The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1909-05-25
ELECTIVE SAYS
BRIBERY STORY
Was ALL FALSE
Pittsburg Famous Graft Gases
Were Based on Official
Perjury
DETECTIVES FIXED STORIES
TO SUIT THE DEMANDS
We're Employed by the Voters League
and in Order to Make Good Commit.
ted Perjury and Convicted the Mel
Required.

11IISuuI6, I'd, Way IO.-SSuS6ClOQal
and admitted fabrications charging
councilmen and ex-councilmen with
receiving various amounts OF bribe
money-some of it in a cigar box
all of the stories admittedly manu-
factured for money alleged to have
been given by the Voters league in
search of evidence, are set forth in
sworn confessions made by two of
five men against whom informations
charging conspiracy to falsely indict
and suborn a witness we're made yes
terday afternoon before Alderman ].
j. Kirby by Mrs. Annie G. Klein. wife
of Captain John F. Klein, convicted
of bribery and conspiracy in the re-
cent graft cases.
John F. Klein, w. H. Melaney, DR..
F.. H. Hendricks, Jacob Soffel, DR..
Paul H. Franklin and Hugh Ferguson
are the names mentioned in the in
formation as those who we're accused
by the defendants of taking bribe
money In various sums reaching the
maximum of $4,000.
Evidence for Grand Jury.
Two of the defendants, John Van
Ness of West End, and Thomas DON
ovar1, riverman, it is said were reg
ular detectives in the employ of the
Voters league, while the other three,
Walter Van French, no home; H. H.
Heron of Knoxville, and John Keefe
Of the Thirteenth Ward were called
in, 1t is claimed, to verify various
statements made against certain
councilmen. All of the evidence thus
secured, it is alleged, was to have
been presented before the grand jury
which convenes tomorrow morning.
1t is alleged Van Ness and Dono-
van we're engaged by Attorney A.
Leo We'll, representing the Voters
league, to secure evidence to be used
stated salary of $3.50 for. 60 days,
beginning April 2e, 1909, and in ad-
dition SIS per week for the first 80
days and the same rate for as much
time as they were employed for the
other 80 days.
The other defendants, with the ex-
ception of Keefe, who is accused of
getting "cold feet, are alleged to
have received $3.50 each for corrob-
Grating certain testimony. Another
man, Philip Fitzsimmons, has testi-
fled under oath that he was offered
$500 by Heron to go to Attorney
Wells Office and swear to testimony
given by others derogatory to the
councilmen mentioned.
Klein Is Chuckling.
Captain Klein himself was probably
the happiest man in town last night
and chuckling all evening over the
way he secured the information which
eventually led to the action being
taken against the alleged detectives
of the persecution. All Of the de-
PENDANTS, men who have spent good
part of their lives along the river,
are known to Klein.
Fitzsimmons, friend of Kleip, got
wind of the evidence alleged to have
been furnished to the Voters league
and conveyed the news to the domin-
utfve captain.
"Just right in my hands," the little
fellow chuckled. In few days he
talked with the alleged detectives and
secured sworn confessions from Van
French and Heron. In the meantime
he had conferred with Attorney John
Marion, who also knew Van French
and Donovan as detectives.
Mr.. Marion then drew up the in
formation and after two hours con-
ference WIN Attorney JOnn RODD yes
terday forenoon the information was
taken to Magistrate Kirby. As po-
lice official he refused to receive the
charges, but accepted them as an aid
ernan.
Any Evidence Good Enough.
In his sworn statement, Herron
says that on May 13, Van Ness and
Donovan asked him to go up to At
torney Wells Office. Before going in
to the Office Heron says he asked
his companions what sort of a state
ment he was to make. He says that
the answer was "Oh, anything. Well
will pay you anyhow"
He states that Van Ness introduced
him to Mr.. Well and then the attor-
ney handed two SIS bills to Van Ness
and Donovan. He further claims that
Well told the other two men to "get
away before Blakeley and Seymour
came.
Heron then says Mr.. We'll told
him that he (Herron) could make
$3.50 and SIS week extra for any