The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-10-03
SNYDER OFFERED
 UTHOFF $50,OOO First Witness in Bribery Case
 Damages Defendant TALKS OF COUNCIL DEAL
TALKS OF COUNCIL DEAL
Says Snyder Came to His House In St. Louie and Offered Him Large Amount of Money to Vote
 For the BIll.

St. Louis. October 2-In the trial of Robert M. Snyder. the banker and pro moter. charged with bribery in connec- ton with the passage of the central trac- ton bill, the states case was practically submitted today. Startling testimony was elicited to the effect that large sums of money had been freely distributed in se- curing votes for the bill Probably the most startling testimony of the day was from George J. Kobusch, president of the St. Louis Car company.
 He said that he was the man who inter ested 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 $25,0O0 for his services.
 He has named some of the men who got the money-Carroll s1795O, Gaus s1O,OOO, Cast $10.0o0; or at the general rate of $10,- 900 a head.
 Frederick M. Utheff also has unbosomed himself with rather a little confusion, yet he named large sums of money with directness, specifying who paid and who was paid
 In answer to questions put by Circuit Attorney Folk. Uthoff testified that while member of the city council fin 1898, when the north and south traction bills were pending. Robert NJ. Snyder called on him at his residence 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.
 Then he again spoke of the central traction bill. I told him I did not want to talk about the matter. He said we were both Masons and we could dis cuss 1t the same as lodge matters. He said I ought to favor him with this bill.
 1T told him had been approached and offered $50,000 for my vote. I will get that amount and send it by Dieckmann,' said Snyder to me.
 Now I never said then nor have ever said that would vote for the meas- ure''
 Package Brought to His House.
 Witness then told of a package brought to his house the following day by Dieck- mann. and his second meeting with Snyder. "At that meeting Snyder said: 'Uthoff, if you don't vote for that bill am a ruined man.
 T told him." continued the witness, answering Mir. Folk, that he should come to my house and get the package back, that I did not want It."
 Did he do as you requested"
 ''Yes, he came the next day and opened the package, which contained currency, twenty-five checks of 5000 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 she Central Traction bill. and also of a gas bill. Uthoff said Snyder told witness that if he would introduce this gas bill as a rider to the Central Trac- tion bill, and work for It's passage as well as vote for the Central Traction bill, he would give witness $10O,0O0.
 He said he would give me $60.0 900 next day." UtEoff explained, S15,00O when the gas bill was introduced and $25OO0 when the gas bill was passed. Then Snyder took up two hanG1uls of bills, witness stated and said: 'Uthoff, here's $25,0O0. Dieci- mann Is cn the floor of the council with $10,0O0 more. I would have had $bV,vvV for you. but Charlie Carroll got $15,VvU from me today"
 Uthoff said he refused to take any of the money then offered him by the pro- moter. "I said If I could see my way clear to vote for 1t Id do so."
 Meeting Arranged.
 Here witness told of a meeting ar- ranged by Mepham and Dieckmann be- tween Snyder and himself At this meet ing Snyder asked about an understanding with President Meir of the city council
 What did you think we had an under standing about?" I asked him.
 About your votes on the central trac- ton bill,' he said.
 tVVhaf, Mair votad for tho ttII aoid Snyder to me, I supposed that he had given you the money. He Is the man who got the s50O00. It was given to him through his son, Fred Meir.'"
 Witness next saw Meir at the Waldorf Astoria in New York, where defendant said he had $5OOo belonging to promoters which he was ready to give Uthoff. He got $2500 on that visit and s2500 more three or four months later. Snyder said he would turn 1t over to Uthoff
 Circuit Attorney Folk then proceeded to question witness as to the opposition which had developed to the Central Trac- ton bill and sprung the most interesting bit of information which the Snyder trial has yet disclosed involving the names of John Scullin, former street railway mag nate and Edward Butler, local million- aire politician, in what the witness char acterized as an attempt to defeat the central traction measure by the use of big sum of money distributed In relays of $5000 each to the contain council men every month. Witness testified that But Ter paid the money to him and that he distributed 1t among Councilmen Cast, Brinkmeyer. Gaus. Kratz and Thuner.
 "In March 1898, MT Scullin gave me a bill to introduce called the United Trac- Zen bill," Uthoff stated. Tt was design ed to head off the central traction bill. I met Mir Scullin and he paid me s250OO to push his bill and defeat the old one."
 What did you do with the money?'
 q returned it to MT. Sculin through Ed Butler"
 Witness said Snyder had told him he paid Councilman Charles E. Carroll s15,- coo