Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1909-01-01
GRAFT EXPOSURE
FOLLOWS ARREST

Pittsburg. Dec. 24~.-Following the
sensational arrests here last night of
seven councilmen and two bankers on
charges of alleged corruption In con-
Quoting the public affairs OF this city.
1t Is intimated today that even more
startling developments will t~ranspire at
an early date.
In the meantime the people of Pitts
burg are surprised almost beyond de-
s~cription at the suddenness of the ar
rest of the min men. who are all well
According to the best infor-
nation obtainable today II is possible
the municipal scandal of San Francisco
will be insignificant when compared TO
alleged grating here.
Another Sensation.
Another sensation developed today
when IL became known that Director OF
Public Safety Lang had demanded the
resignation of Captain of Detectives
Edwin T. 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 has nothing to do with
the arrest Of the councilmen. There
was another reason and a more serious
one, but what it Is I will not discuss"
Reports are in circulation, however.
IIldI ulIltT lIoIl ltit ulltCNot . y
ment. McGough Is well known through
out the country as a clever detective.
Five of the accused councilmen, Was
son. Ferguson, Brand, Klein and Ma
loney, have issued statements today
which are to the effect that they are
greatly surprised and are all at sea re-
garding their arrest.
City Is Aroused.
The scandal has startled the city as
nothing else has done in years. Keep
ing ever the local police authorities and
officials of the city In ignorance OF their
intention, officers of the Voters league.
aided by officials of the Municipal
league, OF Scranton, Pa, and a corps
Of private detectives from that city,
quietly gathered evidence against seven
councilmen and two bankers. Yester-
day the officials of Pittsburg were as
sembled in conference and the evidence,
which was indorsel by prominent attor-
neys as sufficient to take action, was
laid before them by the Voters league.
The arrests followed within a few
hours.
Bank Scandals.
In the meantime two bankers, Presi-
dent Ramsey and Cashier Vilsack, OF
the German National bank, had ten
dered their designations to the direct
ors last Saturday, when the ban ex-
mine 1lduc the diitSeu uiSCoNtly lliah
they, without knowledge of the direct
ors, lax arranged to pay a large sum
to councilmen to secure the appoint
ment of the bank as one of the cfty's
de~positaries. The bank ISSUED a state
ment today that the two officials a
been replaced and that the bank was
in nc way effected.
In addition to the bank case the
councilmen are charged with irregu-
~larities in connection with a number of
ordinances pending in the council, call
ing for municipal improvements. 1t
IS stated there are many points In the
scandal not yet made public and that
subsequent developments will be OF an
interesting character.
Conspiracy is Charge.
Pittsburg, Dec. 22.-Seven members
OF the city council were arrested last
night at the instance of the Voters
league, a 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 is
said, q number Of persons occupying
official positions in local banks will be
shortly arrested. Three OF the COM
DIdlHtS are dSdiioi j. -" =" oSDpif
chairman Of the finance committee OF
the common council: John F. Klein, OF
that committee. n VIM. b. Rand,
president OF the 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
mon council, and charges them with
conspiracy to- secure by corrupt and
unlawful means and by bribery OF other
members of the two branches of the
council the passage Of the measures
enumerated in the first charge and
also to control and dominate h COM