The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-03-24
DEVELOPMENT OF
AN UGLY SCANDAL
Results Of SchuyIkiII Water Works
Agitation.
WALTER sTHvHNSON'S CHARGES
Tells OF an Attempt at Bribery--Pcter
r. Smith Held to Hail In the Sum
of 100000 Councilman walker
Could Not Tell n Lie-.Arrests Made
In Another Political Affair.

Philadelphia, March 23.-what prom
sses to develop into the ugliest political
scandal ever inflicted upon this city
was revealed in court here today, when
one member of councils confessed the
acceptance of a bribe; another was ac-
cused Of q like offense, and two others
were charged with offering the bribes.
The whole affair grows out of the
ordinance offered in councils to lease
the city water works to the Schuylkill
Valley Water company, and the alleged
attempt by Nelson G. Green, of New
York. representing the company, to OBJ
tain a favorable report from the water
company by the payment of between
$4,000 and S25,000. During recent con-
sideratiOn of the bill in common coun-
Gil, Walter g. Stevenson, member of
that body, charged that $1,000 had been
offered to him by Peter E. Smith,
member of the Republican city COM
mittee, to vote for the bill. A council
manic investigating committee was APP
pointed and is still at work, but Dis
trict Attorney Graham promptly took
up the case; Smith was held in $4,000
bail. and today's sensational develop
ments came at his hearing before
Judges Gordon and Breezy, of the COM
mon pleas court. who sat as commit
ting magistrates
AS consequence of this hearing,
Smiths bail in the same amount was
continued and his trial has been set
for next Tuesday: and Select Council
man Louis J. Walker declared that he
and Common Councilman Edwin L.
Smith had each accepted $500 from
ronnpilt,,an Sauar tp
vote for the bill in committee. He also
averred that Select Councilman j.
Emory Byram previously offered him
$1,000 to vote for the bill in the cham
Der, but he had refused the money and
voted against it..
THE FIRST WITNESS.
Stevenson, in consequence of whose
accusation the bill was indefinitely
postponed, was the first witness today
and he repeated his story without
change Smith entered a denial, but
was held for trial, as stated
Select Councilman A. Raymond Raft
who was on the water committee and
voted for the bill there but against it
on final consideration, was the next
witness. He denied any knowledge of
bribery, but said he had discussed the
utIllS Ol the IHtdSuIt Will MI. uIttu
Councilman Walker was then called.
He was very nervous. At first he said
he did not know Green; had accepted
no money and knew of none having
been accepted.
Judge Bregy then said to him i'm
pressively: with God as your judge,
We're you offered any money!"
Walker hung his head, and after a
moments silence, replied "yes, was"
and he named the men by whose per-
suasion he had fallen. The money, he
said, was paid in Councilman Seger's
saloon and he had seen Councilman
Edwin Smith receive the $500 at the
same time with himself.
Smith here took the stand and de-
MED having received any money.
a like denial was made by A. r. H.
Morrow, who was chairman of the sub
committee.
Select Councilman Henry Clay. who
has opposed the bill since it's intro
duction, said he had conversation
with Nelson G. Green in which the lat
ter said it had cost either $4,000 or $25,-
900 to get the bill through committee.
Witness was not sure which of these
sums was mentioned.
Select Councilman r. r. Bringhurst
who was chairman of the joint COM
mittee on water, which reported the
bill favorably. but who personally has
been against it, gave sensational tes-
timony. Green, he said, had come to
him and said this bill is going to be a
law. There is no question about it,
Select council will pass it and common
council will pass it and the mayor will
sign it. / wish you would interview
the members of councils for me- Some
of them will have to be seen and fixed,
If you will find out for me who they
are and what they want, I'll look out
for the rest. That is my business and
I'm used to that kind of work"
Mr.. Bringhurst said he not only re-
fused to do this but has ever since had
nothing to do with Green.
WHAT MR.. GRAHAM KNOWS.
During the proceedings District At
torney Graham asserted: "I know s25,-
900 was spent to get the bill through
the committee and want to know who
got it,"
The court will resume the investi-
cation next Monday. At the end of
today's hearing, Councilman Walker
was in the district attorneys office for
more than an hour. when he was per-
mitted to go upon promising to appear
when wanted. 1t is said that upon the
advice of his relatives he made a clean
breast of the whole affair, and other
arrests are expected.
The exposure has created profound
sensation.
Arrests were also made today in an
other political affair. John Kelley,
Matthew Tobin, John j. Green, ]. ].
Mathews, Max Laib and William b.
Turner were placed in custody, charg-
ed with conspiracy in issuing false
certificates in various wards to repre-
sentatives of the Democratic city com
mittee, in order to prevent properly
elected members of that committee
from exercising their rights. The
trouble is between two factions in their
contest for control of the committee.