The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-11
THE STORY WATT TOLD
SEVERAL WITNESSES SAY HE SPOKE
OF PARK CORRUPTION FUND.
What Watt Said the COOpers Told Him
in Regard to Land
Deal.

Last night statements that William II.
Watt had made to various persons concern
ing the sale of his land TO the city for park
purposes and fund to which he was COM
PEELED to contribute $500, were related TO the
Council committee on investigation and i'm
parchment by r. O. Hawkins, Horace r.
Smith and Charles Dennis. In brief, the
witnesses testified that Watt had told them
that Charles NJ. and John J. Cooper one or
BOTH had told him corruption fund had to
be raised in order to have the parks located.
According to the story Watt told the wit
nesses, as they related it last night, the
Coopers had told him they were compelled
to pay $ll 900; Hiram w. Miller, $4,000, and
August Wacher $1,000. which. with the $500
he had himself paid, constituted the fund of
800, concerning which there were many
rumors heard last fail, and which were pub
lished in the local papers at the time. When
MIR. Watt was on the witness stand last
Friday afternoon he swore that he had paid
800 to Charles M. Cooper and $50 to Con-
troler johnson for taxes, and that these
were the only amounts he had paid When
asked If he had made various statements to
witnesses who testified last night, Mr.. Watt
answered that he could not remember ever
having had any such conversations; that if
he did have them he was talking lin fun,
or just talking
After the evidence was heard last night
the three members of the committee said
they were satisfied beyond a doubt that
Watt had told the stories attributed to him,
and that he was either classifying when talk
ing to the witnesses or else had perjured
himself on the witness stand. Indeed, Mr.
Costello questioned witnesses very closely as
TO what they knew of his reputation for
veracity and truth and whether they
thought he would rather lie to them or
perjure himself to the committee" All of
them questioned on this point said they had
always understood him to be a reliable man
who would tell the truth whether in private
conversation or under oath upon the witness
stand
The investigation was not completed last
night, Mr.. Allen was rot opposed in his
wish TO have Mr.. Watt recalled and this
will be done, at the meeting, next Wednes-
day night, when effort will also be made
to have II. Waddel recalled. In addition,
the committee desires to question Isaac
Pugh. Mr.. Watts son-in-law, who was out
of town yesterday, accor ling to the return
made on the summons that was issued for
him. Witnesses will also be called to tell
what they know concerning the purchase
of the entrance way to Garfield Park, which
was bought from c. f. II. Balls who died
few days after the city paid $1,000 for
tract of his land. Mr.. Allen said last night
there is a report that when Mr.. Balls died
500 of this sum coud not be accounted for,
and it was said to nave gone into some al
legged fund. Mr.. Bals's son will be called.
Mr.. Allen said last night that if Mr.. Watt
was lying when he told of the transactions
referred to in his case 1t was only just to
Charles M. Cooper and the others whose
names were mentioned to have that fact
clearly demonstrated, and he was in favor
OF having the money paid Mr.. Watt traced
from the time II went into his hands until
1t was disposed of in bank or otherwise.
Mr.. Hawkins testified that the story told
to him by Mr.. Watt, the substance of which
Is narrated above, was told to him at his
office some time late in September or early
in October, last year. and this was corrobO-
rated by Horace f. Smith, Mr. Hawkinss
law partner
Charles Dennis, reporter of the News,
testified that Watt had told him the same
story All of the witnesses said that Watt
had told them that he would testify to the
truth of the story told them if called upon
to do under oath.
Charles w. Bridges said that he had no
personal knowledge of any fund having been
raised. Mr. Waddell had told him of a con-
versation with Watt who said he paid
Cooper $500 and said all who sold land were
required to pay a per cent. to the city
Cooper paying COO and Miller $4,000 or
$1,000. All l know" said Mr. Bridges, Il
heard from Mr.. Waddell."
The other witnesses were F. L. Purdy,
editor of the Sun, and Harry S. New, editor
of the Journal. Mr. Purdy had no personal
knowledge of publications that were made
in his paper. Mr.. New said that what in
formation he had was obtained from Mr..
Hawkins and from Isaac Pugh.