Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-04
COULD NOT GIVE DATES
But Insisted the Money Was
Paid to Alderman.
SALISBURY TESTIFIED
DECLARED HE PROMISED JOHN
SON $4,000 IN BONDS.
Latter Agreed to Support Water Deal
for 1000, Part Of Which
Was Paid.
SALISBURY TESTIFIED

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich, December A.
The examination of Alderman CharleS l.
johnson, charged with accepting pripe
from Liant X Salisbury to support the
lake Michigan water deal, in aid or wmch
Salisbury alleges he bribed score or more
of prominent citizens, including the man
ayers of three local newspapers, WAS taheli
UP in police court today.
Salisbury had sufficiently recovered u
again take the stand as witness. lie was
unable to remember any more thah .he
substance Of various conversations Win
Johnson in the summer of l9o, put Stateu
that johnson agreed to support the water
deal for 81 600 in cash, $3.50 of which Sais-
bury Says he paid him. Salisbury SAID:
Promised Him $1,000 in Bonds.
"a little while after / offered Johnson
8, 600 further promised him $1,000 IN
bends. He did not ask for them, the propo-
s;tion being made by me voluntarily
On cross-examination Salisbury said he
did not at first approach Johnson himself
Corey p Bissell OF the board OF pupllo
works who waived examination in the po-
lice court on a bribery charge, going 10
him. ,a;,x, +o
The reason for this was, ACCORDING .o
Salisbury. that Bissell and Johnson were
friends. and that, in case of an exposure
Salisbury believed Johnson would not De SO
quick to give Bissell away as he Woulo
him mself He said. however, that ne dlo 'io'
ask Bisseli to approach Johnson.
Also Gave for Campaign Expenses.
Salisbury could not tell the number oil
times that he talked with Johnson ABOUT
the deal. nor could he tell the date OF the
payment. saying merely that 1t was be-
tween June and September.
Salisbury said he also gave Johnson %loV
or 5000 for his campaign expenses, and that
he contributed money to the funo Oh every
democratic candidate for alderman.
Attorney Carroll kept insisting upon Sals-
bury fixing exact dates, which the witness
was unable to do. The examination was
adjourned until next Wednesday. The ad-
journment in this case, as IN the others,
which were set over until Monday after
Salisbury had finished in each, was taken
for the purpose of preparing the record and
having it sworn to by SALISBURY.
Attitude Of the Defense.
The attitude of the defense in each case
has been to learn as much as possible OF
Salsbury's story, in order to plan for the
trial in the superior court.
In Johnson's case a suggestion Of the
character of the defense was given by
question asked by Attorney Carroll:
Did you ever have any talk with Alder
man Johnson upon the water deal except
when he approached you at your desk IN
the council chamber and insisted that such
an important matter as the proposed water
contract should be submitted to vote of
the people?'
Only for Blind.
'T have no recollection of any such talk"
answered, the witness. IF he did, it was
only for a blind
How do you know?" demanded Mr.. Car
roll. Did you know what was in his
mind? Are you mind reader?'
II know what was in his mind just as
well as I did what was in my own mind"
answered Salisbury.