Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-01-25
INDICTED.
Salem Has the Greatest Sensa-
ton for Many Years.
President of the License Commission
Charged With Attempted Bribery.
Arrested and Gives Bail to Appear al Hearing.
Monday Morning.

Salem, Mass, Jan. 24.-The greatest
sensation which has come to this city
in years was that of this afternoon
when the Essex county grand jury re-
turned a true bill in 10 counts against
Robert e. Pollock, president of the
Salem license commissioners, charg-
ing the attempt to bride Alderman
George G. Hathaway. Pollock was
placed under arrest, late this after
noon.
Indictments were also returned in
the Lawrence poor department cases,
but against whom or in how many
counts and on what charges it was not
1ivulged, and will not be until the par
lies are in custody, probably by Mon
day.
The Pollock case developed at the
meeting of the aldermen, Jan. 5, when
Mayor John F. Hurley made the state
ment that member of that board had
already been approached by man.
whom he did not name at that time,
with view to influencing that alder
man by means of money to vote against
the confirmation of Edward H. Knight,
the appointee of the mayor for city
marshal. By vote of the board the
matter was referred to City Solicitor
Evans. A few days ago he had the af-
fair in shape to bring before District
Attorney Peters and by that official it
was laid before the Essex county grand
jury sitting in Salem, yesterday and
today.
Somehow or other the impression got
abroad that Alderman George c. Hath
away, one of Mayor Hurley's strongest
supporters, was the one to whom the
alleged overtures had been made. This
was because all the other aldermen de-
MED being the one.
All day yesterday and today the case
was before the grand jury. Every al
derman except Mr.. Turner went before
the grand jury and a number of other
witnesses also were called. The grand
Jury came in at o'clock. The foreman
passed to the clerk big bundle of pa
pers. Clerk Woodbury. asked District
Attorney Peters if he desired to have
the indictments called and Mr.. Peters
answered that he did not. Judge Bond
then Informed the grand jurors that
they were excused until the second
Monday in May. The court immedi-
ately adjourned.
None of the indictments was opened
n read. There were about a dozen in
the batch. Among them was an indict-
ment in 10 counts against Robert E.
Pollock of Salem, charging him with
attempting to bride Alderman George
c. Hathaway to vote against the con-
iirmation of Edward H. Knight, who
had been nominated by Mayor Hurley
for city marshal. The form of the in
iictments are not known. There were
ilso several indictments against vari-
Gus persons in connection with the
Lawrence poor department cases but
the names were not made public and
will not be until Monday, before which
time the parties probably will be taken
into custody.
capias was issued at once by the dis
trict attorneys Office for the arrest of
Mr.. Pollock and he was arrested about
so O'Clock this afternoon. at his home
and taken to the police station. The ar
rest was made by State Officer George c.
Neal, accompanied by Patrolman Gold
,hwaitc, brother-in-law of Mr.. Pollock
The charge on the warrant was Offering
4 bride or gratuity to a municipal Off
Ger. judge Holden, bail commissioner.
placed Follock's bail at $500. which was
furnished by the prisoners brother. Da-
vid M. Pollock. {: member of the Salem
police force. Under this bond to appear
N the local court. Monday morning, Pol
eek was released.
Pollock stated after his arrest that he
had no fear of the result and wished the
matter settled as quickly as possible.
. Robert +. Pollock, the accused is chair
man of the board of license commission
ers, and has been active in politics for
years and was named for the license
commission. by Mayor Turner and renom-
mated by Mayor Little 1t is believed
that Mayor Hurley wished to remove him
from the commission and it was so ex-
pccted that he would make an attempt
to do so last year. Mr. Pollock is ac-
tive in the veteran firemen. He was a
barber and conducts shop on Lafayette
street.