New-York tribune., 1908-12-23
SAW BRIBE PHOTOGRAPH,
TAKEN By RUSE.
Directed Investigation of Bank
Which Lea to Voters League
Inquiry.
rsy telegraph 70 TIE Tribune.I

last night
one Ct the leading counciInen, 1t is alleged.
vas caught in the act Of accepting & brfbe by a
AashIteh- photograph An ordinance was
rassed some time ago to pave Fourth avenue
win wooden blocks. The Finance Committee OF
Councils refused 10 ratify the contract it is said
unless $4,000 was paid The contractor in
formed the Mayor. whereupon II was arranged
rhar detective should be introduced as the con-
-ractors partner
The Councilman approached the detective, ac-
cordirz 10 the story. and said: It's coming
Christmas and the boys need a little money
You Rad better settle
Al right Come TO the Fort Pitt Hotel and 7
VII pay up" the bogus contractor is quoted in
reply While seated in room Of the hotel,
counting out the $4,000 II is said that a fash
light vas snapped Just as the Councilman had
tAs bills in his hand s.nd was counting them a
revolver was placed at the head Of the Council
-nzn a. TIE same time. and he ordered TO
drop the money. which he did The Councilman
vas then allowed 10 deparr-
Tie photograph was developed. and proved TO
b Eoc6 one Il is said that Mayor Guthrie in
:1rned President Roosevelt OF the trick and
that The President asked that copy Of the pict-
IRE b sent u hin, which was done
President Roosevelt sent & special examiner
here investigate the German National Bank
the president and cashier Of which were removed
learned that on June . 1905. S17.500 had been
paid 70 councilman 10 have resolution passed
making The hank city depository. The Presi-
dent Informed Mayor Guthrie who laid the facts
before the Voters League That body engaged
detectives from Scranton. who were detailed 70
t-zI The members OF councils
DETECTIVE CAPTAIN OUsTED.
-5vard McGough. captain Of detectives was
su---arlly dismissed this morning by Director
Lang. o. the order Of Mayer Guthrie. 4IcGough
z alleged 20 have tipped of" several Of his
friends among the counciIrnen 70 the fact that
warrants were issued for their arrest Reports
are IL circulation that. owing 70 This alleged
LEAK II the public safety department. six men
have EFF the city result Of the disclosures
Il connection with the graft scandal Nc
Cough. when pressed fer g statement regarding
rs dismissal said:
There IS nothing criminal against uae.
L Is alleged that John : Hershey, q Phila-
5eIpnia attorney. representing a syndicate which
sought 20 b-1iId q street railway from Franks
rowu avenue 70 Penn Township. where new
rov--- named Hebron. is 10 be established. was
asked for = bribe 70 permit the traction com
pa-y 70 lsy one-half mile OF track in Pittsburg
= letter which Il Is alleged was sent 10 Hershey
follows.
Your ordinance CHebron Street Railway IS
-ead~ 70 pass Come on and bring 5000 along"
q
Gilman Hershey denies thar ne paid the coun-
Gilman anything for the franchise
Five Of The accused CounciInneu. Messrs. Was
son, Ferguson. Brand. Klein and AIeIaney. have
issued statements to-day. which are 10 the effect
-har they are greatly surprised and al at sea
regarding their arrest
Following are the bondsrnen for the nine de-
tendanrs-
For Councilman Melaney. @ A Hogg. Of the
employed. for Councilman Wasson, Joseph B.
Shea. vice president Of the National Bank Of
Western Pennsylvania: for Councilman SoffeL
Peter SofTeI. his father: for Councilman Fer
Eusou. Edward Dawson: for President Brand.
Charles P Naser: for Councilman Atkinson,
Samuel Wainwright and Frank Mccain. for
Councilman Klein. County Commissioner
s ! Toole- A J. vIlseck qualified as bondsman
FOR his brother a A TiIsack cashier OF the
German Bank. and C. D Packer, one Of Andrew
Car2egie's Young partners, furnished the re-
qui-e5 hail for President Ramsey
TIE nine defendants furnished an aggregate
bail y s17s.OoO
SCRANTON CALLED TO AID
Robert wilson s1IDerinte11dent Of the EIunici-
"a Leagre Of Scranton. Penn IS described as
The nan behind the gun" M Wilson as
sisted by corps OF private detectives. which
he brought 70 this city from Scranton, gathered
~ evidence against the defendants II is ex-
rlsfne6 that for this reason the entire matter
r-ss investigated without the least publicity.
Thz Pittsburg police were not consulted until
-ester1sy wner It was desired 70 make the ar
rests Then Mayor Guthrie. M Lang. Director
= Public safety. Mr.. NcQuaide. Supertnten-
dent - Police and other city officials met in
the Public Safety Building. where Mr. Wilson,
his detectives and members of the Voters
League laid the evidence before them Pre-
viousIy some OF the best known attorneys in
The CITY had been consulted and pronounced the
evidence sufficient u cause the arrests Imne-
5lareIy Mayor Guthrie ordered the arrests and
TIE private detectives. accompanied by city de-
tec-ives rounded up all the defendants.
AE- Wilson says the Voters League IS back OF
The prosecutions. and IL is the intention 10 make
Fittsbl1rg as clean as Scranton is TO-DAY. In
making Scranton so. Mr. Wilson said prominent
sner committed suicide were sent 70 the peni-
Tertiary Tor long terms
MORE ARRESTS EXPECTED.
II IS stated that other arrests viii follow. In
this connection Director Lang % the Public
Safety Department said to-day:
.-To-nlarroR ~ rning al 10 O'Clock the men ar
rested last night wiz be given hearing They
wiz not le permitted - waive hearings for
c0urr After these hearings more arrests viii
folar- However M arrests viii be made to-
Cay"
Rurors ase heard that prominent men inter
=steG "a. traction companies N this city and
PhiLaaelphia are implicated IL the bribery scan
Ca II IS also said that a number OF well known
locaI business men are 10 be arrested, while Il
Seems certain from inrimatIons made by attor-
ne-z affiliated with the Voters League. that
several more eouncIlmea viii DC taken into Gus