The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-08-21
Bigger Sensations Ahead In
Illinois Central Cases
ANXIOUS FOR REVENGE
Hartman, Taylor and Ewing, Now I'm
der Bond ON the Charges Made BY
Hnrahan, Promise Big
Shaking Up

| Chicago, August 20.-(Special.) 1.-The
criminal prosecution following years Of
grating by high Illinois officials took
q peculiar and sensational turn today
when former Assistant United States
District Attorney Frank r. Reid opened
negotiations with State Attorney Way
| man, looking, 1t Is said, to the dis
closure of the real higher up" officials
who profted to the extent of $780,
600 in the extended mulcting of the
road
| Mr. Reid is a member of the law firm
of knight. Reid & Tirrell, retained for
the defense of Frank B. Hartman, John
NJ Taylor and Charles L. Ewing, former
officials of the railroad, who were ar
| rested yesterday charged with conspir-
acy and playing a confidence game. The
proposition of Mr.. Wayman was made
in behalf of one or all three of them.
| Although every effort was made to
keep the Reid-Wayman conference a
secret it was learned that information
was promised by one or more of the
men now under arrest which would
criminally involve even higher officials
of the Illinois Central.
THE disclosures will shake the
town." was the way in which the in
formant put 1t.
Neither Mr.. Reid nor State Attorney
Wayman would discuss the matter OF
the real opening up of the Illinois
Central sore. The men now under ar
rest cannot hope for Immunity baths, "
al this late day but their object Is
said to be twofold. All three are par
ticularIy bitter against President
James T. Harahan, who signed the war
rants against them, and Frank B. Har-
rison in particular Is anxious for re-
venge. Then the defendants, one or
all of them, hope by barring the real
secrets of the scandal to, clear their
own skirts at least In measure of
culpability.
Exposures to Come
For weeks, while the Illinois Cen
tral directors held back the evidence
needed for criminal prosecution, 1t has
been limited that the railroad did not
dare force the scandal into the criminal
courts The idea was that several men
OF great prominence in connection with
the road would be exposed II the Of
ficials who resigned from the road
along with or after the late Ira O..
Rawn were put into danger OF prison
stripes.
Within a week william BURY per-
sonal attorney for Ira G. Rawn, and ia
miliar with the late vice presidents
belief, declared significantly:
There will be no criminal prosecu-
tion in the Illinois Central graft mat
ter. The Twelfth street institution is
rotten from the tower down."
Then President Harahan struck up
Unexpectedly, running the warrants for
Hartman, Ewing and Taylor and he
told the state attorney that he hoped
that official would get to the bottom
OF the graft even If 1t led into the
board of direcors.
The first conference between the ac-
cused railroaders and their attorneys
red to Mr.. Reds visit to Mr.. Wayman.
The state attorney was exceedingly
elated when the visit was over and
there is no question but that startling
facts were put before him.
One of the many unanswered ques-
tions put to Messrs. Reid and AirreIl
today was: Does the promised new
sensation in the Illinois Central graft
matter have to do with the frauds in
the department of the new road con-
struction and maintenance of way?"
No Civil Suits Begun
An attorney familiar with the illinois
Central situation declared today that the
graft yet to be uncovered In the road 8
expenditures for rights of way. new
trackage and maintenance of way would
make the million or SO stolen by putting
roofs on fiat cars and the multiplication
Of such petty graft look like a flea
bite" As yet the railroad company has
instituted no civil suits to recover for
these alleged stealings
That ]. M. Barrowdale, superintendent
of the car department of the Illinois Cen
trail, narrowly escaped arrest yesterday
along with Ewing, Hartman and Tay-
lor was learned today. A close examl-
nation of the complaint showed that a
fourth name had been crossed out The
blotting had been done SO hurriedly that
it was possible to make cut Mr. Barrow
dales name.
When asked about the Barrowdale mat
ter attorneys for the railroad explained
that 1t had been intended to include hin,
In the charge when at the last moment
he came forward with an explanation
or statement which made It seem advis-
able to leave him out. 1t Is said that
he will be used as witness against the
three men who are now at liberty un-
der heavy bail.
Mr.. Barrowdae could not be reached
today At the Illinois Central Offices
he has not yet resigned his position of
superintendent OF the car department.
1t was said he was out of the city.
Surprise in Court
Chief Justice Harry Olsen of the mu-
nicapl court furnished a surprise at the
formal arraignment of John M Taylor
this morning when his assistant, Walter
v. Hayt, telephoned to Judge Cottrell
that Taylor's case should be assigned
to the chief Justices court for a hear
Ing Monday morning. Judge Cottrell I'm
mediately assigned the case as directed,
although he had Just finished setting It
down for next Friday when Hartman
and Ewing are to have their preliminary
hearing.
II don't understand this" said Attorney
Tirrell for the accused railronders. I'VE
will certainly object to a hearing before
Judge Olsen at any time. We have no
doubt as to his openness OF mind and
his fairness nevertheless we cannot over
look the fact that President Harahan
OF the Illinois Central went over the
l