Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-24
MORE GRAFT ARRESTS
Warrants Prepared for Score
of Pittsburgers.
SCANDAL SHOCK TO CITY
Amazing Corruption Exposed at
Hearing Rouses Citizens.
FUND TO RUSH INVESTIGATION
Wealthy Men Back Up Voters
FUND TO RUSH INVESTIGATION
Wealthy Men Back Up Voters
League in Prosecutions-Who
Council Involved in Charges.

PITTSBURG, Pa, December 24-While
the graft scandal of Pittsburg has been
halted in so far as the making Of add-
tional arrests is concerned it is init
mated and believed this is only tenn
porary.
Apparently both the prosecution and de-
tense, officially and unofficially known.
are getting their second wind" follow
Ing the sensational developments of yes
terday.
1t is said the efforts of the investi-
gators will now be directed toward others
implicated in the alleged corruption, as
the seven councilmen and two former
bankers arrested Monday night have been
held for court.
One of the probers stated today quick
action was necessary, as undoubtedly
other persons guilty of grating were
frightened and making endeavors to elimi-
nate any trace of their participation.
Rumors are being circulated today that
a second raid will soon be made against
councilmen and business men who are
charged with corrupting the councils The
Voters League of Pittsburg is said to
have prepared twenty-five warrants for
the arrest of these persons.
Already plans are on foot to give the
nine defendants a court trial as soon as
possible. 1t is believed that District At
torney Blakeley, who has taken charge of
the matter now, will present the cases to
the grand jury early next month
BY the latter part of February, it Is
expected, the court trials will be under
way.
No Council Action Probable.
1t is probable there will not be a coun-
cilmanic investigation of the scandal.
According TO leading Independent MEN,
her of the councils such an investigation
would give no substantial results, and the
consensus of opinion is that councils, as
a body. should do nothing in the matter.
but allow the affair to take its course In
the courts.
According to statement by a member
OF the Voters League. great number
of prominent and wealthy PittSburgers
have hurried to the front to offer any as
sistance in making the "clean-up' COM
plete. The Voters League depends on
donations of money to carry on its work,
and numerous wealthy citizens have told
it TO go the limit
1t is recognized the scandal will have
potent effect on the coming city cleo
ton next February. Every faction of
politics is stirred to the utmost, and a
flood of denials is being made by pro-
spective candidates that they were i'm
plicated directly or indirectly in the cor
ruption.
Sixty Councilmen Reached"
out of the mass of testimony given yes
terday afternoon it was cleaned that
majority Of the council body Of Pittsburg
have been reached" In the passage of
one ordinance alone it was testified that
sixty councilmen had divided $4,000.
The evidence as given showed conclu-
sively the gigantic proportions of the
graft system, and while insinuations have
been made for some time past that things
here were crooked, ii was not believed
they were anywhere near so bad as the
evidence at the preliminary hearing
proved them to be.
succession during the hearing of the sew
en- councilmen and two former bank Off
GERS arrested on charges Of bribery, cor
rupt solicitation and conspiracy
W. w. Ramsey and A. a. Nilsack for
mer president and cashier of the German
National Bank, were first placed on trial.
1t testified that they had been APP
preached by Councilman John kleine, one
OF the accused, who stated the bank would
he made depository for the city's funds
in tho event the German National Bank
would do as other banks have done"
How $3.50 Disappeared"
After several conferences, the bankers
placed 1880 on a table in d room of
the bank. Councilman Kleine and a com
panion entered the room. and short time
later left the bank. The bankers then
visited the room and the money was gone
At the request of the directors of the
bank both men resigned last Saturday.
They were held for court in the sum Of
$4,000 bail each.
The seven councilmeu. President Brand
and Members Kleine. Soffel. WATSON. Me-
laney and Ferguson of common council
and Atkinson. of select council were
then called for trial. The principal wit
ness was Robert Wilson a private detec-
tive and superintendent 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
sensational i'm the highest degree.
Aided by an assistant, Wilson engaged
room in a local hotel and he testified,
cut holes in the door and walls of an ad-
joining room. Then series of meetings
were arranged with councilmen His as
sistant, Herbert Jones. posed as a bust
ness man desiring certain ordinances
passed and during his conferences with
the councilmen Wilson and a stenoRra-
pher We're stationed in the next room
making full record Of the transactions.
During these conferences Councilman
Kleine had a great deal to say regarding
how completely councils We're controlled
by the accused men, the detective said
Detective Wilson testified that Noyem-
her Is Councilman kleine by agreement
met Mr. Jones in the Duquesne Hotel.
Kleine told Jones that the ordinance was
in good shape for passage.
II have something for you. Mr.. Kleine -
said Jones. Jones'" said Wilson. then
counted out five NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. bills
and gave them to klene. On the same