The evening world., 1908-12-23
C(1RAFT CASES
TRRONG COURT
IN PITTSEURO
Accused Councilnen and
Bankers Given Hearing on
Sensational Charges.

P1TTSBURG, Dec. 2a-When the
seven Councilmen and two former bank
ers. arrested here as a result OF al
legged corruption In the citv's Legislative
circles, were arraiEned to-day before
Police Magistrate f. J Rrady for a
preliminary hearing, a great crowd OF
big and little politicians were gathered
in the vicinity of the Central police
station.
owing 10 the size Of the court room,
however. hut few were allowed to en-
t., as almost every inch of available
space was taken mp by tho defendants,
their attorneys and friends, and a large
force Of newspaper men.
One OF the Guilty Confesses?
An air ~ anxiety was prevalent.
From ell apparent indications 1t was
de intention 90 tho authorities 10 probe
d ep into he alleged !".eg Ilarit!es for
4" express pI~pa.o - getting sufficient
evidence wa~r7ntlrg The arrest Of other
prs ms. y restoration OF the inttrna-
lions made Yesterday thai tie arrests 70
follow would causo one ot the greatest
eensl,!ons in ,he history Of municipal
graft in Pittshurg served to make the
scandal he one matter occupying public
Ia"tention.
There were great number Of
startling features scheduled unottically
previous to the start OF the hearings
Among them We're an alleged confession
OF one Of the accused men. fiashlght
picture showing a councilman in the
act OF accepting money from a pro
moter," who in reality, It is claimed.
was a detective also a rumor that
former President Ramsey and Cashier
vNsack. of tho German National Bank.
the accused bankers, would probably
tell al! they new concerning the al
legation. that certain CounCilmen had
received a large sum OF money in re-
turn for making the bank one of the
city's repositories.
In addition six Of the seven Council
men are known throughout political cir
c,ss as the big six the seventh is a
well-known river captain and steamboat
owner and the two bankers are prom
inent in banking circles. Repeated in
rested were likely TO be men engaged
In large affairs. all tended 10 hold the
undivided attention of the public and
ell branches of the city government to-
day.
Twelve to cllnch Cases.
Inc voters League. OF flNlSouIs'
whose secretary. Tensard De Wolf.
brought the !nformat!ons against the
nine Defendants. have in their posses
sion twelve subpoenas signed BY MaS!s-
trate Brady. These wifi bring forth per-
sons who are expected to establish a
prima facie case against the Councilmen
aal bankers.
Following are the accused men: Coun-
Icilmen Brand. WATSON, Klein, Ferguson,
Atkinson. Soffel and Melaney. The bank
ers are w. w. Ramsey and A, A. VII
Back.
Bankers Called First.
The first case taken up was that OF
Nv. w. Ramsey and A A. Nilsack. for
mer president and cashier OF the Ger
man National Bank. But one witness,
National Bank Examiner Nesblt. was
called. and by his testimony 1t was
shown that Capt John Klein, a Coun-
Gilman, had approached the bankers
about ma-kir the bank a city deposi-
tory and that 1880 had later dlsap-
peared from the bank in a sensational
and interesting manner.
Both defendants were held for court
trial on charges Of alleged conspiracy
And bribery, Their bond of $4,000 each
was renewed.