The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1908-12-31
adRAFTERS" IN PITTSBURG
EQUALS PHILADELPHIA IN EX-
TENT OF CORRUPTION.


TENT OF CORRUPTION.
Shocking and Sensational Testimony
but a Preliminary to Disclosures
Which Will Stir Nation.
Pittsburg, Dec. 23.-With sud-
denness that startled Pittsburg from
end to end, this city to-day moved
into first place in the role OF corrup-
tien and municipal graft. -
Late tonight, many hours after
thanderboIts in the shape OF sensa-
ticnaI testimony had fallen, citizens
of Pittsburg we're dumbfounded. 1t
is stated the shocking Developments
he ee to-day are mere prelimiaaries
and subsequent steps against .1di-
tional councilmen and business ',1en
will not only startle Pittsburg, Int
the whole country.
It was intimated strongly in the
testimony in court to-day that over
three score councilmen are "easy to
reach" and the reaching" necessi-
tated only small sums ranging from
500 to SIS.
In the passage of one ordinance
: alone 1t was testified that so council
men had divided $4,000.
Sensations followed one another
in rapid succession during the hear
ing of the seven councilmen and two
former bankf officers arrested on
charges of bribery, corrupt solicita-
ton, and conspiracy last Monday
night.
w. w. Ramsey and A. A. Vilslck,
former president and cashier OF the
German National bank, were first
placed on trial. It was testified that
they had been approached by Coun-
Gilman John Kleine, one OF the &C
cused, who stated the bank would be
made depository for the city funds
in the event ttthe German National
bank would do as other banks have
DONE" After several conferences
the bankers placed s17.500 on ia
BILE in a room of the bank. Council
man Klein and companion entered
the room and a short time later lett
the bank. The bankers then visited
the room and the money was gone.
At the requests of the directors OF
the bank, both men resigned last
Saturday.
They were held for court in the
sum of $4,000 bail each.
Trial of Councilmen.
The seven councilmen, President
Brand and Members Kleine,i Soffel,
z Wasson, Melaney and Ferguson OF
common council, and Atkinson, of
select council, were then called for
trial. The single witness was Rob
ert Wilson, private detective and
Superintendent of the Municipal
S League of Scranton, Pa, who is en-
ployed by the Voters League OF
Pittsburg, which brings the prosecu-
ton against the nine defendants. Mr.
Wilson's testimony was sensational.
Aided by an assistant, wilson en-
gagged room in local hotel and, ne
testified, cut holes in the door and
walls Of an adjoining room. Then q
series of meetings were arranged
with councilmen. His assistant, Her
bert Jones, posed as business man
desiring certain ordinances passed
and during his conference with the
councilmen, Wilson and stenog-
rapher were stationed in the next
room making q full record OF the
transactions. During these confer
ences Councilman Kleine had a great
deal to say regarding how complete
councils were controlled by the ac-
cused men, the detective said. 1t was
also testified that Kleine and Brand
each accepted $500 from Jones in
: payment for securing the passage OF
z an ordinance.
At a meeting held in another local
hotel Kleine, it was testified, told
wilson how hard it was to divide
8 money among the councilmen. Coun-
Gilman Kleine told of how $4,000
had to be split between 60 council
men. This money was received IN
connection with the construction OF
+ filter beds at the new filtration plant
of Pittsburg. e..
fed, said that the councilmen hao
different prices. Some councllmen'
Kleine told him, wanted $1OO, some
$75, some SIS, and some IS. Ac-
cording to Councilman Kleine, Will
son testified, the IS men were known
as ethoodlums."
It was also possible to secure some
councilmanic votes on some meas
ures in return TOr q Sult Oh cioIues
or for street car tickets.
with the exception of Kleine and
Wasson, all of the different men i'm
mediately renewed their bonds for
appearance for court trial and were
released. In the aggregate the bonds
amounted to $118,000.
Reine and Wasson succeeded III
securing $4,000 bond with friends
as security.
Mistakes Man for Bear.
Chattanooga, Tenn, Dec. 90
Mistaking a drunk man clad in
long Buffalo overcoat for a bear,
Thomas Deckmar, well known
farmer, last night shot and instantly
killed Thomas Andrews, near LaFay-
80. Te,n Andrews had been In