Omaha daily bee., 1902-10-03
HEAVY BRIBE IS OFFERED
Witness Says Promoter Snyder Suggested
One Hundred Thousand Dslllra
LEAVES PACKAGE At HIS RESIDENCE
Startling EvideRce Given II Trial Of
Robert N. snyder by Former
emb of the Sc. Louis
City Council.

sumed. Frederick G. Uthof. who was a
member Of the city council in April, 1898.
was put on the stand by the state. 1t lie
expected to prove that money was paid to
Utho1 by the defendant to secure his vote
for the Central Traction bill.
In answer to questions put by Circuit At
torney Folk, Uthof testified that while a
member OF the city council in 1898, when
the North and South Traction bills were
pending, Robert NJ. SNYDER called on him
at his residence, having been taken there
by Louis Dieckmsnn by appointment.
Uthof continued: AFTER talking socially
about half an hour Snyder said he lived in
New York and that he was a millionaire
and that he was connected with a bank in
Kansas City. He was talking about how
much money he had. He said he made q
part Of It in the real estate boom in Kan
sas City.
Then he again spoke Of the Central
Traction bill. l told him / did not want to
talk about the matter. He said we were
both Masons and we could discuss Il the
came as lodge matters. He said I ought
to favor him with his bill.
II told him l had been approached and
offered $50, 900 for my vote. 4 will get that
amount and send It by Dieckmunn,' said
Snyder to me.
Now, I never said then, nor have I ever
said, that I would vote for the measure"
Package of Money.
Witness then told Of a package brought
to his home the following day by Dieckmann
and his second meeting with Snyder. At
that meeting Snyder said:
"Uthoff, IL you don't vote for the bill l
am a ruined man"
tT tnld Cnvdor - aa,.gz,.a A. .G4.zzz
answering Mr.. Folk, that he should come
to my house and get that package back.
that l did not want It,"
Did he do as you requested?"
"Yes, he came the next day." said the
witness, land opened the package, which
contained currency. twenty-five checks Of
$1,000 denomination and the balance in
securities and papers. Snyder took the
contents and departed"
Uthoff said he next saw Snyder at the
Planters hotel. At this meeting Snyder
talked Of the Central Traction bill and
also Of a gas bill. Uthoff said Snyder
told witness that IL he would introduce
this gas bill as a rider TO the Central
Traction bill and work for its passage and
vote for the Central Traction bill he would
give witness 500. 900.
"He said he would give me $50, 900 next
day." Uthoff explained, 1926 900 when the
gas bill was introduced and $25, 600 when the
gas bill was passed."
Then Snyder took up two handsful of
bills" witness stated, land said, 'Uthof,
here $35, 900. Dieckmann is on the floor
Of the council with $40, 700 more. l would
have had $50, 900, but Charlie Carroll got
Sic, 900 from me today"
Refuses to Take Bribe.
Uthoff said he refused to take any Of the
money then offered him by the promoter.
II said IL l could see my way clear to vote
for 1t l would do So" Uthoff said.
Witness was not allowed to say whether
he voted for the bill after IL had been
vetoed by the mayor.
Here witness told Of a meeting arranged
by Mepham and Dieckmann. between Snyder
and himself. At this meeting Snyder asked
about an understanding with President
Meier of the city council.
what did you think we had an under
standing about?' l asked.
About your vote on the central traction
bill" said he.
"'When Meier voted against the BILL said
Snyder to me. I suppose that he had given
up the money. He is the man who got the
$50, 1000. 1t was given to him through his
son, Fred Meier"
Witness next saw Snyder at the Waldorf
Astoria in New York, where defendant said
he had $4,000 belonging to promoters which
he was ready to give Uthoff. He got $4,000
on that visit and $500 more three or foul
months later. Witness told Of Snyder's at
tempts to get the $50. 900 from Meier. Snyder
said he would turn 1t over to Uthoff.
other Names Involved.
NEua,g. A4.a-zo- It'll. 49,. -
question the witness as to the opposition
which had developed to the Central tfac-
tion bill and sprung the most interesting
bit OF information which the Snyder trial
has yet disclosed. involving the names OF
John Scullin, ex-street railroad magnate
and Edward Butler, a local millionaire
politician, in what the witness described az
an attempt to defeat the Central Traction
measure by the use OF a big sum OF money
distributed in relays OF IS, 900 each to GER
tain councilmen every month.
Witness testified that Butler paid the
money to him and that he distributed q
among Councilmen Cast, B~rinkmeyer. Gaus
Kratz and Thuner.
Elm March, 1898. Mr.. Seullin gave gave m,
a bill to introduce called the United Trao.
tion bill" Uthoi stated. "It was designed
to head on the Central Traction bill.
met MT. Scullln and he paid me US, OO|
to support his bill and defeat the other"
What did you do with the money!"
II returned IT to Mr. SculIin through e,
Butler"
After some further testimony, in tn
course OF which witness said Snyder ha,
told him he paid Councilman Charles z
Carroll $4,000. Judge Priest. for the de
Tense, took the witness in hand and begai
J the cross -eXaminatiop.
On CrOss-ExamInatIOn.
Uthoff testified, under cross examinatior
that last week he and Seullin were befor
the grand jury together and tina he toll
the grand jury that Scullin gave him $25.
, 900 to vote against the Central Tractio
bill.
Attorney Priest questioned the witnes
about Butler and monthly salary. Utho
said he (Butler) paid the witnesses. Gas
Gauss, Thunes. Brinkmeyer and Kratz 70
several months. Witness said Butler pal
them t43S per month while the tractio
0 bill was pending. This was to insure II
promoters OF the traction bill that the 81
o councilmen in question would not vote Il