The Saint Paul globe., 1897-05-20
THAT EXPOSE IN THE GLOBE OF
THE STEVENS-DORAN-BU
CONFERENCE.
MAYOR WAS MAINLY BLAMED.
FRIENDS OF THE CONGRESSMAN
THOUGHT CHIEF EXECUTIVE
SHOWED POOR JUDGEMENT.
GRAND JURY SESSION YESTERDAY
Was Mainly Devoted to Considering
the Affairs of the West Side
and Germania Banks.

The publication In the G Glob e Of
the conference between William H.
Burns, foreman of the grand jury: Con-
gressnlan F. c. Stevens and Mayor
Doran created a. sensation yesterday.
The members Of the grand jury Itself
were as much surprised as any otnef
persons. The day before the grand
Jury had discussed certain matters for
an hour, but the other members didn't
dream that their foreman had. but two
hours before, left a conference with MT.
Stevens and had with Mayor DOran as
witness, given him the assurance or his
most distinguished consideration.
Whether the G Ok IS expose Of the
conference was taken notice Of by the
grand jury as a body yesterday, could
not be learned.
The men who felt the expose keenest,
and they were the Republican polite
ians, apart from the three gentlemen
themselves. blamed Mayor Doran for 1t
all. While they admitted that ne
doubtless told the truth when he SAID
that Mr. Stevens asked him to get them
together they declared he ought TO have
had better judgment than to have dolle
So and having done so, ought, ike Mf.
Burns, to have denied it.
The friends of Congressman Stevens
admitted that under the present cir
cumstances and condition of affairs it.
was very bad form on the part Of the
congressman to go pumping the lore
man Of the grand jury.
One of Mr.. Stevens intimate per
sonal and political friends, in speaking
Of the matter said:
"Stevens was advised by wire that
he would probably be needed as a wit
ness In the cases pending against VIII
liam F. Bickel in the district court.
and that he had better make arrange
ments to come to st. Paul. If he pos
sibly could. He arrived Monday. from
Washington, and as there had been
rumors to the effect that the grand
jury was considering his connection
with the Minnesota Savings bank, he
at once visited the office Of the county
attorney. That official quieted the fears
of Mr.. Stevens by assuring him the
rumors that he was to be indicted were
without any foundation. Being fear
full that something was beng held
back from him, Mr.. Stevens had con-
suited with several Of his friends and
talked over the advisability Of going
to some member Of the grand jury and
making an explanation relative to what
the books of the bank showed 10 be an
overdraft of his account. He was ad-
vised that such action might be mis-
construed, and his friends endeavored
to impress upon him that there was no
necessity of any such action Not
withstanding this advice, Mr.. Stevens,
N his anxiety to clear himself Of any
connection with the management of
the affairs of the bank iEisltedr Mr.
Burns, the foreman Of heegrand jury,
accompanied by Mayor Doran The
result of this had been that the public
would have a distorted idea of the
affair and it would place Mr.. Stevens
in false position"
Continuing, the gentleman said that
''Mr. Stevens is prepared to show and
prove by documentary evidence that his
connection with the Minnesota Say
ings Bank has drawn heavily on his
finances and that instead Of his getting
any money from the institution the
shoe was ON the other foot"
The grand jury yesterday devoted its
entire attention to the West Side bank
and the Germania bank. The affairs
of the former occupied the greater part
of the session which began at 2:15 p.
M and lasted for three hours. Assist
ant County Attorney Zollman was in
attendance.
The witnesses who appeared and tes-
titled were C. F. Staples, the president
and assignee Of the West Side bank;
George H. Hosmer, the cashier; Gus
tave Willius, the president of the Ger
mania bank, and Peter M. Kerst, the
cashier and assignee Of that bank.
Cashier Hosmer, of the West Side
bank remained in the grand jury room
longer than any of the other witnesses.
The books Of both banks were ex-
amined by the grand jury.
So far as could be learned no fndict-
aynantad fa rpS111f from no
investigation of the West Side and Ger
mania banks. The grand jury ad-
journed until 2:15 this afternoon and
it is thought that it will finish investi-
eating the affairs of the suspended
banks before adjournment today