The Norfolk weekly news-journal. (Norfolk, Neb.) 1900-19??, 1910-04-08
CLIMAX IN The
BIC CRAFT CASE
iNDiCT FRANK N. HoFFSTOT, CAR
COMPANY PRESIDENT.
BANKER coNFEssEs HE BRIeED
Hoffstot, President OF the Pressed
Steel Car Company and One of the
Most Prominent Business Men in
the Country, Held for Bribery.

posures came, as promised, late yes
terday with the presentment by the
grand jury of a lengthy report in
which is recommended the indictment
of Frank n. Hoffstot, president of the
Pressed Steel Car company and one
of the most prominent business men
in the country
simultaneously in open court came
plea of Emil Winter, president of the
Workingmans Savings and Trust COM
pany, that he had no defense to make
to the charge that he gave a $4,000
bride to former Councilman Morris +.
/ Instein
Hoffstot Paid $52,500 Bride.
The following in abbreviated form
are some of the most startling find
ings in the grand jury's presentment
made public last night:
l. That Frank N Hoffstot presi-
dent of the Pressed Steel Car company
and president of the German National
bank of Allegheny and prominently
identified with other banks, paid to
Charles Stewart, a former councilman,
the sum of $4,000.
.. That the money was a brlbe used
in influencing the votes of councilmen
to pass an ordinance naming three
banks in which Hoffstot was interest
ed as official depositaries of the city's
millions.
3. That the arrangement for the
payment of the money to Stewart was
made in the spring of 1908 and that
the late James W. Friend, at that
time an official of the Pressed Steel
Car company, was an associate in the
| transaction.
Attorney Refuses to Take Part.
4. That the original plan which
| Friend had was to obtain the services
of William A. Blakeley who was then
a practicing attorney here but who is
now the district attorney in charge of
graft prosecutions, as a stakeholder of
| the bride money until the ordinance
| had passed.
D. That Attorney Blakeley declined
to act in the capacity named and
warned all parties of the criminality
of the proposition and of the liability
to prosecution if it went further.
g. That subsequent to Mr.. Blake
| ley's REFUSAL Messrs. Friend and Hoff-
stot complete an arrangement with
Stewart whereby Hoffstot would pay
or cause to be paid to Stewart the
sum named-$52,50 800.
Z That the transaction was ar
ranged to be made in New York city
and took place there in June, 1908 in
order, if possible, to avoid criminal
| liability in Allegheny county.
s. That Hoffstot did also solicit
and secure from one James n. Young,
cashier of the Second National bank
of Pittsburg, the sum of $21, 900, to be
paid Stewart to insure the selection
of the Second National as one of the
favored city repositories.
| Stewart Demanded a Bride.
g. That Stewart did demand from
the now deceased Friend, who was act
ing as agent for the Second National
| bank, bride for Stewards vote in
favor of the bank ordinances.
| findings, it be recommended that in
dictments charging conspiracy and
bribery be returned.
The Banks involved.
Banks named as ultimate principals
to profit by the brides alleged to have
been paid by Hoffstot, to Stewart, are:
The Farmers Deposit National bank,
= M.
and the German National bank of AL
| legheny.
| In addition to these three the Co
lumbia National bank of Pittsburg the
| German National bank of Pittsburg,
and the Workingmens Savings and
Trust company of Allegheny were
named as city depositaries in the ordi-
nance passed July 8, 1908 over the
mayors veto.
Bankers Confession a Sensation.
The plea of nOlo contendere made
| by President Emil Winter of the
Workingmens Savings and Trust com
pany was no less sensation than the
report of the grand jury. He was
charged with the payment of a 10000
bride to Morris +. Instein, former
| select councilman. When Winter ap-
peared in court, Judge r. S. Fraser
who is presiding in graft cases, asked
to be excused from hearing the plea
Judge Fraser explained that on ac-
count of his long and intimate friend
ship with Mr. Winter he wanted to
have nothing to do with the case.
Winter was then taken before judges
Thomas D.. Caravan and J. NJ. Scar
ingen and entered the formal plea.
Sentence was postponed.
Hoffstot Figured In Recent Strike.
Frank N. Hoffstot as president of
the Pressed Steel Car company, one
of the largest industries of its kind in
the country, recently figured promi-
nently in the public eye while a strike
was on at his plant in McKees Rocks.
During the long months suspension
there were many riots and many per-
sons killed, and the state troopers