The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-03-24
ACCEPTED A BRIBE.
Sensational Testimony in Philadel.
phia's Political Scandal.
CONFESSION OF A COUNCILMAN,
Declares That He and Another Mem
Der Received $500 Each to Vote In
Committee in Favor of the Schuyl-
kill Valley Water Bill.

Declares That He and Another Mem.
Der Received $500 Each to Vote In
Committee in Favor of the schuyl.
kill Valley Water Bill.
Philadelphia, March 24.-What prom
ises to develop into the ugliest politi-
cal scandal ever inflicted upon this city
was revealed in court here yesterday
when one member of councils confessed
the acceptance Of a BRIDE another was
accused of like offense, and two
others were charged with Offering the
brides.
The whole affair grows out OF the
ordinance offered in councils to lease
the city water works to the Schuylkll
Valley Water company, and the al
legged attempt by Nelson G. Green. Of
New York, representing the company,
to obtain favorable report from the
water committee by the payment Of
between $4,000 and $3.50 During the
consideration of the bill in common
council Walter G. Stevenson, a member
Of that body, charged that $4,000 had
been offered to him by Peter r. Smith,
member of the Republican city COM
mittee TO vote for the bill. Smith was
arrested and held in $4,000 bail, and
yesterdays sensational developments
came at his hearing before Judges
Gordon and Breezy. AS a consequence
Of this hearing Smiths bail in the same
amount was continued, and his trial has
been set for Tuesday next.
Stevenson, in consequence Of whose
accusation the bill was indefinitely
postponed, was the first witness yes
terday, and he repeated his story with
out change. Smith entered a denial
but vas 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
merits Of the measure with Mr.. Green.
Select Councilman Henry Clay, who
has opposed the bill since Its intro
ductiOn, said he had a conversation
with Nelson G. Green, in which the
latter said it had cost either SIS, 600 or
$4,000 to get the bill through commit
tee. Witness was not sure which Of
these.
Select Councilman Louis ]. Walker
declared under oath that he and Com
mon Councilman Edwin E. Smith had
each accepted $500 from Common Coun-
Gilman Charles SeEer to vote for the bill
in committee. He also averred that Sc
lect Councilman ]. Emory Byram had
previously offered him $1,000 to vote for
the bill in the chamber, but he had re-
IurEI tlp q nd NntpI nroiOcf
When Councilman Walker was 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 Breezy then said
to him impressively: with God as
your judge, were you offered any
money!? Walker hung his head, and
after moments silence replied: Yes,
l was" and he named the men by
whose persuasion he had fallen. The
money, he said, was paid in Council
man Segers saloon, and he had seen
Councilman Edwin Smith received $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. II. Nor
row, who was chairman Of the SUBJ
committee.
Select Councilman R. R. Brnghurst,
who was chairman Of the joint COM
mittee on water, which reported the
bill favorable, 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 com
mon council will pass 1t, and the
mayor will sign it. l 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" MIR. Bringhurst said he not
only refused to do this, but has ever
since had nothing to do with Green.
During the court proceedings District
Attorney Graham asserted: Il know
$3.50 was spent to get the bill through
the committee, and l want to know
who got it,
The court Will resume the investiga-
ton next Monday. At the end Of yes
terday's hearing Councilman Walker
Was in the district attorneys Office for
more than an hour, when he was per-
mitted to 20 upon promising to APP
pear 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 a profound
sensation.
Arrests we're also made yesterday in
another political affair John Kelly
Matthew Tobin, John j. Green j. j.
Matthews, Max Lab and William b.
Turner were placed in custody, charged |
with conspiracy in issuing false GER
tincates in various wards to repre-
seHtatives to the Democratic city COM
m.ttec 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.
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