The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-11-19

It-Another Hearing Tonight.
Another chapter OF the interesting
serial story. Confessions of Lobby
ist," by =. w. Gala gher was given
to the public Saturday afternoon
through the medium of hearing in
Alderman F'uler's court oi Select
Councilmcn Richard II. Williams. ST.
mon Thomas. =. i. Mccain and Ed
ward James. Jr. 1t was even more
sensational than any of the preceding
chapters
The defendants wanted to waive n
hearing, but as their attorney, Joseph
O'Brien, would not admit of record
that there was probable cause for the
prosecution--a precaution against II
suit for malicious prosecution-the at
torneys for the other side. II. &. New
comb and James H.. Torrcy. demanded
that the hearings should be proceeded
with and Alderman Fuller acnuiesced
in the demand. T.. Il. Sturges APP
peared as prosecutor in the cases
against Messrs. McCann and Thomas.
and Agent Robert Wilson in those
against Messrs. Williams and James.
MIR. Gallagher said that while he
was employed as claim agent of the
Scranton Railway company. in lS9S- w.
his services were besought by the Old
telephone company to secure the pas
sage of certain multiplying amendments
to the ordinance then before select
council granting franchise to the
new telephone company and that ne
secured $500 from the old company
to carry on this work
How this money was distributed and
how the lobbying against the fran
chse proceeded was described in de-
tail by the witness.
DETAILS OF THE STORY.
He said he conferred with Superin-
tendent Richard OBricn, of the West
ern Union, about the work and also
secured, through Mr.. Mccain, an as.
surance from w. +. Hallstead that the
latter was actively opposed to the new
company. Furthermore, he stated that
the money he received for his services
was paid him by Mr.. Maloney.
Mr.. McCann. the witness said, was
delegated by him to see COuncilmen
Kearney, Thomas. Melvin, Shea, Fci-
lows, O'Boyle, Frable. Coyne and Nc
Andrew. The witness himself saw Mr..
Ross, Mr.. Finn and Mr.. Williams.
Gallagher says he does not renlem-
Der whether or not he mentioned
money to Mr.. Ross. The latter told
him he was in favor OF the new tele-
phone company and wanted to see
competition. Mr. Finn was also found
to be favorable to the new company
and no mention was made to him OF
any money. He received kind of as
s,lrance from Mr.. Williams that he
would support the h-dealirg
amendments, and was satisfied Mr..
Williams would be in line all right
because of his being Il Delaware
Lackawanna and Western mine fore
man.
The witness also saw Mr.. Coyne. he
says. and told him there would be $3.50
in it for him if he voted for the amend
ments. Mr.. Coyne said nothing and
witness was not sure OF Coyne's vote.
MONEY DISTRIBUTED. Al
The $l,S00 was distributed among
twelve councilmen, Gallagher says. He
divided 1t into sums of $150, placed
these in envelopes. wrote the names
of the twelve councilmen OH them and
entrusted their delivery to Mr.. Nc
Cam. Sometime later the latter met
the witness and told him "Dicls Will
liams made a holler and I had to go
and get 5000 for him." Another time
Mr.. McCann, he says, told him that
O'Boyle, Thomas and McAndrew had
accepted $500 apiece from the new conf
pany and intended to vote for The
franchise but Mr.. Hallstead put his
foot down and stopped McAndrew from
changing his vote"
Gallagher then proceeded TO tell Of
the alleged attempted holdup by the
Fourteen Spaniards, who. 1t is al
legged. appointed n committee to ne
mand that the trolley company should
pay each of them Il stated salary of
$a5 month for looking after trolley
company legislation. The demand was
transmitted through the witness to
General Manager Silliman at Harveys
lake, where he was visiting President
Clark. The witness brought back the
answer that the company would not
stand for any such thing.
Gallagher remembered having given
Morris V. Morris S25 for himself and
s25 for Simon Thomas some time after
he had been before the board of revi-
sian and appeal to secure reduction
in the assessment of trolley company
property. Mr. Thomas afterwards ad-
mitted to him. he says, that the money
was received. Messrs Morris and
Thomas We're members of the board OF
revision and appeals.
TROLLEY COMPANY MONEY.
Gallagher further claimed that he
gave $25 of trolley company money in
an envelope to Mr.. Williams at the
ball park, July 4, 1899, and the same
day handed a similar sum to Mr..
James on Lackawanna avenue as the
latter was hurrying to take a train.
About that same time he gave Mr.
Melvin, he alleges q similar 'present."
The witness and Morgan Sweeney
We're together when they met Mr.. Mel
vim on the street. Gallagher said: II
have a little prize package here for
you. Tom" Sweeney remarked: 1T
might be blank. Tom" Mr.. Melvin
replied: mo, Bill never gives me any
blanks" He also told of Mr.. Sill.man
having sent some money to Mr.. Melvin
when the latter was at the state Demo-
cratic convention in Harrisburg.
Select Councilman II. j. Coyne was
put on the stand and examined with a
view of ellciting some information re-
garding the alleged meeting of eleven
select councilmen at the st. Cloud dur
ing the afternoon and evening preced-
ing the meeting in February when the
franchise ordinance was finally passed.
The witness denied that here We're
eleven councilmen there and said he
thought there were only three or four.
He did not know who paid for their
suppers. He did not see T. r. Brooks