The daily sentinel., 1899-08-30
TWICE TOLD TALE
History of a Supposed At
tempt at Bribery of
aCity Alderman
BOTH SIDES GIVEN
On the Order of a Cock and Bull
Slory-Take 1t for What tits
Worth and Form Your
o,on Judgment.

The truth regarding the acts OF indi-
viduals, aldermanic boards, contracting
agents and leaders in the water fight,
which is now engaging the attention Of
the public in this city, is as hard to find
as the proverbial needle in the hay stack
A cock and bull story OF immense pro-
portions is and has been in circulation
upon the streets Of the city for the past
two days, the truth of which has been
affirmed by three well known gentlemen
on one side and three gentlemen equally
we'll known upon the other side denying
same. The Sentinel will recite the
story as it has heard it and let the pub
lie draw it's own conclusions.
Last Monday night, w. F. McCue,
the contracting agent OF the Colorado
Fuel and Iron company, to whom this
paper has frequently referred in past
years, was walking upon one Of the
streets OF the city, when he met Alder
man Mckinney. Having some business
with Major Wharton, another member
of council, he asked Mckinney to go
with him to the home OF Wharton, on
Pitkin street. The two started to the
home Of Wharton. However, just as
they we're starting in that direction
they were observed by George r. Bar
ton, deputy sheriff, and Alvin Bucklin
Their suspicious were aroused and they
lo%o IN, foil ~ In u
time that the destination OF McCue and
Mckinney was the home Of Wharton.
AS they reached Pitkin street Barton
and Bucklin saw the two men spoken of
first, go into the house of Wharton.
AS the tale is now told upon the side
OF Bucklin and Barton, these two men
listened until they were convinced that
McCue and Mckinney were there for
some sinister purpose, possibly an at
tempt to bribe Wharton to vote in coun-
ell with them.
When they were convinced OF this,
they went to the home Of William Camp
bell and having aroused him from his
bed, insisted that he should accompany
them to the home of Wharton. He
finally consented and the three then
went to Wharton's house.
Stealthily creeping up to the window
they affirm that they heard one or the
other OF the guests of Wharton promise
that if he would resign his seat in coun-
Gil they would guarantee him position
as superintendent of the water works if
the city made purchase, which they
could do, il Wharton did not vote
against them in council.
They further agreed to guarantee the
position to Wharton for a period of
twenty-five months.
Besides the above promise the story
goes that further bride of $500 was off
cred Wharton if he would do as these
parties wanted him to do.
just about the time they were max
iug the last offer to Wharton, it is stated
that Barton jumped up at the window
and applied several epithets at the men
within the room and yelled at them that
they would have to leave the town
BILE to obtain it from the side which is
now making the accusation.
The other side states, and the author
ity is one of the gentlemen who we're &C.
cused, that Mckinney and McCue, with
out any pre-arrangement whatever, went
to the home Of Wharton, upon the night
in question, as is asserted by Barton and
Bucklin and talked over the matter OF
the water problem at considerable
length, endeavoring to discover some
means by which the matter could be set
tied. That they talked at considerable
length with Wharton in an endeavor to
make him see the question in the light
that they saw it and to act upon the
purchase of the plant in conformity with
the expressed will Of the people. az ex.
pressed at the election two years ago
when it was determined to purchase the
water plant for the sum OF $55, 10000.
That during the time they were TALKING