The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-12-01
A TALE OF CRAFT.
Story of Grand Rapids Water
Scandal Told in Court.
Immense Sums Collected from
Bidders and Divided.
Bribes Ranged in Size from $50
to Many Thousand.
NEWSPAPER INCLUDED
Former City Attorney Gives Full
Particulars.
Names of the Brlbed and Amount
Paid to Each.
One Legislative Member Sold as
Low as $50.
Bribes Ranged in Size from $50
to Many Thousand.
NEWSPAPER INCLUDED
Former City Attorney Gives Full
Particulars.
Names of the Bribed and Amount
Paid to Each.
One Legislative Member Sold as
Low as $50.

Grand Rapids, Mich. Dec. 1-Witt
the entire city stirred by the revela-
tons of ex-Attorney Liant K. Salisbury
on his testimony at the bribery hear
ing of State Senator Burns Yesterday
the examination of other men arrested
as the result of Salisbury's confessions
to the prosecutor, Alderman De Pagter
was begun today. De Pagter is charg-
ed with having received a $3.50 bribe
from Salisbury to support the Lake
Michigan water deal. Salisbury was
the first witness. He testified that he
gave De Pagter $3.50 at about the same
time that he did the others he bribed.
the currency being delivered in Sails
bury's office in the city hall.
''I told him that he could have $4,000
ultimately" said Salisbury. "and 1 ex-
planned how I wanted him to support
our proposition. He agreed and later
we entered into an agreement by which
he was to receive from $4,000 to $4,000
IN water bonds"
Salisbury said that he made De
Pagter a heavier offer than was at
first contemplated because things had
come to such a pass in the common
council that in order to stand by the
deal a man had to have little more
courage, and he wanted De Pagter to
stiffen uD.
Salisbury was given a severe examin-
alton by Attorney Smedley who tried to
pin him down to details. in regard to
some of which Salisbury was in doubt.
He could not tell the date upon which
he paid DePageter nor could he tell
certainly whether he promised De
Pageter SO, 600 or $4,000 worth of bonds.
He said that some of the aldermen
were promised the first amount and
some the latter All Of the aldermen
were paid separately except in the case
of ~ex-Alderman Kinney, Salisbury 5testi-
fed, and he thought Corey p. Bissel
was present when that payment was
made. Then Attorney Smedley took
up Salsubry's confession and the man.
ner of it.. He made Salisbury acknow-
ledge that he had told the story not
only before the prosecutor, but also be-
fore Judge Newham, who will be the
trial judge unless a change of venue is
obtained. He said he hoped to be treat
ed leniently.
DePagNer's case was then adjourned
until next Monday.
Ex-Alderman Muirs' examination
was then begun. Salisbury swore thai
it was at first understood that Muir
who was known as Honest John" was
to receive 81, 900 In cash and later it was
agreed that he was to have $500 IL
bonds.
Muir had already taken a stanG
favorable to the Bailey Springs plaT
switch and explain his action saic
Salisbury.
I'VE gave him the larger inducemenf
because of his position. Muir never
took any positive action in favor of the
Lake Michigan deal until after he was
promised the $4,000 in bonds. We hat
plenty of money in sight to reward oul
friends and if the Lake Michigan dea
had gone three days longer we would
all have been millionaires.'