Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1909-01-09
PITTSBURC THE
CRAFT. CENTER
People Dumtoundsd atexposura
Of Municipal Corruption.
sOlONs DIVIDED $4,000

Testimony st Hearing Of the Accused
couneilmen Showed u Was Easy
TO Reach" Them and NeeessItstsd
Sums Ranging From 500 to IS.
Some CounciImanic Votes Couid Be
Had For = Suit Of Clothes or Street
Car TIekets-All Held In Heavy Bail
For Court.
With suddenness that startled
Pittsburg from end to end the city
moved into frEt place in the role of
CORR 1tion and municipal graft. 1t Is
said the developments are mere pre-
nminaries and that subsequent steps
against additional councilmen and
business men will not only startls
Pittsburg. but the whole country. AID.
parently from the testimony offered
In court the city's council is absolutely
rotten In every sense of the word.
W. w. Ra 1sey and A. A. Vilsack
former president and cashier OF the
German National bank. were the first
placed on trial. II was testified that
of the accused. S17.50o to make the
bank depository for the city's funds.
At the request OF the directors OF the
bank both men resigned last Saturday
They were held for court IN the sum
OF $4,000 bail each.
The seven councilmen. President
Brand and Members Klein. Sonel.
WATSON. Melaney and Ferguson. Of
common council, and Atkinson. OF Sc
lect. were then called for trial.
The principal witness was Robert
Wilson. a private detective and super
intendent OF the Municipal league Of
Scranton, Pa. who is employed by the
Voters league. OF Pittsburg. which
brings the prosecution against the Fine
defendants.
Mr.. wilson's testimony was sensa
uonal In the highest degree. Aided by
an assistant, Wilson engaged a room
In a local hotel. and he testified. cut
holes in the door and walls OF an ad.
joining room. Then a series OF meet.
ings were arranged with councilmen.
His assistant. Herbert Jones. posed as
a business man desiring certain ordi
nances passed, and during his confer.
snces with the councilmen Wilson and
a stenographer were stationed in the
next room making a full record OF the
transactions
During these conferences Council
man Klein had great deal 10 say re
garding how complete councils were
controlled by the accused men. the
detective said. II was also testified
that Klein and Brand each accepted
$500 from Jones in payment fer Sc
curing the passage OF an ordinance.
At meeting held in another local
hotel Klein. IL was testified, told WI.
son how hard II was TO divide money
among the councilmen. To illustrate
his remarks. Councilman Klein told OF
how $4,000 had to be split between
sixty councilmen. This money was re
ceived in connection with the con.
struction OF alter beds at the new al.
tration plant OF Pittsburg.
Councilman Klein. Mr.. Wilson testi.
ned, said that the councilmen had dlf.
ferent prices. Some councilmen. Klein
told him. wanted 500. some SIS. some
$25 and some s.. According to Council.
man Klein. Wilson related. the IS
codncilmen were known as hood.
lums"
II was also possible TO secure some
councilmanic votes on some measures
In return for a suit of clothes or for
street car tickets.
All OF the defendants renewed their
bonds for appearance for court for
trial and were released. In the aggre
gate the bond amounted to $17S.OOO.
Klein and WATSON being held in $40.
600 each.