The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-03-07
DEAL WITH DREW
DODSON AND BAKER GIVE THEIR
STORY OF THE ALLEGED
BRIBERY.
MAKE OUT A STRONG CASE.
THEIR EVIDENCE AGREEING
CLOSELY ON ALL IMPORTANT
DETAILS.
SIT. PAUL MAN MIXED UP IN 1T.
Defense Evidently Intending to
Claim Put Up job ON the
Detectives.
ST. PAUL MAN MIXED UP IN 1T.

than was anticipa ted Dodson, the de-
tectiVe was not a bad witness, albeit
trifle airy, but it was when J. 7.
Baker took the stand that the jury was
given real facts. The witness is a civil
engineer and he was as careful in his
evidence as he would be in laying
a line. He weighed every word he ut
tered, but at the same time talked with
sufficient speed to show that he was
well conversant with his story He
showed that Drew had not only engin-
eered the deal for the aldermen, but
that he had named a man in St. Paul
who could be seen if there was any
deal to be worked there, showing that
the combine works in the two cities
like pail Of new style cuffs with the
attendant buttons.
The defense, judging from the ques-
tioning Of the attorney, will show that
Mr.. Drew recognized Baker when he
came into his place of business, and
that therefore he knew that there was
a scheme on foot to catch him in a
deal, the result being that he simply
"joked'' the parties. Other aldermen
will refute the statements of Dodson
and Baker on smaller points, Aid.
O'Brien being prepared to swear that
Dodson did not come to his house to
see him, and that the first time he met
Dodson was when he saw him in the
committee room. The aldermen have
also looked up DOdson's record. and
they claim they can show that he is a
| disreputable character, and will do so
on the stand. They only hope to prove
that Baker had it in" for Drew
1t is developing now that the alder
men in the sO-called ring have been
working tooth and nail at preparing a
! defense in the present case. while the
grand jury has been dragging along
| and formulating reports. The case will
! come up again Monday morning early.
The jurors in the case filed into the
jury box in Judge JamisOES court yes
terday at o'clock promptly.
The crowd was clamOrOus for admis-
sion, for great interest Centers in this
first trial. Assistant County Attorney
Al j. Smith made the opening address
to the jury, stating the case to the men
who are to decide upon the honor Of
a member of the Minneapolis city
council and stating that the only ques-
tiCn was whether Francis G. Drew did
accept a bride from Benjamin f. bod
sen to the amount of s., 461, as claimed
III the Indictment.
The state" said he. will produce
evidence to show that Francis G. Drew
was an alderman of the Twelfth ward.
On Sept. 9 last it was moved by one
of the aldermen that bids should be
advertised for for a quantity Of water
pipe to be used by the city during the
year 1897 The city clerk advertised.
and such bids were to be opened Sept.
25 following. On Dec. % Mr.. DOdsOn
went to Mr.. Drew and told him that
he had been referred to Mr.. Drew by
another member of the city council
whose name l shall not mention. He
told Drew that he represented a firm
that wanted to make a bid. Mr.. Drew
informed him what he would have TO
bid to get the contract. He asked Mr.
Drew if 10 per cent of the contract
/ price would be sufficient compensation
for him, and MI Drew said it would
Suppose l can't get my bid in
time" asked DodSOn-
Never mind said Drew, we boys
will see to it that no bids are con-
sidered until you are ready
THE agreement was then made that
matters would be delayed until Mr.
DOdsCn could make his bid, and that
it would then be accepted. Dodson
said he would call again and bring
with him a member of his company
Later Mr.. Dodson called on Mr. Drew.
at his office in the Wood block. and
there the conversation was continued
and the figure was again named, Mr..
Drew stating that the sum named as
cGn,Densat ton was what was agreed
upon. Drew was asked whether the
amount should be paid in cash or certi-
fed check.
HE WANTED CASH.
"'No! No check-money want
Drew said.
They wanted to know how they would
be sure Of the contract, and Mr.. Drew
said they could pay him the money and
he would hold it in reserve for the
other boys and if the contract did not
go through then they should have their
money back. They left, making date
for the next day, which they failed TO
keep Sept. % Mr.. Haney, the city
clerk, handed the bids to the city coun-
ell, and it was discovered that Dennis.
Long & Co s was the lowest bid. There
was no bid from Dodson- The bids
were referred to the committee on
water works, which recommended that
the bid be accepted. The council voted
to reject the bid. 1t is true that Mr..
Drew voted for the bid, but not until
the fourteenth ballot when he changed
his vote in favor of the bid.
That is the evidence we will intro
duce to show that Mr.. Drew made the
agreement and that the plan was car
/ ried out so far as the delay was con-
cerned, for the lowest bid was re-
jected, IN line with the agreement
made upon the basis of a stipulated
bride The whole question here is: Did
Francis G.. Drew agree to accept Il
bride, with the agreement that he was
to do or not do an act which his duty
outlined him to do. I care not about
the Good Citizenship league. They are
/ not on trial here. It is not in issue here
| whether they are trying to ferret out
crime in the city government. or wheth-
| er they are pursuing innocent men.
| You are here to hear this evidence and
! pass upon it as men, fair and true,
/ with the interests of this state at
! heart, without fear or favor, and upon
! the evidence, as you hear it in this
| case. and If you do SO you will have
| done your duty to the state and to the
| defendant. But l say, and warn you
| that 1mmatertal matters that may come
| into the case should not swerve you,
| for all you have to find is whether
| or not this defendant did agree to &C
| cept a bribe."
Mr.. Peterson, in opening, introduced
| as Exhibit A the oath Of Office Of Fran
| els G. Drew, to which objection was
made by Mr.. Harrison, ION the ground
| that the indictment does not show a
| public offenSe. and also that the or
Tense sought to be charged Is not mar
ticularly set forth in the Indictment
but the objection was overruled.
Exhibit B. a transcript of the pro-
| ceedings of the city council. paea .
was introduced, relating to an action
qualifying Mr.. Drew as alderman. Ex-
hlbit G was a page from the official
records. page 466, Sept. IL, 1896 show
| Ing the resolution asking for bids For.
cast iron water pipe. Exhibit d was
| page 474, showing the communication