Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-23
Hearing Begun in the Pitts
burg Graft Cases.
BANKERS RENEW BONDS
Ramsey and Vilsack Accused Of
Conspiracy and Bribery.
MORE ARRESTS EXPECTED
National Bank Examiner Nesbit the
Only Witness Called This
Morning.

PITTSRURG, December 23.-When the
seven councilr,en and two former bank
ers, arrested here Monday night as a re-
suit OF alleged corruption in the city's
legislative circles, were arraigned today
before Police Magistrate F. J. Brady for
a preliminary hearing q great crowd of
big and little politicians was gathered
in the vicinity Of the central police sta
ton.
Owing to the size Of the courtroom,
however, but q few Of the politicians
were allowed to enter. as almost every
inch Of available space was taken up by
the defendants, their attorneys and
friends and a large force Of newspaper
men.
An air of anxiety was prevalent. From
all apparent indications it was the in
tention Of the authorities to probe deep
into the alleged irregularities for the
express purpose Of getting sufficient evil
dence warranting the arrest Of other per-
sons. reiteration Of the intimation
made yesterday that the arrests to fol
low would cause one Of the greatest SEN
sations in the history Of municipal graft
in Pittsburg served to make the scandal
the one matter occupying public atten-
ton.
Held for Court Trials.
The first case taken up was that Of W.
W. Ramsey and A. A. Vilsack. former
president and cashier Of the German Ma
tional Bank. But one witness. National
Bank Examiner Nesbit, was called. and
by his testimony it was shown that Capt.
John Klein, a councilman, had approach
ed the bankers about making the bank a
city depository, and that 81, 500 had later
disappeared from the bank in a sensa-
tional and interesting manner
Both defendants were held for court
trials on charges of alleged conspiracy
and bribery, Their bond of 4,OOO each
was renewed.
There were a great number Of startling
features scheduled unofi1cially previous to
the start Of the hearings. Among them
were an alleged confession of one of the
accused men; hashlight picture showing
. councilman in the act Of accepting
money from promoter" who in reality,
1t is claimed, was detective, and also
a rumor that former President Ramsey
and Cashier Vilsack of the German Ma
tional Bank, the accused bankers, would
probably tell all they know concerning
the allegation that certain counciimen
had received a large sum Of money in re-
turn for making the bank one of the
city's repositories.
Known as "Big Six"
In addition six Of the seven councilmen
are known throughout political circles as
the Big Six" the seventh is a we'll
known river captain and steamboat
owner, and the two bankers are promi-
nent in banking circles.
Repeated insinuations that the men yet
to be arrested were likely to be men
engaged In large affairs all tended to hold
the undivided attention Of the public and
all branches Of the city government to-
day.
The Voters League OF Pittsburg, whose
secretary, Tensard de Wolf, brought the
informations against the nine defendants
have in their possession twelve subpoenas
signed by Magistrate Brady. These will
bring forth persons who are expected tc
establish a prima facie case against the
councilmen and bankers.
Following are the accused men:
Councilmen Brand. WATSON. Klein, Fer.
guson, Atkinson Sofel and Melaney. The
bankers are Ramsey and Vilsack.