The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-09-11

There was another hearing before
Alderman Frederick Fuller yesterday
afternoon in the cases against Coun-
cimen Thomas G. Melvin and James
j. Grier, charged with soliciting brlbes
for their votes and giving bribes 10
other city officials, and Carl w. NC
Kinney. charged with givin money
to councilmen for their votes.
Two witnesses were examined. They
were p. w. Gallagher, former claim
agent OF the Scranton Railway COM
pany. and Peter +. Mccain, select
councilman from the Fourteenth ward
for the last twelve years. Gallagher
gave some damaging testimony
against Mccain and others. McCanu
entered a specific denial Of everything
Gallagher had said about him.
Gallagher was on the stand at Sat-
urday's hearing and was excused until
yesterday because on Saturday he was
10th to give the name OF a council
man for whose use he gave S25 to
Councilman Grier.
When the hearing was resumed yes
terday afternoon at 2.30, Gallagher
was at once called TO the stand, and
his examination was resumed by At
torney +. c. Newcomb. who, with At
torney James II. Torrey, represents
the Mems union in the cases. Ator-
neys Joseph OBrisn and Nd. A. Nc
0inley appeared for the defendants.
+. B. Sturges, one of the prosecutors,
was present.
Gallagher was very reluctant to tell
what he knew about the oouncilmen
with whom he had dealings, and his
examination was slow and tedious. Il
wish some one would abduct me-"
he said on one occasion, when Attor-
ney Newcomb was pressing .particu-
larly Objectionable question. The room
was crowded during the hearing and
the testimony of Gallagher was lis
tened to with the closest attention.
WOULD TELL CONDITIONALLY.
After he took the stand, Attorney
Newcomb asked Gallagher If he was
prepared to give the name of the coun-
| Gilman for whom the S25 he gave to
| Grier were intended.
II am, conditionally," he replied.
Before l give 1t l want to explain
! that l never spoke to the man before
or after that and I do not know
whether the money was given to him.
Grier never made a report to me about
it. I am willing to give the name,
provided 1t is not given to the pub
! lie. I do not think II would be right
to do 80. inasmuch az had no deal
ings with the man and do not know
that he ever received the money"
Mr.. Newcomb could not give that
assurance, he said, and after waiting
considerable time for Gallagher to
give the name, that matter was passed
over. Another effort was made later
in the hearing to get the name, but II
was finally decided to give the wit
ness until next Saturday to answer.
Gallagher said he could not say alb.
solutely that he ever gave any money
to Grier for himself and could not
say that hs ever gave him money FOL
other councilmen. The witness said
he was willing to admit he took the
initiative in whatever money was dis.
tributed to promote the interests OF
the Scranton Railway company. 81
did not stop to think whether It wa.
Legitimate or illegtmate," he con
tinued.
Did you ever handle money fol
anyone else to promote or defea
legislation" asked Attorney Newcomb
THE TELEPHONE DEAL.
Il did" was the reply, and in reply
to subsequent questions he said ne dl(
some lobbying for the Central Penn
sylvania Telephone and Supply com
pany TO secure amednments to an or
dinance granting a franchise to riva
company of which Hon. w. l.. Connel
was a prominent stockholder. TIL,
Central Pennsylvania company CAV,
him money to use in councils and alst
a liberal fee for his services. H
could not say positively whether tn
money came from Richard j. O'Briel
or f. ]. Maloney, but he thought tn
latter was the man. The money wa