The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1900-05-15
OVERHEARD TALK WHILE
HIDDEN IN A CLOSET.
Two Witnesses Allowed to Tell What Passed
Between CARRIER and Mayor w. E. Young.
Suggests That There Was Something Irregular About The
Proceeding In the Closet But the State Expects to Show
That CARRIER Didn't Want an Attorney But an Agent
- To Influence" City Officials

CARRIER, charged with bribery in con-
nection with an attempt to get tele-
phone franchise through the Akron
board Of city commissioners for the
Central Union telephone company, Is
attracting great attention. CARRIER Is
known in nearly every city in the state.
He has frequently been In Canton and
Is said to have been interested In get
ting through q franchise to put the
telephone lines under ground In Can
ton, and making the arrangements for
the betterment of the service in that
city. The trial drags slowly but is
sensational in that the batteries have
been turned on Mayor w. E. E.sYoung, son
Of Squire M. M. Young, of Canton.
1t Is the purpose of the defense to be-
smirch Young all that is possible. Be-
hind 1t, Of course, is great deal of
politics, many Of Young's political
enemies openly taking the side of Gar
Der and endeavoring to show him up as
a martyr to a conspiracy.
The case is dragging along slowly,
owing to the fact that arguments con-
cerning the admissibility OF testimony
have been very exhaustive. AS printed
in my dispatch to the News-Democrat
yesterday, the court decided to hear the
COuteTSdtlOH tudI 10 dHcSeu " nave
taken place between CARRIER and Mayor
Young in the latters office, when two
witnesses were secreted in a closet. 1t
was to be heard simply to determine in
the courts mind whether the relation
ship Of CARRIER and Mayor Young were
that of client and attorney.
CARRIER PROCEEDS.
Harry Z. CARRIER was further ex-
amined as to his relationship with
Mayor Young.
The objection Of the defense, to Mr..
CARRIERS stating whether he had secur-
ed majority of the council or not was
overruled.
The witness answered mo, sir"
you knew that a majority Of the
council were favorable to your ordi-
nance?"
II heard they were."
'You also knew that the board of
city commissioners had withdrawn its
approval?"
" had heard rumors to that effect"
From whom did you learn the fact
that the commissioners had undertaken
to withdraw their consent?"
IT cannot remember"
'You came up from Barberton, June
26, arriving at o'clock?"
Possibly few minutes before"
How long does it take to come from
Barberton to Akron?"
About half an hour. I left Barber
ton at 6:15 o'clock"
The next witness called was Attorney
L. B. Richardson, Of Chicago.
He said II am 40 years of age and
am general counsel for the Central
Union telephone company, and live In
Chicago"
The witness stated that he received q
telephone message from Mr.. CARRIER
Sept. rs, 1898. Acting upon Mr.. Gar
ber's message, called up Mayor w. E
Young. I told him that Mr.. CARRIER
had called me up. I told Mr.. Young
that had authorized CARRIER to employ
him as an attorney. The mayor said
all right"
On cross examination Mr.. Wanama.
ker asked the witness If he did moi
testify before the grand jury. He re.
piled that he testified that Mayor
Young had made an appointment with
Mr. CARRIER
YOUNG IN REBUTTAL.
The state placed Mayor Young or
the stand in rebuttal.
He stated that he rendered no service
to Mr.. CARRIER. or the Central Union
Telephone company after Sept. 25, 1898
The witness said he met Mr.. Cronir
at Z o'clock Sunday evening. He saw
Mr.. Cronin at the latter's house.
"Mr. Cronin had called me by phone,
said the witness. HE told me he hat
a friend whom he wanted me to meet
went and Cronin met me at the gate
We went into the house and Cronin tolt
me that there was no one there, bu
that he wanted to see me. Cronin tolt
me that he was employed by the Cen
trail Union telephone company, at So
per month. He told me that Mr. Gar
ber was at the Barberton inn. He tolt
me the council was favorable to th'
ordinance, but that the approval Of th'
commissioners was needed. He told m,
he understood I was blocking the pas
sage Of the franchise. He said he want
ed me to be an attorney for the com
pany and offered me q fee Of $500. HI
said the company would put wires un.
derground and a large building woult
be erected. Whoever you recommend
for employment will be employed sait
ne, and 1t will insure your reelection.
HE said they wanted 1t settled to
morrow night, as Mr.. CARRIER and HI
were going to Indianapolis. I asked
him what he was going to do there. HI
replied, In our business two can worl
better than one. Sometimes 1t take
one to find the fellows that can be got
and another to get Them told him
would consider the matter"
Monday morning I was called VI
by Mr.. Richardson and he told m
any representation Mr.. CARRIER mad
would be all right with the company"
The witness denied that anything
was ever said to him relative to hi
employment as attorney. Mr.. Garbe
called me up. later Monday morning, a
the city building. He said he wa
at Barberton and wanted to meet me
We set II o'clock at my Office. HI
came to my ONCE and I took him Il
TO our private office."