters, city editors, etc., the
source of the news which has been
published regarding the alleged crimes.
The time was wasted, because no one
seemed to know the source where the
stories originated. That they were true
there was no attempt to disprove. In
fact, if they had been untrue the jury
would not have cared from what source
they might have come.
A Tribune reporter who had secured
the first direct news bearing on the
case was summoned to appear. before
the grand jury and did so. He was
asked the usual questions, admitted
writing the article referred to, but in
answer to the question as to where
he secured the information, said that
he
WOULD NOT ANSWER.
This was rather startling to the
august body Of citizens who constitute
the grand jury and also to Assistant
County Attorney Peterson and the re-
porter in question was Immediately
taken before Judge Pond, the grand
jury accompanying him, to answer to q
charge of contempt of court.
Judge Pond, however, took pity upCn
the youthful appearance of the silent
scribe and after telling him of the
gravity of the offense, which he had
committed In refusing to give the in
formation asked for, postponed action
until 10 o'clock this morning, when
the reporter will be given an oppor-
tunity of answering the original ques-
ton, telling from whom he received his
stories. If he still refuses it will rest
With Judge Pond as to where he will
spend his Christmas or how much
money he will have on that day, as
the judge will be compelled to impose
sentence Of imprisonment or a fine,
providing he finds that the law govern
ing the case compels an answer to the
question as by the grand jury, through
the assistant county attorney.
The stories Of the alleged crimes pub
lished in the Gle b e are exactly as
they will be, or have been, submitted
in evidence to the grand jury They
have been secured from some one who
believes that 1t is tc the interest OF
Minneapolis that her citizens be made
aware Of the gravity of the charges
against certain officials.
For three or four days past the nr-
nicipal scandal has been the one topic
of discussion among every class of
people. Those who at first refused to
believe that the condition of affairs
was so serious are rapidly becoming
ardent reformers and many of them
have personally called upon those con-
Quoting the campaign of reformation
and offered their services or, where
they could afford, money with which
to carry on the good work
With every day new stories of all
legged crookedness come out, and it is
hardly possible to believe that the ir-
regularities should be OF so broad a
nature.
In connection with work at the res
ervoir, recent developments show a
very bad state OF affairs 1t is said
that pay rolls and time books which
have been compared by the reformers
show that checks have been made out
for men who have never been at work
on the reservoir.
The pay roll Of the foreman, for in
stance, from sept. to 20, showed he
had fifteen men at work. Checks were
made out for these fifteen men for the
amount earned during the twenty days,
and were paid to some one. The time
book which has been secured by the in
vestigators and which will be presented
to the grand jury. shows that not one
man was employed by that particular
foreman during those twenty days.
Who received the money, therefore, is
something that is yet to be disclosed.
The police department, however.
seems to be in deeper disgrace than
any other, Notwithstanding the refusal
of Mayor Pratt or Chief Smith to be-
Ieve the charges which, it is alleged,
will be brought against members of
this department.
If the aldermen and policemen could
see the evidence that has been secured
against them they would not go about
with that "devil-may care expression
upon their countenances. They would
perhaps be missing in the morning
and though not in Jail, the city would
be rid of them for all time to come.
One Of the men who have suffered at
the hands Of the police department is
B. d. Bgidgeman, living at 200 Fourth
street southeast. His experience is as
follows:
Last summer Mr.. Br:dgeman was employed
as foreman OF McMullan's lathe and shingle
mill. in Southeast Minneapolis. One day he
received a check for $3.50 to be used In pay
ing off the help for q weeks work. He