The Washington herald., 1909-01-31
AMAZING REVELATIONS IN PITTSBURG GRAFT" CASES

by the largest majodity ever given from
his ward
The Tube City Railroad. intended 10 be
a commuters line Of sixteen miles, con
Meeting PiItsburg with McKeespOTt. was
seeking a franchise of the city fathers
According to Martins own story. G s
Cameron. president OF the Tube City
road. called him TO the Cameron Offices
in the Arrott Building one day and offered
him $4,000 20 put the franchise through
councils Martin took a few days time
TO think IL over and then returned and
said Il would require $50 go. These terms
were accepted and Cameron took Martin
20 the safety deposit vaults n the base
ment Of the building and IN Martins
presence deposited there 4 certified check
for the money. which was to be paid
over when Martin made good
Cameron and c. A Richardson. who
was interested IN the railroad. Kept tne
keys 10 the vault. After locking the box
/ Cameron engaged Martin IL conversation,
which had a bearing or subsequent events.
il transpired. A few days later James
Nulhoiland. q consulting engineer for the
railroad. came 20 Martin and told him
that while he had been talking 20 Cam
( eron after the check was locked I'D
Richardson had distracted II from the
box he told Martin this because he
wanted him 20 get q square deal" he
said, on account Of the great risk in
vOlved-
Martin then suIked in his tent and did
nothing for a few days. Cameron again
/ sent for him and demanded that he tell
the reason. which Martin proceeded 70 do
Cameron then gave some explanation for
= OH Nalsr rr-7Ea
very solicitous over the franchise Ordi-
nance and raised his bid 10 7eao5 he
went into his desk and pulled forth $1,000
( In cash. The sight Of this was too much
for Martin and he again agreed Into the
vault went the cash. Cameron. Martin,
and Richardson witnessing the act.
A dav later Richardson told Martin that
the cash was missing. Martin replied
that he knew nothing about the matter.
Suspecting that Martin already had the
money in his possession by some means
/ Richardson proceeded 10 have him ar
rested on charge Of bribery
Guilt and Flight.
Martin was held in s7Oco0 bail Detec-
tives OF a private bureau were put on
the case. These detectives soon received
a report that # they would send a trust
worthy man 10 a certain room at the
/ Antler Hotel at a certain hour the
money would be returned to the railroad
+ company through this agency The de-
/ tective was to receive Sl0.0o9 for his serv-
/ ices. The detectives went TO the room
| and there lay the money. Incidentally
4 the detectives took no chances on not
/ getting their fee and abstracted II from
/ the heap Of money before them. The re-
mainder was returned
The detectives saw no interested person
az the hotel. but it was learned that be
( fore their arrival c. s. Cameron and his
! brother. A. A Cameron. had been IN the
| lobby. c. S. Cameron then 1ed-to an
| island In Lake Huron.
/ Cameron a wealthy man, had lumber
! ing and oil interests there. Martin was
/ tried and convicted and got three years N
the Western Penitentiary. which time he
! is now serving Richardson was tried
and convicted on a charge Of conspiracy
20 bribe and his sentence was suspended.
pending the trial Of Cameron Months
/ later Cameron returned from the Ca
madam wilds stood trial. and was con-
Evicted on Martins evidence He is now
/ out on S25,eo0 bail. and has appealed his
| case to the state Supreme Court
| City OF SpenGcT8.
/ Pittsburg has long been a graft center.
and the atmosphere in number OF lines
OF business has savored Of it. The max
! Ing of 100 mililonaires by the United
States steel Corporation produced extra
| ordinary. results. The reformers in Pitts
burg say that the first flush caused by
the possession of vast amounts Of money
| by the steel and iron men went down
! through the different grades Of wealth
until it struck even. the common people -
Pittsburg to-day is a city Of spendeTs,
according TO the vernacular- Thousands
Of men I've beyond their means. Politics
has long since caught the spirit. A cam
paign in Pittsburg means cash flowing
| like water. When the campaign Is won
much wine is dispensed and largess is
/ distributed. What follows 10 pay for it
all has become matter of history.
Following the rule OF the notorious
/ Quay and his political banks there has
come to be what Is known as the Bank
| ers' Colony in the Western Penitentiary.
The decent element OF Pittsburg. though
/ largely in the majority, has been led by
| the politicians, the reformers say, and
nave stood for things because OF queer
/ and specious arguments advanced by
gangsters surrounded with a halo Of re-
speciality. Pittsburg to-day IS phiio-
soph;cai. but not wholly contented by any
means.
u guess We have become sort Of accus-
toned TO IT, said one reformer. naively.
in the last week But ne are beginning
to resIize the truth OF what Dr. Charles
Psrkhurst. Of New York. said.
/" The thing most % be feared IS not