The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1908-12-24
GRAFT EXPOSURE
FOLLOWS ARREST

an early date.
In the meantime tho people of Pitts
burg are surprised almost beyond de-
scription at the audiences OF h ar
rest OF the nine men, who are all we'll
known. According to the best infor-
nation Obtainable today 1t is possible
he municipal scandal of San Francisco
will be insignificant when compared to
alleged grating here.
Another Sensation.
Another sensation developed today
when 1t became known that Director Of
Public Safety Lang had demanded the
resignation Of Captain of Detectives
Edwin 7. McGough. The action fol-
lowed a conference between Mayor
Guthrie and Dierctor Lang. Mr.. Lang
said today:
MY reason for asking McGough for
his resignation a nothing to do with
the arrest OF the cOuncilmen. There
was another reason and a more serious
one, but what 1t is will not discuss"
Reports are in circulation, however,
that differ from the directors state
ment. McGough Is well known through-
out h country as a clever detective.
Five OF the accused councflmen, Was
son, Ferguson, Brand, Klein and Ma
loney, have issued statements today
which are to the effect hat they are
greatly surprised and are all at sea re-
harding their arrest.
City 10 Aroused.
The scandal has startled the city as
nothing else has done in years. Keep
ing even the local police authorities and
Intention, officers of the Voters league,
aided by o1lcials of h Municipal
league, Of Scranton, Pa, and a corps
OF private detectives from that city.
quietly gathered evidence against seven
councilmen and two bankers. Yester-
An., b~S~AananN. - oSAA~A,,v- Svyarn 90
sembled In conference and the evidence,
which was indOrsel by prominent attor-
neys 10 sufficient to take action, was
laid before them by the Voters league.
The arrests followed within q few
hours.
Bank Scandals.
In the meantime two bankers. Presi.
the German National bank. had ten
fdered their resignati0ns to the direct
orr last Saturday, when the bank ex-
Aminer made the alleged discovery that
they, without knowledge OF the direct
orr. had arranged to pay 9 large sum
ment Of the bank as one OF the city's
Repositories. The bank issued q state
ment today that h two onicials had
been replaced and that h bank was
in no way effected.
In addition to the bank case the
rouncilmen are charged with irregu-
larities in connection with a number Of
ordinances pending in the council, cali
Ing for municipal improvements. 1t
Ii stated there are many points in the
scandal not vet made public n6|that
subsequent developments will be of an
interesting character.
conspiraey.is Charge.
P%ittsburg, Dec. 22.-Seven members
OF the city council were arrested last
night at the instance of the Voters
league, q civic reform organization.
charged with conspiracy. corrupt
practices and bribery in connection
with municipal legislation during the
past two years
Alleged facts In establishing deposit
taries for the funds of the city were
enumerated in the complaints, and 1t ID
said. q number OF persons occupying
OficialR positions in local banks will be
shortly arrested. Three of the COM
paints are against j. G. WATSON,
chairman Of the finance committee of
tho common council: John r. Klein. of
fhat committee. and VIM. b. Rand,
president OF h common council.
Another complaint names those
three, together with T. O. Atkinson. of
select council: Jacob Soffel and w. II.
Melaney and Hugh Ferguson. Of COM
NOR council. and charges them with
conspiracy to cur by corrupt and
unlawful mean and by bribery Of other
members OF the two branches Of the
council tho passage of the measures
enumerated In the arst charge and
also to control and dominate the COM
lntttees and chairmen of committees.