The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-10-03
BRIBERY WAS RIFE
SENSATIONS DEVELOP IN TRIAL .." OF SNYDER.
President Kobus of the St. Louis Car Company Says Mephan Was to Be Paid s25,ooo
 for Services.

St. Louis, Oct. 2-In the trial of Robert M. Snyder, the banker and promoter. charged with bribery in connection with the passage of the Central Traction bill. the States case was practically submit ted today.
 Startling testimony was elicited to the effect that large sums of money had been freely distributed in securing votes for the bill. Probably the most startling tes- timony of the day was from George J. kobusch, President of the St. Louis Car Company. He said that he was the man who interested Snyder in the Central Traction bill: that he dealt with the councilmen through Edgar A. Mephan and that he sent money through Mephan and that Mephan was to be paid $25.000 Tor his services. He has named some of the men who got the money: Carroll. N7,50o; Gaus. Sl0.0Oo: Cast. slo0O0: more at the general rate of s1o.0oo a head. Frederick M. Uthoff also has unbosomed himself with rather little confusion yet he named large sums of money with di- rectness. specifying who paid and who was paid.
 Uthoff testified under cro.s.examina- tion that last week he and Scully were before the grand jury together and that he told the grand jury that Scully gave him s25.000 to vote against the Central Traction bill.
 Attorney Priest questioned the witness about Butler and the monthly salary Uthof said he (Butler) paid the wit nesses. Cast, Gaus, Thuner. Brinkmeyer and Kratz for several months.
 Witness said Butler paid them s433 per month while the Central Traction Bill motors of the traction bill that the six Councilman in for any rival street railway bill
 Louis c. Dieckman was the next wit ness. He was Speaker of the House of Delegates while the Central Traction bill was pending. Dieckman testified that ST yder asked him to assist in getting the Central Traction bill passed. and Snyder said he would see that any prom ise made by George J. Kobusch, Presi- dent of the St. Louis Car Company. would assist Snyder. He told of arranging the first interview between Uthof and Shy. der and also a second. In a saloon. George H. Kobusch then took the stand. Witness testified that Snyder had told him he paid s5o.0oo to Uthuff to pass the Central Traction bill.
 MT. Kobusch said Snyder, John H. Blessing. Edgar A. Mephan. L. B. Teb. betts and F. E. Marshall and he were interested in the Central Traction bill. Did Snyder ever say anything to you with reference to procuring the vote Of Frederick G. Uthoff on the measure ir the Council?" was asked. "Yes.''
 What did he say to you and whersT Snyder said once at the Planters Ho. tel that Uthoff wanted $50000 for hii vote.'
 Did he say he had paid s50,0oo?' Yes"
 You are clear on the point that Shy. der said he'd paid $500Oo for the vote?'' | Yes"
 What members of the assembly dit Snyder tell you he had paid?' Snyder said he'd paid Charles E. Car roll s17.50O."
 For whom did he tell you Charle. Carroll was handling the money.
 John C. Brinkmeyer and Paulus Cast.
 What did he tell you he'd paid Brink meyer and Gast?"
 Ten thousand dollars each"
 Did Snyder at any time give you s1o. 900 to be sent to Henry Gaus?" | 'Yes"
 Did you send the money to Gaus?"
 T sent $1O,O00 by Edwar A. Mephan tt Henry Gaus. Jr."
 Witness further testified he got betweer $35, 900 to $40,000 from Snyder. of whicf Mephan was to get $2500o for his ser vices as legislative agent.
 Did MT. Snyder tell you that he had bought Uthoff's vote?'
 He told me had made arragements | for Uthoff's vote"
 Major William Warner took charge oi the cross examination for the defense.
 Kobusch, in reply to question said ht did not know positively that Utholn go one cent for his vote.
 Kohuch was the final witness of tht l aRtarnnnn session.