Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-30
HE WAS NO $1OO MAN
Sensational Testimony in
Trial for Bribery.
FIRST SCORNED OFFER
BUT BURNS ACCEPTED WHEN
THE OFFER WAS INCREASED.
Former City Attorney of Grand
Rapids, self-Confessed, Tells
Interesting Story.
FIRST SCORNED OFFER

GRAND RAPIDS. Mich, November 30
The examination of State Senator David
E. Burns, who was charged by Liant *.
Salisbury, the former city attorney, in his
confession of the bribery of municipal Of
ficials and others in connection with the
notorious water deal, with having received
$500 for his work, was begun today III the
police court. Salisbury was the first wit
ness for the people.
Scorned Offer at First.
He testified that he offered Burns 5000, in
addition to 800, which Burns told him he
had already received.
Burns scorned the offer at first, saying
that he was no 500 man; that he wasn't
going to introduce the bill in the legisla-
ture and have the other persons in the
deal make large amount while he had
Just little.
Burns threatened, so Salisbury swore, that
he would tack on referendum clause to
the bill wanted by the promoters unless he
was given 5000. Finally, Salisbury told
him to put in the bill and to say nothing
about the 5000 until it became law. intl-
mating that he would be further rewaI ded
then.
Paid in Salsbury's Office.
The 500 was paid to Burns in Salisbury s
office in the city hall, witness testified.
Salisbury testified that the water deal
first came to his attention in June, 19OO
when Thomas F. McGarry, local attor-
ney, told him that he had some clients who
wanted to get a contract to furnish the
city with water, and that there would be
$4,000 in it for him. Salisbury was driven
into the deal, so he confessed because of
$4,000 shortage in his bank account caused
by unfortunate speculation in wheat.
Got $25, 900.
He met r. A. Cameron of New York and
agreed to go into the deal for $4,000 cash
The money was sent by Fl. A. Taylor of
New York. the monexed man in the deal, to
the state bank.
MY sole purpose was to get the $4,000
said Salisbury, Ito straighten up my bank
account. If 1 had got that money at that
time would have settled the shortage and
there the water deal would have ended
Attorney McGarry, however, wanted S12.
500 from Salisbury, he testified, but it was
finally agreed that Salisbury should pay
him $500.
Money to Newspapers.
Salisbury then went into the newspapers
alleged connection with the deal.
Cameron wanted to know that the news
papers would support us. 1 told him that
would take care of that. 1 paid Charles
s. Burch of the Evening Press 5000.
Il also gave ]. Clark Savage, the man
ager of the Democrat, some. l was talk
ing of becoming a partner with Sproat it
being understood that l was to use the
paper as I wanted"
Salisbury also implicated Dudley E. Wa
ters, a member of the board of public
works; Eugene D. Conger, manager of the
Grand Rapids Herald, and ]. r. Thomp-
son, municipal reporter of the Evening
Stayed in to Keep Up Appearances.
Salisbury said that the reason he did not
get out of the deal after getting the first
Doodle was that he had to keep up an APP
pearance of good faith with the promoters,
and because of the drains upon him in in
teresting other people, he was unable to set
enough out of it for himself to pay up his
$4,000 shortages. After paying McGariy
$50, so he testified. he went down to ~
Mayor Perry's Office and gave him SO 3,;";;,
"Perrys theory" SO Salisbury testified,
was for him and the Democrat Ga local
parer) to support the Bailey Springs water
project this being represented as d rival
interest to the Lake Michigan deal in the
aid of which bribery was done. He a1-
vCcated the Bailey Springs with the sole
purpose of getting the other papers to OPP
nGSe the proiect