Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-03-26
GRAND JURY GOING
AFTER VOTE BUYERS
indictments Are Ordered Against
Thirty-one Present and Past Coun-
cimen and Demand is Made Upon
City Depositories to Sift Out the
Crooked Ones In institutions.

Laying bare the appalling details of
Pittsburg'S civic righteousness.
ordering indictments against thirty
one present and past cOuncilmen, and
making demand upon the directors
OF the city repositories TO investigate
their own boards and ascertain the
bribe-givers in connection with the
ordinance designating their banks as
City repositories, formed the meat OF
two presentments made by the grand
jury today. The presentmenIs make
a sensational story of corruption in the
citys history and the demand on the
banks indicates that even m2re sensa-
tional developments than have been
exposed. are expected on Monday.
when the bank directors. complying !
with the demand of the grand jury, !
make their report in court.
Withdraw Funds,
further result Of the present |
ments OF the jury was the order OF /
City Controller Morrow. late today. /
for the withdrawal of all city funds
from the six banks. and the prac-
teal notification of the ordinance
designating them as cuslodians of city |
funds.
There is about $3.G40.320 in these
banks now. and this would be in !
creased many millions during next
week by the taxes that are being |
paid. According to the controller. the
withdrawal Of funds will be gradual.
however, so that the Institutions may
not be embarrassed. or any undue
alarm caused depOsitors.
Story Of Plot.
The LreSentments give the full de-
tails OF the plot on the part of the
Ccuncilmen to obtain brides from the
six banks, the means as for paying |
the brides are related and the story /
Of the transfer of $4,000 b. an I'M
named man, to former Councilman 1
Charles Stewart in the Hotel I'm
perial. New York is told.
1t is related that Max G. Leslie.
former chairman of the Republican
county committee, received $4,000
by arrangement between f. II. Jen-
nings and F. A. Griffen, of the
Columbia National Bank and that
Leslie gave William Brand. who was
then president Of common council. di- |
rectly or indirectly. 81 800 to obtain /
the city deposits for the Columbia /
National Bank II is declared that
Morris Einstein received SIS 900 from |
the Workingman's Savings & Trust |
Company to have that bank named as
? city depository.
II is further declared that the mem
bers of the grand jury are of the
opinion that the books of the Work /
iBgman's Bank have been mutilated,
referring to this deal having been /
cut out Einstein. il is asserted. kept /
$4,000 for his services in arranging /
the deal
Brihe Funds Divided Up.
Further declarations i'm the pre-
sentiments are that two city clerks |
were given 81 900 each and that ST.
$50 was set apart for newspaper men.
and that Henry NJ. Bolger, the saloon
keeper already convicted of bribery. |
was given $500 for his services in I
bringing about the meeting between l
officials of the German National |
Bank. of Pittsburg. and the council J
men.
II is recited that John r. Klein and
Joseph C.. Waso. by reasons Of their |
confessions and statements making
possible the exposure of the facts.
tUllAlt0 10 Eltdi
End a reduction OF Klein's sentence |
is urged.
II is also recommended that no Il
further indictments be found against
Klein OF Waso for any Of the crimes /
which they have confessed to. The
grand jury declares that IL is con
WINGED that Charles Steward and
William Brand can unravel the en-
tire network Of criminal work. and
are in position to disclose the names
Of all guilty parties. u is recon
mended that the court be As lenienf
as possible in passing sentence on
those who confess their guilt.
indictments Recommends.
Indictments are recommended
against Chralcs steward. William
Brand and Hugh Ferguson for con
spiracy. against Steward for solicit
ing brides from the six banks.
against Steward for distributing por
tons Of ;he money to several coun-
cilmen. against .jfand Tor soliciting
bribe from the Columbia NATIONAL
Rank and Tor having received hrsbe
money directly or Indirectly from Max
g. Leslie. and also for receiving
bribe money from other banks and
against Brand charging him with dis
iributing bride money In various