The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-05-14
GRAFTERs JAILED
IN HUGE OR0vEs
Heavy Sentences and Fines I'm
posed on Pittsburg Bankers
and Politicians.
TERM s MONTHS
Expected That District Attorney
Blakeley Will Let Little
Fellows" Of.

PITTSBuRG, PA, May ia. A.
vilsack. former cashier Of the Ger
man National Bank, was to-day SEN
fenced to eight months in jail and
a fine of 5000. He was indicted
In the recent graft probe and pleaded
noio contendere.
Former Councilmait Charles Stew
art, one Of the alleged big six'' IN
the council, and one of the alleged
prime movers IN the scheme to OBJ
tam money from the banks in re-
turn for naming them city deposit
tories, was sentenced to eight months
In Jail and $500 fine,
Former Councilman Hugh Fergu-
son was sentenced TO eight months
In Jail and $500 fine, and DR. w. II.
Weber, six months and $500 fine.
Former Councilman p. d. Kearns
was sentenced To four months tn
jail and $3.50 fine.
Former Councilman Morris Elm
stein was sentenced TO elk months
and $4,000 fine.
In addition to these men sentenced
to-day, william Brand. president Of
tho common council; Joseph Was
SON, president Of the finance commit
tee; former Councilman John F.
Klein and William Ramsey. president
of the German National Bank, have
been convicted OF bribery and are
now serving sentences In the West
ern penitentiary.
The present graft probe was pre-
cipitated by Johnnie" Klein. whose
confession knocked out the props
and let the sky fall" Klein acted
as the distributor" among the coun.
cilmen, and to Detective Robert Will
son and his associates, who We're
brought here by private parties to
uncover graft. the little captain
reeied of the names OF present and
former councilmen who had received
brides. the amounts they received, the
locations OF places where these men
had been paid and for what purpose
the money was given. He also de-
tailed many incidents in connection
with the payment of money TO them.
Many Banks Implicated.
Klein Implicated the German Ma
tional Bank OF Allegheny, Germany
National Bank of Pittsburg, Working
mems Savings and Trust Company
Columbia National, Second National
and the Farmers National Banks as
having paid select and common coun.
cilmen in order to be named as city
repositories, and he estimated that
over 100000 bride money had beer
paid by the banks. He also gave the
names Of about sixty present and for.
mer counciimen who had received
amounts ranging from ss1.1o up &c
several thousand dollars,
According to District Attorney Blak-
ley to-day, there are still about forty
men indicted either on charges of re-
ceiving or giving brides, yet to be
tried. Among them Is Frank y. Hoff-
stot. the New York millionaire and
president of tho Pressed Steel Car
Company, who was indicted for al.
legged brihing of councilmen, but who
liz now fighting extradition from New
York. Three indicted former council.
men, J. +. O'Donneii, Bernard Kenna
and Harry Lennix, are now fugitives
from Justice.
To Let Little Fellows OF.
3 Although District Attorney Blake.
ley did not order any of the council.
men who received $s1.10 or 500 and
who confessed In court to appear to.
day. he says that Judge Frazer Will
rule on their cases later. 1t Is gen.
trally believed, however, that the 'lit.
tie fellows" will be allowed to escape
( This has been a busy week with
District Attorney Blakeley who ha:
held lengthy conferences in the pres
ence of Klein. with fifty-two of. the
indicted men. all of whom had plead
ed nolo contendere. 1t is said tina,
the prosecutor has obtained many ad
ditional facts which he will use a,
evidence In the coming trials.
The sentencing of f. III. jennings
president of the Columbia National
bank, and r. A. Griffin. cashier OF
the same institution, were postponed
In order that the men could secure
doctors certificates showing that mem.
bers Of their families were dangerously
Ill and that the imposing OF sentences
now might result fatally.