Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1910-03-25
MORE LIGHT ON
CORRUPT RING
PITTSBURG GRAND JURY EXPECT
ED TO CATCH MEN HIGHER UP"
IN GRAFT.
"CAPTAIN" KLEIN PLAYS JOKE.
Little River Man Hides Under Bed and
CONSERVATION Reigns When De-
tectives Return.
IMMUNITY BATH is CONTINUED.

PITTSBURG, Pa, March 22.-The
graft investigating grand jury resumed
sessions today, and expected to roast to
a we'll done brown additional present and
former councilmen who are alleged to
have been feeding themselves bountifully
out of the 100000 corruption fund of
the last two years.
Nine former members of the city coun-
ellis of Pittsburg came out Of the ram,
to use the expression of the district at
torney and confessed to the acceptance
of brides for corrupt voting in regard TO
bank ordinances and the vacatlng OF
streets All nine of the councilmen were
granted postponed sentences by Judge
Fraser, who then adjourned his commit
ting tribunal until tomorrow.
That the graft investigation is only
started on its way is the declaration OF
those who profess TO know. Repeated
rumors today had it that before another
twenty-four hours the men higher up
were TO be given full advantage OF the
district attorneys plea to come III out
of the rain" 1t was generally belleved
that little Capt" Johnny kleln's con-
fession had not been all told, and that
the complete telling would SUI further
rip apart city politics and p0hhclans
Capt" Klein, who started the munlci-
pal uproar by his confession, is beng
we'll cared for by the district attorney.
Guarded by two detectives, the former
tOwboat commander is living at holei,
his meals are being served III his rooms
and his every want administered 10:
Last night. it is reported, that when ne
was left alone a moment in his room, he
LA SC
turn of his guardians, CONSERVATION
reigned Immediately the search was
begun. One detective scrambled down Il
fire escape while another hurrledly
searched halls and clothes lockers. Flhal-
Iy Klein was discovered by his oVerpoW
ering tendency to laugh.
Courthouse Is Animated.
Today the little river man was brought
to the district attorneys office and was
in close consultation with the prosecuting
force Meanwhile Judge Frazer OF the
criminal courts was sitting as commit
ting magistrate ready to hear pleas OF
councilmen who might wish to come for
ward and receive suspended sentences.
At noon the immunity bath process was
expected to cease. The courthouse
throughout presented a scene OF anlma-
ton seldom. if ever, rivaled III the ms
tory of Pittsburg.
mer members of common councils APP
peared before Judge Frazer and plead.
no defense to charges of having received
money for voting the passage OF tavorS
to banks and for corrupt street vacation
ordinances. Two oS the men who sur
rendered were not even under indictment.
All were given suspended sentences.
Ten confessed Monday. Those who
confessed are:
List of Those Who Confessed.
DIR W H. WEBER. select council, ac-
ccpted $4,000 and diSburSed it among other
cOuncilmen. Sentence suspended.
THOMAS M'GRATH. common council, re
ccived $3.50 bribe from I"unciiiaan Klein
Ordered by court to hand in lis resignation
as councilman, which was done. Sentence
suspended.
JESSE II. SHEASLEY. formerly common
councilman. indicted for receiving $500 from
Klein Pleaded nolle contendere before
court. Sentence suspended.
ERWIT ROTuPLETZ, formerly common
councilman. received $500 from Klein. Sen
tence suspended.
II. f. SAVAGE. formerly common council
man. received 500 from Klein Sentence
suspended.
Fir ANK w. BENIN. Italian fruit mcr
chant. formerly member of council, was
paid $S1.10 for his vote Sentence sus
pended.
WILLIAM RITCHEY. formerly common
councilman. took 500 from Klein for his
vote. Sentence suspended,
3. II. PURNELL. formerly common couu-
Gilman, took 5000 fo- his vote III council
Sentence suspended.
ISAAC MATTHIAS, formerly councilman,
took $S1.10 for his vote. Sentence sus
pended.
WILLIAM BADER. formerly select coun
Gilman got $50 for his vote Sentence
suspended.
Get $4,000 in Shoe Box.
AS fast as the present councilmen ap-
peared after they had relieved their
consciences. they were ordered to re
sign, and in every instance the letter of
resignation was written in the district
attorneys office and mailed to Mayor
w. A. AIagee before the guilty men
left the building.
The greatest surprise was the confess
sion of DR. W. III. Weber, who told of
receiving $4,000 in a shoe box. This.
he said. he gave to Klein for members
of the common council, while he kept
$4,000 to FIX members of the upper
branch. Later. according to Weber, it
was found necessary to secure more
votes and more money was raised, and
when this was divided it was found that
the additional councilmens share was
only $S1.10.
Forty men indicted are froB1 various
professions Some are professional poll
ticians. One is a private detective. 9th
ers are saloon keepers, physicians, mar
ket men. tailors. and real estate men.
c. c. Schad. a market man. is member
of the Legislature from Allegheny eoun-.
ty.