The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-04-07
Indictment Of Hoffstot, One
Topic at Pittsburg
PRESENTMENT LAST NIGHT
ALLEGED sRlsE GlVER, WHO rs
WEALTHY BANKER AND MANU-.
FAcTURER WILL BE TRIED nv
NEW YORK " EXTRACTION
FAILS WEEKS OF INVEsTIcA-
TON.

Pittsburg, April THE district at
torney and his stafr were busy today
with the grand jury, presenting what
Is believed to be the last square in the
puzzle plot which when completed will,
1t is believed, make one of the most
sensational graft pictures ever brought
to the light Of the public.
New Election Necessary.
To fill vacancies In the council made
by the resignation OF it's indicted mem
bers Mayor Magee has called special
election for April rs.
The ordered indictment of Frank N.
Hoffstot, the banker and manufacturer,
now living in New York, is the one
topic discussed today in the graft ex-
posure Hoffstots extradition, accord
ing to the district attorney, will be ask
ed for, but in the event of the failure
of that procedure, 1t is reported he will
be tried in New York state.
Climax Last Night.
The climax promised in the Pitts
burg graft exposures came, as pronis-
ed, late yesterday, with the presentment
by the grand jury of a long report in
which is recommended the indictment
of Frank N. Hoffstot, president of the
Pressed Steel Car Co, and one of the
most prominent business men in the
| country.
simultaneously in open court came
a plea of Emil Winter, president OF
the WoRkingman's Savings and Trust
/ Co.. that he had no defense to make
| to the charge, that he gave a $4,000
bride to Councilman Morris Einstein.
The Charges Made.
The following are some of the most
startling words in the grand jury's
! presentment.
That Frank n. Hoffstot. presi-
1 dent Of the Pressed Steel Car COM
4 pany. and president of the German
i National bank of Allegheny, promin-
H Mently identified with ether banks paid
1 to Charles Stewart, a former select
councilman, the sum of $4,000.
That the money was bride
used in influencing the votes Of coun.
climen to pass an ordinance naming
three banks in which Hoffstot was In
terested, as official repositories OF the
city's millions.
That the arrangement for the pay
ment of the money to Stewart was
made in the spring OF 1908, and thai
the late James w. Friend, at thai
time an official OF the Pressed Stee
Car company was an associate I'm the
tranaction.
Another Bank Deal.
!, That Hoffstot did also solicit ant
secure from one James N. Young
cashier of the Second National bank
! CT Pittsburg, the sum of sci, 900 to b.
paid to Stewart to insure the selec
ton of the Second National as one o
the favored city repositories.
That Stewart did demand from
+ the now deceased Friend, who wa
acting as agent for the Second Ma
) tional bank, a bride for Stewards vot
) in favor of the bank ordinance.
III That in accordance with the findings
IL be recommended that indictment
charging conspiracy and bribery be re
} turned.
The banks named as ultimate prin
cipals to profit by the brides allege
to have been paid by Hoffstot to Stew
art, are:
The Farmers Deposit Nations
bank, the Second National bank c
Pittsburg and the German Nations
Of Allegheny. In addition to thes
three, the Columbia National Bank q
PfGtsburg, the German National Ban
of Pittsburg and the Workingman
Savings and Trust Co. Of Alleghen
were named as city repositories In I'll
ordinance which passed July 9. 1870
) over the mayors vote.