New-York tribune., 1910-03-24
NINE MORE CONFESS
IMMUNITY BATH OYER
Pittsburg Prosecutions Ncrt-
ANeged Juru Firers.

Pittsburg. March 25.-Kine moro men ap-
peared before Judge II. s. Frazer to-day.
and after telling all they knew Of the
cOuncilmanic graft conspiracy we're treated
90 immunity through postponed sentences.
Besides these nine. William Brand. former
president Of the Common Council and one
Of the ringieaders. according 20 those who
confessed. has also made a statement.
which Is In the hands OF the District At
.orney.
J. c. wasson. who is IN the psnitentiary,
made his confession 90 the grand Jury to-
day. He wept like a child during his re-
eitai. while John r. Klein. the arch-con-
fessor. tried 20 sOOthe him
With complete statements from Brand,
wassoH and Klein. who were the principals
IN the conspiracy. according 20 their own
statements il Is said the District Attorney
Is ready 20 proceed against the bribe givers,
and. while no names are given out. Was
sons statement is said 20 implicats some
prominent men. The opportunity 70 confess
voluntarily and receive postponed sentences.
or immunity" has passed for those who
have not come forward. These who have
been indicted win be brought 20 trial. and
the first Of these cases win begin on Moa-
day.
Already a crusade against jury fixing has
been started by the District Attorney. To-
day 1--WE men were literally ysnked from
the courtroom by county detectives II Is
said they we're busy with bribery money
for Jurors about the courthouse corridors.
Each man was put through severe exam
ination. and arrests are predicted Of
number Of others said about the courthouse
70 be jury hxers.
No indictments were handed down by ths
grand jury to-dsT. although ~ has suf-
feisnt evidence for true bills against more
than half q hundred. These will come
along. according 20 the Assistant District
Attornev. before ths end of the week.
Now that the eouneilmanie graft evidence
Is about all N. the District Attorney Is
about 10 take Up the traflc H. disordsrly
houses ard vice. IN which councllmen have
been implicated BY the confessions De-
tectives have already Furnished evidences
against propvietcrs of thirteen samo''hs
houses and rs other resorts
A rumor was circulated to-day that thIee
prominent business men were heard N 'As
Confessional court early this afternoon and
we're later i'm conference with the District
Attorney. The names Of the business men
could not be learned
II Is reported tha. President TAFT Vii
be appealed 20 for pardon for Klein.
The report has ~ that this action and
the sum o. $500 were prcraiss5 70 him a
the price Of HE confession
The instruments Of the graft story have
been so spasmods, that syrOSsis is here
presented for those who missed the first
chapters;
Kieir's display % 5000 in bills on the
street. Juns q. 1908 excited the suspicion
OF Ernest Frsy, harness dealer He re-
ported the discovery 20 the city auditor.
the latter told Mayer Guthrie. and he
passed II on 10 tbs Voters League, 70
whom the citizens OF Pittsburg are in
debted for the prosecution that was set in
motion. A detectives bribery OF council
men in connection with a fictitious wood
paving plan started the ball rolling This
led into the bank depository conspiracy and
other forms Of graft. The law ground
slowly and Is still grinding. with the fol
loving net result.
In the penitentiaTy-W- ". Ramsey. FOX
mer president Of the German National
Bank; William Brand. former president Of
the Common Council. Joseph q. Wasson,
former councilman. and r. VI. BoldeT.
Under sentence 70 the psnitentiaTy-EX-
Councilman John r. Klein.
Awaiting disposition o. their cases-E II.
Jennings. president Of the Columbia Ma
tional Bank. and T. =. Griffn. cashier.
who pleaded nolo contenders.
Under indictnent-Fcrty- councilmen.
ConfessOrs of bribe sharing Twenty
nine couucilmen. former aud present. Sc
lect and Common.
Bribes-FrOm S5,0o0 down - the bargain
rate Of $S1 10
The fact that about sixty councilmen
Of the past and present administrations
ars involved I'm the scandals thus FAR ex-
posed. however. indicates q percentage Of
less than 81 per cent dishonesty At the
time most OF the grating was in progress
the PittsburE Councils were temporarily
abIoTmally large There we're foTty-four
wards in Pittsburg and fifteen IN Allie
gheny, with altogether 152 Select and Com
mon councilmen. a most unwieldy body.