The Saint Paul globe., 1896-12-20
OFFICE 20 SOUTH FOURTH STREET.
.STILL IN THE DARK
GRAND JURY SEEMS TO BE IN A
QUANDARY on DOODLE
CASES.
MAY Be NO INDICTMENTS.
NO APPARENT EFFORT TO FOLLOW
Up ANY ONE CASE TO THE
END.
CLERK HASEY TALKS FREELY.
Charges That the Whole Affair Is
Dastardly
rLERA HASEY TALKS FREELY.

eventful one in Minneapolis. One week
ago last night the first move in what
was to be one of the biggest sensations
in the history of this city was made.
A warrant was issued for the arrest
of a city official who had hitherto
borne a good reputation among his
fellow men. It was a day or two be-
fore this fact became generally known.
Then rumors flew thick and fast. Like
the little stream that flows through
the quiet meadows, increasing as it
runs it's course, until when it reaches
its journeys end it has become a roar
ing, rushing river SO did these rumors
grow.
Charles F. Haney was not the only
one, these rumors said, who had be-
trayed the trust imposed upon him by
his fellow citizens. There were others;
many of them, who had forgotten their
duty to those who had been instru-
mental in placing them in charge of the
affairs Of the city which they were
proud to call their home, and who
had but obeyed the mandates of their
greed for wealth and power. The
rumors soon gave way to evidence of
apparently substantial nature, and
those who had been 10th to believe the
many charges found themselves forced
to do so.
Behind it all were many months of
toll and patient waiting There had
been a suspicion in the minds of many
that all was not right in connection
with the transaction of official busi-
ness, and in order to satisfy themselves
upon this point, and, if necessary, to
remedy existing evils an investigation
was comenced. Expert detectives
sent by the civic federation of Chicago
We're called into service, and for three
or four months these men worked, to
the end that they have found, it is al
legged, evidence sufficient to convict at
least some of those connected with the
city government of Minneapolis.
Last Wednesday morning the grand
jury Of Hennepin county met N ad-
journed session and after listening to
one of the strongest charges ever made
body of similar character by a
judge Of the district bench of this state
prepared tn mselves to undertake the
work of listening to the evidence and
examining the witnesses which would
come before them.
Since that day the work has been
under way and has been pushed as rap
idly as possible. What the result has
been is not known, other than that so
far no indictments have been returned,
and it is thought none have been found
MAY NOT INDICT.
To an outsider, one who has watched
every movement Of the jury, the attor-
neys and the witnesses, so far as he
could outside of the jury room, and
picked up every word dropped bearing
upon the various cases, it looks at the
end of the weeks work, that the hope
of those who desire to see a thorough
cleansing might not be realized. There
has been, during the past two days,
constant change of positions. From the
witnesses examined it was plain to see
that the jury was casting about, ap-
parently almost in the dark, for some
thing which might lead them to some
definite conclusion.
Yesterday, for instance, witnesses
who had been summoned and who
could give no evidence except in con-
nection with the reservoir work, alter
mated in seances with the inner circle,
with Hebrew aNeddlers, employees, or
ex-employes Of the waterworks depart
ment, contractors, saloon keepers,
OF other callings.
That all of these men could have
been giving evidence in one particular
case is highly improbably. Neither is
it likely that an effort was being made
to find sufficient evidence to indict any
one man. If this had been the case,
they would have stayed strictly with
one charge and made examinations
along that line alone. They did not do
| this, however but branched out in all
directions and for this reason the be-
| lief arises that perhaps the inveStigaI-
ors have attempted to cover too much
ground and in doing so have failed
to secure sufficient evidence to convict
any one man.
| the opinion of an outsider, who does
not know the inner workings Of the
circle of the tWenty-three grand jury
| men. In view of the facts that have
| come to light; facts that have been suf-
ficient to assure the ordinary man that
much irregularity exists, or did exist
it is to be regretted that such condi-
ton of affairs should exist If there
1 has been committed crimes such as
| have been alleged, it is certainly to be
| hoped that some one will be brought
| to justice, and the first step toward
| clean city government for Minneapolis
| taken.
Mayor Pratt has taken no hand in
| the matter at all, other than to an
| nounce that he does not believe the
| many charges are true. In every case
| where he has been interviewed by
newspaper men or business men, he
has declared his faith in the city de-
] partments which are charged with be-
| ing corrupt.
That no one believes for moment
| that Mayor Pratt, himself, is dishon-
est, goes without saying. But many
| undoubtedly blame him for not taking
paign of reformation.
| GRAND JURY SESSION.
| Contrary to expectations ana to precedent.
the grand jury held morning and afternoon
sessions yesterday. Many witnesses were on
hand sharply at 10 o'clock, and it was a few
minutes after that hour that the work of the
day was begun.
| ing Oil Co.. was the first to be summoned
4 An effort was made to learn from him if he
/ was cognizant of any illegal actions upon ths
part of any aldermen or city officials. He
| professed entire ignorance, however, Of any
! thing of the sort, and was allowed to 60
| Fred Ross and a Mr.. Quick, connected with
! the reservoir work, were called in, and each
spent few moments before the jWy ,
| Then came F. G. Winston, the contractor;
| Charles Fl. Hamblin. managing editor of the
Tribune; B. Edelstein, saloonkeeper on
| Washington avenue north Abe Schwartz and
| Isaac Schulterman, Hebrew peddlers who la
4 turn told what they knew and departed
| Ole Hillson, of the water works department.
| was also called, and spent few minutes
/ In the jury room.
A further effort to make the proceedings
OF the grand jury absolutely secret was made
to the hungry reporters who were waiting
1 without tie jury room as TO what has trans
pirsd during their short term in the witness