The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-01-26
CONSPIRACY TRIAL
HOT For COUNCILMEN
Louisville Agitated Over De-
yelopments Yesterday.
Woman Reporters Testimony Re
garding the Cimiotti Interview.
Details Arrangements for the Inter
cstimE E,cmt-The "Stnte.mnn"
Was Not hycrse to Bargaining.

Louisville, Ky. Jan. 25.-The trial for
conspiracy of Mrs. Alice Montgomery. the
woman reporter employed by the Louis.
vile Commercial to entrap the local coun
cilmen into accepting brides from myth
zeal Chicago telephone company, occupied
the entire day in the Police Court and
brought out testimony of sensational ma
ture. Late in the afternoon Councilman
Cimiotti. the dude of the council" was
put on the stand and subjected to a merci-
less questioning from the defences attor-
ney, Zach Phillips He asked Mr.. Cimiotti
what he was doing when he was elected to
the council.
Nothing" was the reply.
when did you go to work at the Louis
vile and Nashville Railroad?"
THE following April
You were then on the railroad commit
tee. were you mott"
Yes, sir"
According to Cimiotti. Mrs Montgomery
visited him at the l.. &c N office,
and he realizing that the place was
not good one for the discussion of con-
fdential business, made an appointment to
meet her last Thursday night at the Fifth
Avenue Hotel in her room. Mrs. Mont
gomery stated to him that she wanted to
talk to him about 4 bill which a Chicago
telephone company wanted to get through
the council. She wanted to know all the
particulars of how many votes it would
take in each body and how much it would
cost He replied that it might cost $4,000
and ii might cost more. 1t was then
brought out that his suspicious were not
aroused until the next day, when he scent
ed a conspiracy and got friend, a news
paper man, to go with him to subsequent
interviews. on examination he ad-
mitted that he was chairman OF the tele
phone committee of the council and had
asked the manager and president of the
Ohio Valley Telephone Company to go on
his note for $500. but he refused.
Mrs. Montgomery took the stand. She
stated that about the first of the month
she received letter from her husband,
asking her if she could come to Louisville
to work on the News" soon to be start
ed. She consented and On reaching Louis
vile went to Business Manager Goldsmith,
at the Commercial" Office. Afterward she
met the managing editor, who informed
her that certain members of the general
council were supposed to be corrupt and
that he wanted it investigated Mr.. Cimi
otti was mentioned and suggested as a
good man to begin on. The arrangement
was not to offer him a bride, but to find
out how he would act If an offer were
made him. She selected a room in the
Fifth Avenue Hotel, after seeing that the
closets were shallow and the acoustic
properties good. This was for the benefit
of concealed reporters She then detailed
the first meeting with Cimiotti at her
room. After being informed that she was
here in the interest of new telephone
company she said Cimiotti said he would
be willing to work heart and soul for it.
She asked how an ordinance could be put
through the council
1T takes money to do business" was the
reply. The old telephone company has its
friends in the council and you must have
yours
She asked what it would cost and he took
out his book and began figuring. Finally
he said: Twenty men at $3.50 would be
So 900" Afterward he said: NO. eighteen
at $3.50 each would be $4,000. and there
would have to be two men at 81 900 each in
the upper and lower boards"
She asked him if he would be the man to
manage it in the lower board and he said
he thought he would.
And who will do ii in the upper board ~
was asked.
Il think Alderman Daliny would be a
good man was the answer
Alderman Brongers' name was also men
toned, she said, during the conversation.
You may think these figures are high
said Cimiotti.
oh, no; we have unlimited capital, -
she answered.
| Well, $500 may be enough but it may
| go as high as 81, 900"
| Later on in the conversation she asked
| him what guarantee she would have that
| the men would vote as they promised
.'Oh, they'll vote all right was the an
swer.
How do you know"
They've been tested was the reply,
| There was an outburst OF laughter in The
courtroom at this. but it was rebuked
sharply by Judge Thompson.
| Gentlemen, said he. this is not a
| laughing matter. We had better bow our
| heads in shame.
| In this same connection, according to
Mrs. Montgomery, Cimiotti related an in
stance of a contest for live stock inspector
| which had been carried by the purchase of
votes at 800 each.
But that was not important a mat
ter as this, so this Will cost more" he
added
| Mrs. Montgomery continued at length 20
| the same effect. and at 8 O'Clock an ad
| journment was taken until tomorrow.
Proceedings for Divorce.