New-York tribune., 1910-03-21
JAIL OR CONFESSION
IMMUNITY PROMISED.
UItimatum TO PittSbHrg COHn-
cilmen-Klein Threatened.
lBy Telegraph TO The TribuHe.l


Pittsburg. March 2O.-This was perhaps
the most uneasy Sunday ever spent By
Pittsburg councilmen. Al least sixty coun-
cilmen or their friends were to-day visited
by a representative from the District At
torney's Office and told to be ready 20
come into court on Tuesday and volun-
tariIy confess their part IN cOuncilmanic
grating OF years past. II this is done
the District Attorney promises that they
will all have immunity from arrest Those
who DO not come will be placed under ar
rest, he says. and sent as far as the law
can push them.
Councilman Klein spent to-day under
lock and key az the Fort Pitt Hotel He
will be rushed into court tomorrow morn
ing. where he will appear before a Judge
and repeat HIS confessions lie will then
be hurried 20 Riverside penitehtiary. where
hts sentence OF three and one-hsf years
will be begun. Anonymous letters re-
ceived az the hotel for Klein we're Of a
nature 10 cause his guards TO telephone
FOR the police. The former councilman
leader was threatened with all manner OF
violence. even death itself. II caught on
the street.
Klein has made the sensational statement
that. when Councilman William Martin
was caught and convicted OF grating and
was sent 10 Riverside Penitentiary. he.
Klein. personally took up a collection for
Martin and hts family and that $4,000 was
raised. When Klein. il is said. tried to get
part OF the same cOuncilman's crowd 20
guarantee his wife and babies So month
while he went 10 prison. his request was
refused. and in his anger he made the con-
fessions.
Klein. in uncOverinE some Of the larger
among Councilmen, tells of
the cash being delivered 20 him at the I'M
perial Hotel. New York. where he was
called TO get II. II is said the name os the
Pittsburger who delivered this money 10
Klein in the Imperial viii. when disclosed.
prove the sensation OF the entire Council
mans graft expose. In the mean time there
are some who appear 20 have taken no
chances in the most recent graft exposure
Ten Councilmen are reported missing. At
least. the District Attorneys messengers
could not md them. and they have not
been seen since yesterday. when the graft
exposure became public
Klein's assertions I'm his confession as
they have come 20 light are said 10 be
most startling He kept books on all
money paid out by him TO other council
men ON the bank depository ordinances
Each mans name was carefully listed to
gether with the amount paid the date OF
payment. and how and whero IL was paid
To some cOuncilInen Klein sent the money
in registered letters. The receipts for
these letters, bearing the recipients sig
natures. were preserved carefully by Klein
All Of these Klein has turned Ove- TO the
District Attorney. In addition. he turned
over list OF the common councilmen TO
whom II is said money vas paid. This list
is In the handwriting OF another council
man, and was made up for Klein as a
guide 10 those TO be seen
During his trial and previously Klein had
persisted in the statement under examina-
tiOn that he knew nothing Of any bribery
II was then believed that he was protect
ing some one. and he stuck TO this position
until almost al the threshold Of the state
prison.
II is recognized that Klein. I'm substantial
ing his confession before the grand jury
and in court, must necessarily admit that
ne committed perjury. but IL is broadly
hinted by the County Prosecutors office that
Klein will be dealt with leniently, and pos
sibly vii. not serve a day In prison
II was through Klein that the whole
structure Of the bribery scandal has been
tumbleG. and is a fulilment OF a threat
made during the first Of the prosecutions
that Klein could kick the props out and
let the sky fall"