Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-10-03
.BRIBE I|'||' O| 100000.
TESTIMONY AS TO ATTEMPTED
CORRUPTION IN ST.
LOUIS.
CENTRAL TRACTION BILL.
Five Thousand Week Apiece to
Certain councilmen.
JOHN scuLL1S WAS rsvoLvEn.
Also Edward Butler, a Local Million
aire Po1itician-witness sn-s He
Wa. Paid $4,000 by scullin to
Secure Defeat of the Central Trac-
ton nIeasure-He Returned the
Money-Cross Examination.
los

ST. LOUIS NO.. October 2.-When
Judge Ryan's court met to-day, the trial
of Robert NJ Snyder, banker and pro-
moter, on the charge of bribery in con-
nection with the passage of the Central
Traction bill, was resumed. Frederick
G. Uthoff. who was member OF the
City Council in April, 1898, was put on the
stand by the State.
In answer to questions put by Circuit
Attorney Folk. Uthoff testified that While
a member of the City Council in 1888,
when the North and South Traction bills
were pending. Robert NJ. Snyder called
on him at his residence, having been tax
en- there by Louis Dieckmann. by ap-
pointment Uthoff continued:
"After talking socially about half an
hour, Snyder spoke Of the Central Irac-
ton bill told him I did not want TO
talk about the matter. He said we were
both Masons and we could discuss 1t the
came as lodge matters. he Sald ought
to favor him with his bill.
II told him had been approached and
offered $4,000 for my vote. I will get
that amount and send it by Dieckmann,'
said Snyder to me.
Witness said Dieckmann brought the
package next day.
$4,000 for Gas Bill.
1rthoff 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 haid Snyder
told witness that if he would introduce
this gas bill as rider" to the Contra!
Traction bill, and work for its passage.
as we'll as vote for the Central Traction
bill. he would give witness 100000.
"He said he would give me 100000 next
day." Uthoff explained. $4,000 when the
gas bill was introduced. and s2o,0Vo When
the gas bill was passed
"Then Snyder took up two handfuls OF
bills witness stated. "and said, 3Uthoff.
here is $4,000. Dieckmann is on the floor
of the Council with $4,000 more. would
have had $50. COO for you. but Charlie Car
roll got SIS, 600 from me to-day.
Uthoff said he refused to take any OF
the money then offeredi him by the pro-
! moter.
Witness next saw Snyder at the Wal
dorf-Astoria in New York, and defen-
dant said he had $1,000 belonging to pro-
moters which he was ready. to give Ut
hoff. He got SIS on that visit, and s2,5OC
more three or four months later. Wit
ness told of Snyder's attempts to get the
$4,000 from Meier. Snyder said he would
turn it over to Uthoff.
SculIin,s Name Brought In.
Circuit Attorney Folk then proceeded
to question the witness as to the oppo-
sition which had developed to the Cen
trail Traction bill. and sprang the most
interesting bit Of information which the
Snyder trial has yet disclosed, involv-
ing the rame OF John Scullin. ex-street
railroad magnate, and Edward Butler. a
local millionaire politician. in what the
witness chara cterized as an attempt to
defeat the Central Traction measure by
the use of a big sum of money. distri-
buted in relays of $1,000 each to certain
councilmen every month.
'In March, 1898, Mr.. Scullin gave me a
bill to introduce, called the United Trac-
ton BILL" Uthoff stated. "It was de-
signed to head off the Central Traction
bill.
.I met Mr. scullin and he paid me
$4,000 to push his bill and defeat the
other one
The Money Returned.
what did you do with the money!"
..I returned it to Mr.. Scullin. through
Ed. Butler.
=. H.