The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1901-03-01
much STIRRED UP
Grand Rapids Has a Sensation in
Salisbury Indictment.
A TOPIC OF CONVERSATION

The City Attorney Under Indictment
In chicago-saIsbury in Chicago to
Fix Matters Up-City Council May
Investigate.
Grand Rapids, Mich, Feb. 25.-Ex-
posture of the alleged S125,0O0 Doodle
scheme, involving a 100000 water
works system contract, through the in
dictment of City Attorney Liant X.
Salisbury, of this city. at the instiga-
ton of Guy Barton, the Omaha cap
italist, caused great sensation here.
1t is the general talk that other mem
bers of the present city administra-
ton are doubtless mixed up in the
deal, but as yet it Is matter OF con-
lecture who they are. The natural
conclusion drawn by citizens is that
the deal included a proposition to go
to Lake Michigan, 40 miles distant, for
a pure water supply for Grand Rapids.
This proposition has been agitated
quite vigorously by some city officials
and recent converts to this idea have
lent color to the belief that others be-
sides Salisbury were implicated in the
big boodling scheme.
Grand Rapids, Mich, Feb. ga
resolution was offered by Aid. Gall
meyer in the council Monday night Pc
titioning the circuit judges to call a
grand jury to investigate the water
works scandal. Aid. Doran and Forbes
thought such petition would be pre-
mature, and Forbes said that while
he favored an Investigation, he
thought that to take such action might
be doing a gross injustice Ito a poor
fellow" who has his deepest sympa-
thy. Both urged that action on the
resolution be deferred until tonight,
An adjourned, session of the council
will be held then, and it is expected
that Mr.. Salisbury will appear before
the council and make statement.
Petitions to the courI were circu-
lated yesterday, asking the circuit
court to summon a grand jury, and
they were numerously signed. Public
sentiment is strongly favor of it,
and the jury will no doubt be called. 1t
will not only investigate the water
scandal, but will gointo several other
things, including the scandals in the
campaign last fall. The political SEN
sation will hit some high up heads.
The text of the bill amending the
board of public works act, introduced
in the legislature last week, and which
caused all the trouble when the refer
endum clause was attached, was pro-
duced Monday. 1t gives the. council
extensive powers to enter into con-
tracts, transferring these powers
from the board of public works; also
permits the purchase of the hydraulic
company's plant. ID. r. Grove of the
hydraulic company was one of the
fathers of the bill, though he does not
appear publicly in the transaction.
The scheme seems to have been to
buy the hydraulic company at fancy
price and then to go to Lake Michigan.
Chicago, Feb. 26.-Under a capias is
sued on new indictment by the Cook
county grand jury, Liant X. Salisbury
was formally placed under arrest yes
terday on a charge of embezzling $780,
600, placed in escrow some two weeks
ago as part of an alleged fund to be
used in securing Il 100000 contract
for the construction of municipal wa
ter works a. Grand Rapids, where he
is city attorney. He was released on
bonds of $4,000, after having been in
custody only few hours in the Office
Of Chief Deputy Sheriff Kunz, and
never getting closer to the county Jail
than within sight of it's frowning por.
tails as he approached the criminal
court building on the way from the
quarters in which he had been tech
nically a prisoner for more than 40
hours
1t was announced by Salsbury's at
torneys in Chicago that he had left
last night on late train for his home
in Grand Rapids. Before Salisbury had
departed statement was issued by
the attorney of Guy G.. Barton, the
Omaha millionaire contractor, from
from the $4,000 had been obtained. In
this statement Attorney L. X. Crofoot,
the Omaha representative of Mr.. Bar
ton. refers to the $4,000 as a portion
of fund needed in the water works
deal for legal and promotional ex-
penses"
He asserts tat under the circum-
stances Mr. Barton would personally
much prefer not to be instrumental in
continuing the prosecution of Mr.
Salisbury, but that the case is in the
hands of States Attorney Deneen and
will have to take the usual course"