Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-08-05
pFlsrER is INDICTED.
Milwaukee, Multi Millionaire Caught
In the Graft Net,

Milwaukee, Aug. 5.-Charles f. Pts
ter Milwaukee'S leading capitalist
manufacturer, banker street railway
magnate, newspaper owner, hotel man
and head and front of the stalwart or
anti-La Toilette Republican faction in
Wisconsin poltics-was indicted by
the grand jury Friday. together with
four other victims Of the graft invest
igation.
Aside from the Bige1ow defalcation,
no sensation ever has stirred the me-
tropolis of Wisconsin as did the news
that flew over the city last evening
that the wealthiest citizen and one of
the foremost business men of the West
the man who saved the First Nat
ional Bank when it's president stole
millions-had been caught in District
Attorney Francis E. McGovern's drag
ne:.
The district attorney, when he start
ed the present graft inquiry, which up
to last-night has netted- 1873 indict-
ments declared there were big fish in
sight, If they only could be caught.
Pfster is the biggest fish In all the
surrounding waters.
The indictment against Mr.. Pfister
caused a double sensation, isasmuch as
persons first hearing the news assum-
ed that it might be the opening to dis
closures in connection with the street
railway franchise grant of a few years
ago, regarding which there has been
all manner of talk. The charge
against the millionaire politician, how
ever, is that of stealing $4,000, thru
the use of which the Wisconsin Rem
dering Company had expected to get a
garbage contract from the city.
1t is alleged that on March 80, 1901,
Mr.. Pfister was bailee of the sum OF
money mentioned the same having
been placed in his hands by the Wis
cinsin rendering Company for the pur-
pose of obtaining a valuable contract
from the city for the collecting, trans
porting and disposing Of garbage. If
not used for that purpose, 1t is alleged,
the money was to be returned to the
Wisconsin Rendering Company. The
charge is made that the money was
not used as planned, and that Mr..
Pfister did unlawfully, feloniously
and farudulently steal, take and carry
away and fraudulently convert the
same to his own use
F. C. Gross, president Of the Wiscon-
sin Rendering Company, was witness
before the grand jury yesterday, and 1t
is supposed the indictment was re-
turned on his testimony.
Mr.. Pfister heard Of his indictment
lying on sick bed at the Hotel Pfis-
ter, where he as been under pnysi-
Giants care for a week. He immediate
ly sent word to Clerk Waller in the
county building that he was ready to
give bail, and the clerk, accompanied
by Deputy Sheriff Knell,- went to the
hotel, where the papers were served.
Fred Vogel, president Of the First
National Bank, and brother-inlaw OF
Mr.. Ptister was present, and handed
Clerk Woller certified check for s10,-
900, the amount Of the bail fixed by
the court. Mr.. Pfster also signed the
bond.
Gives Out a Statement.
Last night Mr.. Pfister gave out the
following statement:
"The charge, as I understand 1t, is
that misappropriated moneys in
trusted to me by the Wisconsin rem
dering Company The charge is aoso-
lutely false, and has no foundation
whatever. About eight years ago F.
c. Gross. who was president of the
Wisconsin Rendering Company, placed
money in my hands,, and I disbursed