The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1908-12-29
pITTSEUaC THE
CRAFT CENTER
People DumfOundad atElp0sure
Of Municipal Corruption
SOLONS DIVIDED $4,000


councimen Showed It Was Easy
to Reach" Them and Necessltated
Sumo Ranging From 500 to S.
Some couneilmanle Votes Could Be
Had For a Suit of Clothes or Street
Car Tickets--All Held In Heavy Ball
For Court.
Plttsburg. Dec. 24-With a sudden
ness that startled Pittsburg from end
to end this city moved into first place
in the role OF corruption and municipal
graft. The people Of Pittsburg are
dumfoundcd and yet unable 10 realize
that the city is IN position to demand
every laurel for being the champion
legislative scandal center Of America.
Furthermore. it is stated chat the
shocking developments are mere pre-.
llminarics and that subsequent steps
against additional COuncilmen and
business men will not only startle
Pittsburg. but the whole country. Ap
parenily from the testimony offered
In court the city's council Is absolutely
rotten in every sense OF the word.
Out Of O mass OF testimony II was
cleaned that a majority Of the council
body of Pittsburg have been reach
ed" In the passage Of one ordinance
alone It was testified that sixty coun-
cilmen had divided $4,000. Sensations
followed one another In rapid success
SION during the hearing OF the seven
councilmen and two former bank OIL
GERS arrested on charges Of bribery
corrupt solicitation and conspiracy
last Monday night
Paid Councilman s17,5oo,
". w. Ramsey and A. A. Vilsack,
former president and cashier OF the
German National bank, we're the first
placed on trial II was testifed that
they paid Councilman John Klein, one
Of The accused sl7 500 to make the
bank a depository for the city's funds.
At the request Of the directors OF the
bank both men resigned last Saturday
They were held for court Ia the sum
Of $4,000 ball each.
The seven cOuncilmen. President
Brand and Members Klein. Soffol.
WATSON. Melancy and Ferguson. Of
common council and Atkinson. OF Sc
lect. were then called for trial.
The principal witness was Robert
Wilson. private detective and super
intendent OF the Municipal league OF
Scranton. Pa. who is employed by the
Voters league, OF Pittsburg, which
brings the prosecution against the nine
defendants.
Mr. Wilson's testimony was sensa-
tlonal in the highest degree. Aided by
an assistant. Wilson engaged a room
In a local hotel. and he testified. cut
holes in the door and walls Of an id
joining room Then a Series Of meet
ings were arranged with cOuncllmen.
His assistant Herbert Jones, posed as
p business man desiring certain ordi
nanees passed. and during hts confer
ences With the cOuncilmen Wilson and !
a stenographer were stationed in the
next room making a full record OF the |
During these conferences Council |
man Klein had a great deal TO say re
garding how complete councils we're
controlled by the accused men. the
detective said. II was also testified |
that Klein and Brand each accepted
$500 from Jones in payment for Sc
curing the passage OF an ordinance.
Sixty counolmen Divide $4,000.
At a meeting held in another local
hotel Klein. It vas testified, told VIII
son how hard It was to divide money
among the councilmen. To illustrate
his remarks. Councilman Klein told Of
how $4,000 had 10 be split between
sixty councllmen. This money was re-
ceived in connection with the con
struction OF filter beds at the new A.
tratlon plant of Pttsburg.
Councilman Klein Mr.. Wilson testl'
fed, said that the councilmen had diff
'erent prices Some councilmen. Klein
Iold him, wanted 800. some SIS, some
,25 and some s.. According to Council
nan Klein, Wilson related the s.
were known as hood
ums."
II was also possible 10 secure some
votes on. some measures
N return for a suit Of clothes or for
street car tickets.
All OF the defendants renewed their
ponds for appearance for court for
rial and were released. In the aggre-
yate the bond amounted TO $i7s,0O0.
Klein and WATSON being held in $780,
100 each.