The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-11-16
A SERIOUS CHARGE. MADE
j. +. MATsON GIVES OUT WHAT HE
SAID TO THE GRAND JURY.
He Alleges that Ex-COunciIman Hars-
ton Said He Got $4,000 for His Vote
-Harston Denies the Charge.

Several witnesses were examined by the
grand jury yesterday as to their knowledge
of bribery in connection with the sale of the
street-raiway franchise. Those who went
before the jury were Charles r. Williams,
Harry j. Milligan, ID. VI. Parry, John G..
Williams, Charles +. Smith and j. +. Mat
son. The latter, before going into the jury
room yesterday morning. made sensation
al statement in reference to AL Harston.
who was a member of the City Council
when the ordinance disposing of the fran
chise was passed.
Matson claimed that Harston told him he
received 5000 for his vote In favor OF the
ordinance. Matson said that Harston made
this confession TO him one day at Frank
Joness livery stable, on South Illinois
street. Jones is a cousin of Matson. The
latter happened to be in the stable when
Harston came in and Jones introduced him.
MatsOn said Harston was very talkative
and in the conversation remarked that 1.-The
railroad tracks would have to come up or
the railroad companies would have to come
down." This remark about the railroads,
Matson said, started a conversation about
the street-railway franchise. Matson said
he asked:
What about the street-railway deal?"
According to his statement Harston replied:
THAT was dead easy. / put in my ticket
for 5000 and the company paid me the
money" Matson asserted that others would
testify to having heard Harston make SINH
lar statements.
Harston. who has been in Anderson for
several days, returned TO the city yester-
day. He said last night, that there was alb
solutely nothing in the statement made to
the grand jury by j. +. Matson. He posi-
lively denied that he made such statement
to Matson and declared that he does not
know the man. Harston said he knew
Frank Jones, who is a cousin of Matson.
He said he talked to Jones yesterday even
ing and the latter asserted that he would
go before the grand jury and tell the truth.
Harston SAID that when he asked Jones
what he meant by 1.-THE TRUTH Jones re-
piled that he would say to the grand jury
that he did not hear Harston make the
statement which Matson testified to.
Hugh J. MCGOWAN. general manager of the
street-railway company, when asked, last
night. if he had anything to say about Mat.
sons story before the grand jury, replied
that he had not.
John G. Williams, general counsel for the
Vandalia Railroad Company, was ore Of the
witnesses yesterday and said, before he
went to the jury room, that he knew moth
ing about the street-railway deal and could
not understand why he had been called 1t
is understood that Mr.. Williams was called
in reference to remark he was alleged to
have made some time ago which, 1t was
thought, might have some bearing on the
street-railway case. 1t is also understood
that he was not long i'm convincing the jury
that the remark had no significance what
ever.
Harry j. Milligan, another witness called
Yesterday, is a Son-in-law of w. L. Fish
back, and 1t is supposed he simply told
what he had heard his father-in-law speak
of. Prosecuting Attorney Pugh said, yester-
day, that he hoped to conclude the investi-
cation this week. He said that Mayor Tag
CART and Hugh j. MCGOWAN have not been
summoned yet.