Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-12-23
P|TTSBURC SCANDAL
RIVALS SAN FRANCISCO
Seven COunCi|men and Two Bankers
are Accused Of Many Grazing
Operations.
STILL OTHERS WILL Be ARRESTED
Possible That Prosecution Of Accused
Will Revea! Greatest Conspiraoy In
History Of Municipal government
Police Were Not Consulted Until
Priva.e Detectives Compile ed Work

PITTSRURG. PA. Dec. 22-FOllow-
ing the sensational arrests here last
night OF seven Councilmca and two
bankers on charges Of alleged corrnp-
lien In conducting the public affairs
of this city. 1t Is int'mated develop
ments will transpire To-Day or ear
~ tomorrow.
In the meantime the people OF
Pitteburg ar" surprised almost be-
yOnd description at the suddenn'ss
OF the arrest Of the nine men who
are all well known. During the night
and dur,"g today there was eppar'
entity no sleep for those Interested
in the ALLEGED scandal The nine de
PENDANTS and their attorneys and
friends held as many conferences for
the purpose of discussing the matter
while the officials OF the Voters
Lcague, who worked up the charges
against the defendants. together with
prominent attorneys and high NUM-
cipal officials Of the CITY. also held q
meeting at which il is said plans were
perfected for the ares; Of other men
alleged to he implicated in the brib
cry scandal According to the best
obtainable Information today 1t Is
possible the municipal scandal OF
San Francisco will be insignificant
when compared to the alleged graft
ing here
Attorney n Leo We. president OF
the Voters LeaEue. stated TODAY:
This IS the beginning; the end Is
not VET
Following are the men accused:
Councilman William L. Brand. John
F. Klein. John WATSON. T. o. Atkin
son. Jacob SEfFel. w. n. Melaney and
HUGH FsrgusOn Former President
w. " Ramsey and former Cashier A
a. Vilsack Of the German Naiiora
Bank arc also accused.
Information against the seven mem
hc-S Cf the council charges them with
conspiracy. corrupt solicitation ant
bribery. An additional information
acains, Brand. WaSsOn and Kleir
charges them with bribery and cor
rupt solicitation.
From Brand WATSON and Klein bal
in the sum OF $4,000 each was de
manded. The BAH CT the other to1
members Of councils was fixed at SIS,
Coo each.
Tho information against Ramsc,
and Vilsack charges them win Civ
ing Klein $1,000 as a hrihH. Ball de
manded from each IL $4,000.
How Evidence Was Gotten.
, All the ;nformations were sworn e
hv Tereard De Wolf. secretary OF m
+ Voters l.. agre ard formerly q polit
ical writer On local paper.
Robert Wilson. Of the Municipal
League If Scranton Pa. Is described
as tho man behind the Gun" Mr.
Wilson. assisted by I corps OF privat'
detectives which ne brought TO thi
city from Scranton. gajher'i the evl
dcrCc against tie DEFENDANTS II l.
explained that for this reason The or
tire matter wa investigated without
the Least publicity TIL" Pittsbur
Uclic. wcr" not consulted until YES
f"rdav. when !; was desired 20 max
the arrests Then Mayor Guthrie
Director Of Public Safety Lang. SUI
Icr'nteEdrn; of Police McQnaire an
other CITY officials -r"t ir 'he publ
safety building. whore Mr. Wilson
his de-; eciivcs and members of tn
Voters I.cagrc laid the evidence b.
fore them Previously some Of III
hest known at:CTreys Of the civ IA
hc"n cons1lDed and pronounce IN
"vi,icncp sufficient to Caus" the al
rests. Immediately MAYOR Guthri
ordered tho arrests. and the privai
detectives. accompanied - CITY d.
teciivcs. rounded M all tn" defend
ants. Mr. Wilson s1ys the Not"r'
L.ague Is lack Of the rroseCC ion
ard Il IS the intention o max" pitt
burg as clean as Scranton Is TO-DAY
In making Scranton 80. Hr Wise
said prominent mon COMMITTED su
eide or were sCnt 20 h. pcuiiTntisr
for long terms
The seven counsilm' I; IL ailcgc'
"dil wickcdly. corrupt, ronsp'r
with och other and with divers pct
cons ''roun 10 E"curc the passsv'
nv corr o.. ar' --l,wfsI means an
tTib"7y g :ucmbers OF N" Ss'er
AMI Cc..mun Connects Of Pittsbur;
ordinances and resolur ions dTsisns
ing depositorics Of the city. bride ri
DIM noes. etc