The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-11-20

the only witness examined yesterday
at the adjourned hearing in the case
against Select Councilmen Il. II. Will
iams, Simon Thomas, Edward James,
ir.. and p. r. Mccain, charged with
soliciting and accepting bribes. Moth
ing of Importance was elected from the
witness.
He said he Is q director Of the Lack
awanna Telephone company and be-
came Interested in that concern some
time after 1t was organized and an
effort to secure a franchise from cotn-
ellis had failed. He did not remember
just how the death of the ordinance
was brought about when 1t was first
introduced. Not being interested in the
company. he paid no special attention
to the matter.
At the time the franchise was secured
last spring he had been Interested in
the company for one year and a half.
The others interested were w. j. Lewis,
r. G. Brooks. Thomas Brooks, eX-
Mayor w. l.. Connell, A. P. Bedford
and Il. J. Robinson.
When he became interested in the
company he bought out the holdings of
someone else. He could not recall who
this was. He got his certificates of
stock at Il meeting of the company in
Traders National bank building.
THE EFFORT FAILED.
Soon after this meeting an effort was
made to get a franchise through coun-
ellis, but it failed Nothing further was
done in that direction until last Win
ter They had numerous meetings to
consider the matter of getting an ordi-
nance through councils and it was ar
ranged that he should see certain
friends of his in councils and that other
members did the same. He was pre-
pared to say that the securing Of the
franchise did not cost him any money
and he had no knowledge of any other
member of the company paying any
thing or OF any money being paid to
any person by the company for the
purpose of securing the passage Of the
franchise ordinance.
Mr.. Robinson had not assisted in
raising money for the company last
February, when the ordinance was on
passage. and had no knowledge of the
company discOunting it's note at one Of
the city banks for large sum Of
money at that time. When he first
went into the company he had ten
shares, and the company's capital stock
was 100000. After the ordinance was
passed the company reorganized and
increased the capital stock to $600,0O0.
He got his proportionate share Of the
increase of the capital stock.
None of the cOuncilmen were present
at any of the meetings of the company.
The members of council he saw per-
sonally We're G. F.. Wagner, Adam
Schroeder. j. j. Schneider. Edward
James, jr., Simon Thomas and many
others, probably altogether a majority
of the members of select
WAS AT COUNCIL ROOM.
He was at the council chamber the
night select council passed the ordi-
nance. He did not go into the treas
urer's private office after the meeting.
He went to the Scranton house. where
he met Andrew Healey. Witness could
not say whether or not Healey had
business in the treasurer's Office i'm
after the meeting adjourned.
So far as he knew, Healey was not
specially interested in the passage of
the telephone ordinance. Healey has
no financial or other interest in the
company, so far as he knew.
Witness declared that he never had
a conversation with ex-MayOr Connell
or either of the Messrs. Brooks about
the amount it would cost to pass the
ordinance. On the night the ordinance
passed, he met nearly all of the men,
bers of council at the Scranton house.
He could not remember the names of
those he saw there.
Mr.. Robinson said he never conferred
with p. j. O'Boyle about the passage
of the ordinance and had no knowf-
edge that Nh O'Boyle was interested
in the passage of the ordinance. He
had no knowledge of a meeting of
in the st. Charles hotel
few hours before the council meeting.
That concluded Mr.. Robinson's eN-
and Mr. Newcomb said they
would have to ask for an adjournment,
us they found it difficult to get the SER
vices of subpoenas on A. j. Healey, G.
G.. Boland and w. NJ. Finn, witnesses
they wanted to call to the stand next.
Another hearing will be held Friday
evening at 7.3O o'cock.
Steam Heating and Plumbing.
P. f. & NJ. T. Howley,23 Wyoming ave.