The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1908-12-31
TAKES
LEAD FOR GRAFT
Disclosures Already Made Put
Record of San Francisco
in the Shade.

Pittsburg, Dec. 2S.-Pittaburg h
moved into first pace IN ~cerruption m
municipal graft. The record Of San Fran
cisco is left far behind. ~FurthArmore. It
is stated, the sensational Developments
thus far are mere preliminary and that
subsequent proceedings against additional
councilmen n business men will startlo
the whole country.
From the testimony offered Il was hint
ed that over three score counctlmen are
easy to reach,n with SUMS ranging from
800 to IS. In The passage OF one ordinance
alone 1T was testified tina sixty council
men had divided $4,000. The evidences
showed that the graft system y gigantic
h evidence, was brought ont In the hear
Ing of the seven counciimen and two for
mer bank officials were arrested on
charges of bribery, corrupt solicitations
and conspiracy. w. w. Ramsey and A. Al
Vilsack, former president and cashier OF
the German National bank. were frst
arraigned. 1t was testified that they had
been approached by Councilman J0hE
Klein. one OF the accused. whs stated ths
bank would be a depository Dor the city'a
funds IL 1t would do as other hanks have
DONE"
Accept st7,5oe.
After several conferences Ne bankers
placed 1880 on a table Ia q room Of tho
bank. Councilman Klein and a c0n1pan-
Ion entered the roona and Aeft Vt Ia q short
time. rhe n then visited the room
and it was said the money was gone. The
bankers were held In $14.ees bail each.
The seven councllman. President Brand
and Member Klein, Stoffel. WATSON, Me-
laney and Ferguson. of the oenSnon coun-
ell, and Atkinson of the seiect. were then
called.
The principal witness was Robert Will
son. a private detective, employed by the
Voters league, OF PittsbNrg. Mr.. Wilson
/ faStifad that ha 8anpa pnd n r0dn IN n
local hotel and cut holes n the door and
walls of an adjoining room.
Then a series of meetings were arr
ranged with councilmea. His assistant,
desiring certain o-rdinaRces passed, and
during his conferences with the council
men, Wilson and a stenOgrapher Were
stationed in the next rooa making a full
record Of tho transactions.
Klein the Leader.
During the conferences, he said, Council
man Klein had muck to say regarding
how completely the councils were con-
trolled. He also declared that Klein and
Brand each accepted $500 from Jones In
payment for securing the passage OF an
ordinance.
At another meeting Klein, 1t was testi.
fled, told Wilson It was hard to divide
money among the councilmen. Council.
man Klein. Mr.. Wilson testified said thai
!. the councilmen had different prices. Some
, councilman Klein COiu Lnem, W6nteU $lUU
Z some SIS, some $5 and some S. ACCORDING
/ to Councilman Klein, Wilson related, The
35 councilmen were known as "hoodlunns.'
i 1t was also possible. the witness said. t.
secure some votes in return for a suit o.
clothes or street car tickets. All the al
t cused men were held for trial and re
leased on bond.
t "Other arrests are likely to be mad,
S shortly said District Attorney Blakel,
last night. Mr.. Blakely took charge OF tn
: cases against the accused councilmen an,
bankers Immediately after the close of tn,
Q preliminary hearing before Police Magfs
trate f. j. Brady.
: More Arrests Expected.
every effort will be made by this OF
: ice,'' continued Mr.. Blakely. ito conplet,
u the work started by the voters OF tn
league. The Voters league will probabl,
continue to make i~nformations and caus
{ arrests OF others Connected with the scan
dals. but independent of such action tn
:, district attorneys office will cause an
!, arrests which the evidence we secure jus
; titles"
The next arrests. it is said. probably wi
be in the ranks OF those charged wit
, corrupting the officials.
n "Where there is so many bride taker:
there must also be a number of bride giy
n ers who are equally guilty" was the sig
/ nincant remark of one of the prosecutors
a There is much speculation as to whethe
y the accused members will be allowed t
continue as cOuncilmeR.