The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-04-30
Railroad Charged With
Using Money to Inhu-
ence Legislation.
"STOLEN" FUNDS
FIGURE In C AS E
Illinois Legislature and Chicago
City Council Involved in Sen
sation Brought to Light by
Suit Filed to Recover
S525,ooo TAX en-
Fraudulently.

Chicago. April DEMONSTRATION OF
a bribery scandal involving the Chi
cago and Western Indiana Railroad.
the Illinois Legislature of two years
ago, the City Council OF Chicago and
sums of money that may run anywhere
between 100000 and treble that amount.
was ordered by States Attorney Way
man to-day.
The States attorney ordered the Inn
paneling OF special grand jury 10
conduct the investigation.
The trouble has been brewing fo'
months. The States attorneys ac-
tion is based on allegations made by
John C. Fetzer. who was sued today
hy the Chicago and Western Indiana
for the return of s525,oo0. which, the
railroad company AYERS, Fetzer de-
frauded the company out of in real
estate transactions Fetzer. in turn.
ras asked for an Injunction to enjoin
the prosecution OF this suit. alleging
that parts OF the money which the road
seeks to recover went to influence leg
islation at Springfield and Chicago.
Used for bribery.
In asking for the special grand jury.
States Attorney Wayman's petition
states:
HE twayman) further shows the
court that on the 2sth day of April
A. d. 1910, a. certain bin in chancery
was filed in the Superior Court of Cook
county by one John c. Fetzer. in which
said Fetzer claims that large amounts
OF money in his possession. bat really
the property of the Chicago and West
ern Indiana Railroad Company. were
used for unlawful purposes OF prihing
public officiaIs."
EetzersG hill a N in
cluded as an exhibit letter from F
a. Doiano. president of the Wabash
Railroad and representative of rha,
road on the board of directors of the
Chicago and Western Indiana. This
letter read.:
March /. 1907.
CONFIDENTIAL
MIR. B. Thomas. president and gen.
eral manager C. & w l. r. r.:
Dear Str,-T ihclose a letter from
Mr.. c. y. 4rovous, which explains it
self. This is written as a result OF a
conference which air. Travous had witt
| Judge Henly at the time we sold oul
notes to the Boston parties. be.
lieve we should in a quiet way get Tho
legislation which Judge Henly and ou,
counsel concluded is desirable 1t i.
bad thing to have something of thl!
Kind brought up by the bankers ever,
time we nave to do any neEotiatIns
FOR the sale of securities. 1t NIGH
give us very serious trouble We hat
case of this kind on the Burlington
where rather unsuspicious lawyer
! got hold of technicality of this KIM
and gave us great deal of trouble"
According sc a statement dictate,
by Mr.. Delano to-day the meanin,
of his letter to Mr. Thomas woul
stand out in innocuous innocence ha
Mr., Fetzer also appended the letter o
Mr.. Travous
To Divert Attention.
The important thing for the pub
lie to remember is that this story o
'slush' fund is gotten up by Fetze
or his counsel to divert public at
tention from the real issue, declare
Mr.. Delano.
The Chicago and Western Indian
was robbed and it demands restitut,o
| OF its money. 1t is no adequate de
| Tense to say that this money thong
stolen was used for the benefit OF tn
railroad company In corrupting tn
Legislature or the City Council, or an
| one else. / feel confident that n
such use was made Of the money, bu
: If it We're that is all the more reaso
| for thoroughly ventilating the case.
| Members of the aldermanic body ar
said to have been sounded in connec
| ton with procuring land for the righ
| OF way into Chicago.