The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-01-31
OFFICIAL SHAKE-Up
FIFTEEN INDICTMENTS AGAINST
ALDERMEN AND OTHERS RE-
TURNED AT LOUISVILLE,
SENSATIONAL AS EXPECTED.
CONDUCT OF MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS
SCORED BY The GRAND JURY
REPORT.
HoNEYCoMBED WITH CORRUPTION,
Broad Hints Embodied i'm the State-
ment That All Guilty Men Have
Not Been Discovered,

LOUISVILLE, KY, Jan. 30.-The re-
port OF the January grand jury,
which was made this afternoon, was
hardly less sensational than had been
promised. Such a shaking up as has
resulted from it's investigation Of mu-
nlclpal affairs has never been known in
the history of the city government. Fiji
teen indictments were returned, includ-
ing, among the accused, aldermen, po-
lice officials, patrolmen, a contractor
and several minor offenders. The
charges range from neglect of duty in
falling to prosecute gamblers, to brib-
cry and conspiracy to extort money.
The disclosures made in these indict-
ments are principally due to a falling
out of the factions in the city govern
ment, and while UP to this time the
faction which has opposed Mayor Todd
since he assumed that office has suf-
fered most, it is probable that the next
grand jury will have plenty Of work in
continuing the investigation, aided by
those who have already been called
upon to answer specific charges.
The persons indicted today are: r.
E. King, president Of the board of al
dermen and ex-officio member of the
sinking fund commission; Aldermen J.
E. Leatherman, R. o. Breuer. c. J.
Jenne and John de Garmo, Night Chief
of Police Maj. Sebastian Guenther, Pa
trolmen Nicholas Varilla and Steve
Condley, Contractor Drake, Charles
Kremer Jr., secretary Of the board Of
public safety; Pat Ahearn, saloonkeep-
er; Harry Debo, fireman; William KIM
ball. Martin Donohue and John Gill.
King, Jenne and Leatherman are
charged with running games of chance;
one count in Kings indictment also
charges bribery. Drake, Leatherman
and Breuer are accused of conspiracy
to extort money from contra ctors. 1t is
related in substance how these three,
Leatherman and Breuer being alder
men and Drake a contractor, combined
to prevent any contracts being let unless
the contractor had first contributed to
them by buying material from them at
exorbitant prices. De Garmo is charged
with obtaining money under false pre-
lenses by accepting $25 for an appoint
ment which he claimed to be in a po-
sition to secure. The indictment charg-
ing conspiracy against Kremer, Ahearn,
Donahue, Debo and Kimball is the out
come of an attempt to have the law
firm of Stone & Sudduth indicted on a
charge of bribery, the latter having
their accusers indicted for false swear
ing. Guenther is accused of failing to
perform his duty as a peace officer.
The grand jury in its report says
many cases brought before 1t could not
be investigated for lack of time. 1t
continues: 1T is of the opinion that
If these matters were investigated
many more indictments would be re-
turned and convictions had which
would rid the community of the causes
of many of the scandals concerning
city and county officials. That some
persons holding high offices have
not been indicted does not indicate that
those indicted are the only guilty ones
in official positions That the city is
honeycombed with official corruption
is the firm conviction of this jury, yet
not enough evidence could be procured
to secure conviction in many cases TO
which the attention of the jury was
called"
The report asserts not only that
gambling could be suppressed legally,
but that 1t is carried on by direct per-
mission of city officials.
Several Of the persons indicted gave
bond today for their appearance March
20. The warrants for the others will
be held up until Monday.