The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-09-10
MONEY WAS GIVEN
TO COUNCILMEN
Sensational Testimony at Hearings
of Councilmen Melvin and Grier
by silliman and Gallagher.

Testimony was taken Saturday, be-
fore Alderman Fuller, in the bribery
cases brought against Select Council
man 7. c. Melvin, Common Council
man James j. Grier, and Carl w. Nc
Kinney by Il. r. Sturges and Colonel
II. NJ. Boies, of the Municipal league.
Some of the information elected was
of rather sensational character.
With apparent unwillingness, Cen
eral Manager Frank Silliman, jr., of
the Scranton Railway company, and
Attorney P. w. Gallagher, the COM
pany's former claim agent, admitted
that they had used money to get into
the good graces of the councilmen
about $4,000 being thus distributed dur
ing the two years last past. Mr. SILL
man spent about 800 of this money,
| himself, directly for drinks and cigars.
The other money was spent by Mr..
Gallagher and Morgan Sweeney, who
| succeeded him.
At one time Mr.. Grer was given $25
| by Mr.. Slliman for vacation expenses,
and S25 at another time for election
| purposes. Mr.. Silliman could not re-
member that any of the money spent
| by Messrs. Gallagher and Sweeney had
| found it's way into Mr.. Grler's pockets.
With regard to Mr.. Melvin, Mr.. Sill
man testified that the Eighth ward
councilman advised him one day that
| the Nay Aug loop would likely he de-
| feated if money was not used. No
money was used, and obstructions were
! placed in the way of the "loop'
Mr.. Gallagher testified that he had
! given money at various times to coun-
! Cilmen "to encourage amity," while he
was engaged as an agent of the trolley
company. He gave it to SO many dif-
| ferent councilmen that he couldn't re-
| member who they were. One Fourth
of July he spent $500 or 5000 for fire.
crackers for COunCilmen, and at Christ
mas time he bought them turkeys. He
admitted, also, that he had given
money to others to distribute to Coun-
Cilmen. Between January 1, 1899, and
September /. 1899, he spent about 81 00t
in this way.
Questions tending to bring out the
names of the parties to whom money
was given to distribute TO councils
We're being asked Mr. Gallagher wher
the hearing was abruptly adjourned by
the refusal of the witness to answer
further. He was given until this after.
noon to answer, with contempt oi
court proceedings as an alternative.
Only one witness was examined ii
the case against Mr.. Mckinney. The
witness was eX-Mayor James G.. Bailey
The prosecution tried to bring out al
admission that Mr.. Mckinney Offered
him money to sign the Barber Asphalt
Paving contract. The eX-mayor denied
that he received any money from, O
was offered any money by, Mr.. Me
Kinney, and, Furthermore, denied hav
ing told G. G. Boland, w. NJ. Finn an,
+. j. Robinson that he had beer
offered money by Mr.. Mckinney t
sign the ordinance appropriating none!
for the paving contract
The ex-mayor also denied that tn,
three persons above mentioned agreed
to take care of his indebtedness to tn,
city if he would veto the ordinance.
Attorneys j. II. Torrey, +. c. New
comb and f. T.. Beers were presen
in the interests of the prosecution. At
torney Joseph O'Brien and City 6olic
itor NJ. A, MCKINLEY appeared for tn
defendants.