The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-08-20

Chicago, Aug. l9.-The Illinois Central
Railway graft scandal storm broke with
tenpestuous fury to-day. Shortly after
noon Frank B. Hartman. of 6351 Bennett
avenue. formerly general manager OF the
Illinois Central lines, was arrested, as
was also simultaneously Charles L.
Ewing. Of $3.50 Euclid avenue. formerly
general superintendent Of the road. north
OF the Ohio River They were taken into
custody by Sergt William Reid and De-
tective w. J. Burns. OF the Burns &
Sheridan Detective Agency. who had per-
sonal charge OF working up the evidence
against the alleged Illinois Central graf
tiers.
The arrests were made on warrants
sworn 90 last night and issued to-day by
Judge Bruggemeyer, OF the Harrison
street court There. also. were warrants
taken out for John NJ Taylor, of 800
Washington avenue. formerly general
storekeeper Of the Illinois Central shops
at Burnside The men are charged in
the writs with conspiracy to cheat ana
defraud the road by false pretenses, and
with operating a confidence game.
Scores of Writs Made out.
The name OF Ewing was thus brought
into the case. as far as the public is
concerned. for the first time These war
rants are merely the forerunners OF hosts
OF such writs that will be taken out.
President J. T. Harahan himself swore
10 tho charges An attache Of the road
said to-day:
1--WE wiz get the last man in this con-
spiracy, down 20 the fellows that drove
the spikes IN the roadbed, if there be
any such. that had guilty knowledge OF
the scheme"
The same officer announced that some
idea might be conveyed TO the public OF
the strength OF the criminal cases that
have been worked up against the alleged
offenders by reason OF the fact that the
road this week refused an offer OF $4,000.
in return for which the complaints were
TO be dropped and no public exposure Of
the alleged culprits made.
The mass Of evidence against these
men and the others. who will be arrested
later, is so great II demonstrates that
political graft in its palmicst conditions
pales into insignifcance beside the hood
winking Of the executives Of the great
railroads by designing underlings." said a
man who has been identified with the
investigation. II predict that the other
roads viii wake up and investigate. and
that there viii be sensation after sensa-
ton before the subject Of railroad graft
becomes a dead issue"
Evidence Is Furnished.
Back Of the arrests there is tragic
story Of the sweating OF an official OF
the Blue island Car Repair and EQUIP
ment Company, and finally OF a confess
sion that furnished what is accepted as
the clinching bit Of evidence against the
former road officials. Although the iden-
tity Of the men who confessed to the ir-
resulariues IN the repair concerns trans
actions with the roads is being jealousy
guarded by the lawyers who are prose
cutting the case. II was learned that he
had lost all OF the money he had made
from the transactions through poor in
vestments
Being financially irresponsible, II is de-
clared the road refused TO prosecute him
in the civil suits. but used all Of its en-
ergies IN an effort to wiring a confession
from him that would convict the other
officials who resigned under fire.
The result il was declared tonight. was
complete breakdown and confession.