The Topeka state journal., 1903-12-01

knew we had to have some more men
about town to put the deal through SO
went to George Ellis local broker.
and had him go to see Mr.. Conger and
offer him $4,000 in bonds. Congef
would not accept the bonds, but want
ed $4,000 in cash. Then the adverse
article came out in the Herald, and l
saw that he would kill the whole thing
1 called him up to the city hall and
told him about it. He knew as much
about the deal as I did. He demanded
the money after admitting having the
talk with Ellis. The next day he came
to me, having an article written already
for publication exposing the whole deal
He said he wanted 900 or he would
expose the whole thing. 1 finally had to
give it to him.
I'VE had bidders on the string from
all sides and our first plan was to get
them TO put up all the money possible
with US as bribe money and then go to
the council and exhibit the money with
the statement that it was sent here to
bribe US and then keep it. This was
before the water deal was planned and
our first plan would have gone through
but for my arrest in Chicago, which
scared some of them out. We had bid
ders in Milwaukee, Omaha, Chicago and
other places and were just getting them
warmed up when my arrest in Chicago
upset all the plans.
THE next plan,'' witness said, was
to get the city to buy the hydraulic
water plant 1t was practically worth
less, so far competition was con-
cerned, but could be made to appear
good. In order to get that through it
was necessary to have the city'S charter
amended and for this purpose we had
to arrange with Senator Burns and
others. Moses Crow and Mr.. Gray of
New York were to back the scheme
financially and were to put up $4,000
as a starter. Willard Kingsley of this
city acted for them.
"Of this amount we were to give $10,-
coo to Editor Conger, $4,000 to Senator
Burns, $4,000 was to go to carry the
legislature for the bill and the balance
of $4,000 was to be divided between
Mayor Perry, Editor Sproat, George Ell
lis and myself. This plan fell down.
however, when a referendum clause was
attached to the bill, and we had to give
it up and go on with the Lake Michigan
deal"
c. S. Burch, manager of the Evening
Press, denies the charges made by SAILS
''The statement of Liant K. Salisbury
that he ever paid me any money or Of
feerd to do so, or that l ever had any
conversation with him whatever regard
ing the matter is an unqualified false
hood.
"The Herald from the inception of
this plot has steadfastly opposed its
consummation and with untiring zeal
Herald was the first paper in Grand
Rapids to expose the Barton deal in
Chicago and was the first to demand
the grand jury investigation The Her
aid continued to urge the summoning
of the grand jury until it was called and
was relentless in demanding the full ex-
posure of the plot and the punishment
of the cOnspirators.
1.-THE arch-conspirator has been con-
victed and now he turns on me as own
er of this paper for revenge"
Collector of Internal Revenue Samuel
NJ Lemon made a signed statement
denying Salsbury's story He said:
II never held any conversation or
communication with Salisbury, secretly
or otherwise. on the subject of a water
supply for the city"
State Representative Van Zoern made
a similar denial.