The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-04-07
CASES ARE DETAILED
OF ACTS OF BRIBERY
President of One of the Largest In
dustrfes OF It's Kind Falls Under
Z the Ban of the Grand Jury's
Investigation

Pittsburg graft exposures came as prom
ised late today with the presentment by
the grand jury of long report in which
gf recommended the indictment of Frank
~. Hoffstot, president of the Pressed
ASteel Car company, and one of the most
J prominent business men in the country.
simultaneously In the open court came
4 b plead of Emil Winter, president of the
Workingmans' Saving G. Trust Co., that
he had no defense to make to the charge
that he gave a $4,000 bribe to former
councilman Morris Einsten.
Z The following in abbreviated form are
some Of the most startling findings in
the grand jury's presentment made public
tonight:
s l. That Frank n. Hoffstot, president of
the Pressed Steel Car company and pres
tdent of the German National bank of
Allegheny and prominently identified with
pther banks, paid to Charles Stewart,
former select councilman, the sum of
1880.
2. That the money was bribe and
nsed In influencing votes of councilmen
B to pass an ordinance naming three banks
In which Hoffstot was interested as Off
4 eial repositories of the city's millions.
4 8. That the arrangement for the pay
ment of the money to Stewart was made
In the spring of 1908, and that the late
James w. Friend, at that time official
of the Pressed Steel Car company, was
an associate In the transaction.
The Original Plan
4. That the original plan which Friend
had was to obtain the services of Will
I liam i, Blalreley. who was then prac-
& ticing attorney here, but who is now
the district attorney in charge of the
graft prosecutions, as a stakeholder of the
bribs money until the ordinance had
l passed.
& s. That Attorney Blal1ely declined to act
In the capacity named and warned all
4 parties of the criminality of the prosecu-
q If it went further.
q g. That subsequent to Mr.. Blakeley's re-
n fusal, Messrs. Friend and Hoffstot COM
pleted an arrangement with Stewart
whereby Hoffstot would pay or cause to
be paid to Stewart the sum named
s52,5Oo.
7. That the transaction was arranged to
N be made in New York city and took
place there in June, 1908, in order, If pos
Il ,ible. to avoid criminal liability in Ale
gheny county
g. That Hoffstot did also solicit from
one James N. Young, cashier of the
h Second National bank Of Pittsburg, the
u sum of $4,000 to be paid Stewart to
insure the selection of the Second Ma
tional as one of the favored city de-
4, positories.
Q. That Stewart did demand from
The now deceased friend, who was act
ing as agent for the Second National
bank, bribe for Stewart in favor of
the banks ordinances.
b 10. That in accordance with the
(e findings 1t be recommended that in
p aictments charging conspiracy and
I, bribery be returned.
b. Names of the Banks
The banks names as ultimate princi-
|e pals to profit by the bribes alleged to
have been paid by Hoffstot to Stew
I art are:
hi The Farmers Deposit National bank,
III the Second National bank of Pittsburg,
N and the German National bank of AL
4 leigh eny. In addition to these three the
n Columbia National bank of Pittsburg.
the German National bank of Pitts
u burg and the Workingmans Savings
m And Trust company of Allegheny were
named as city repositories in the or
+, linance passed July g. 1908, over the
mayors veto.
IN The plea of nolle contendec made by
u President Emil Winter of the work
lngmans Savings and Trust company
j today was no less a sensation than the
\ report Of the grand jury. He was
d charged with the payment of $4,000
~ hrfbe to Morris Einstein, former Sc
Va lect councilman. When Winter ap-
/ peared in court Judge r. F. Frazer
who 10 presiding in the graft cases
asked to be excused from hearing the
plea. Judge Frazer explained that on
/ Account OF his long and intimate
friendship with Mr.. Winter he wished
/ ITO have nothing to do with the case
| Winter was then taken. before Judges
kIrhomas d. Carnivan and ]. M. Swear
lngen and entered the formal plea Sen
tence was postponed.
Honstot's Occupation
Frank N. Hoffstot. as president of the
Pressed Steel Car company, one of the
4, largest industries of its kind in ths
country. recently figured prominently
IN the public eye, while a strike wa
on at his plant in McKees Rocks. Dur.
ing the long months suspension ther,
Were many riots and many person.
killed and the state troopers were
called out.
Nh The reference to the alleged plar
to have Attorney Blakely act as
N stakeholder is brief in the full re-
a port Of the grand jury as 1t is in tn.
Ej Abstract given above and the distric
III attorney tonight would not commen
} for publication on 1t.
NJ The court ordered indictments draw
against Honstot in accordance with tn,
grand jury's presentment. namely OF
N two counts of bribery and one of con
1. opiracy TO defraud the city.
!. The presentment reads that Hoffsto
l4sshall be ordered to appear as witness
n Ind in case he does not do SO immediatel!
" that the district attorney Of Alleghen!