Perth Amboy evening news., 1910-04-07
ROFFSTOT is
INDICTED AT
BRIBE CIvER

Pittsburg, April 1.-The climax prom
ised in the Pittsbmg graft exposures
came with the indictment by the grand
| jury on charges of bribery and con
spiracy OF Frank n Hoffstot, presi.
dent Of the Pressed Steel Car compa-
ny, president of the German National
bank OF Allegheny and one Of the most
prominent business men in the coun-
try.
simultaneously IN open court came
the confession of Emil Winter, presi-
dent of the Workingmen's Savings and
Trust company, that he gave a $20, 900
bribe to ex-Councilman Morris Elm
stein. James Anderson, the general
bookkeeper Of the bank. had'preyious-
ly confessed TO falsifying the books by
cutting out pages of the ledger con
tanning graft accounts.
The following are some Of the most
startling findings in the grand jury's
presentment against Hotfstot:
Findings of Grand jury
That Frank ~ Hoffstot paid 10 Charles
Stewart. a former select councilman, So,
500
That the money was a bribe used in in
fluencing the votes Of councilmen to pass
an ordinance naming three banks In
which Hoffstot was Interested as ofIicfal
repositories OF the city's millions.
That the late James w Friend, at the
time an official of the Pressed Steel Car
company, was an associate in the trans
action.
That the original plan which Friend
had was to obtain the services of viii
Ham A. Blakeley, now graft prosecutor
as a stakeholder of the, bribe money, but
Blakeley declined and warned al parties
ofAthea efiminality OF the proposition.
That Bfakeley declined to act in the
capacity named and warned ali parties
Of the criminality of the proposition and
Of the liability to prosecution If 1t went
further
That subsequent to Blakeley's refusal
Messrs. Friend and Hoffstot completed
an arrangement with Stewart whereby
Hoffstot would pay Stewart the sum nam.
ed S52500.
That the transaction took place In New
York city In June, I90s. in order IL posi-.
BILE, to avoid criminal liability in Allie
gheny county,
That Hoffstot on two occasions solicited
money from Cashier James M, Young OF
the Second National bank of Pittsburg
one OF the Institutions lately named al
a city depository, and caused him TO shir
TO New York $ei,O00 as that banks share
OF the bribe money.
Three Banks as Principals.
The banks named as ultimate princi
pals to profit by the bribes alleged to
have @been paid by Hoffstot to. Stewart
are the Farmers Deposit National
bank, the Second National bank OF
Pittsburg and the German National
bank of Allegheny In addition to
these three, the Columbia National
bank Of Pittsburg, the German Nation
al bank of Pittsburg and the Work.
inglnen's Savings and Trust company
Of Allegheny were named as city de
positorIes In the ordinance passed on
July 8, 1908. over the mayors veto.
The indictment Of Hoffstot was mo-
unexpected by those who have follow
ed the graft cases, but the yigor Of th,
presentment made to the court by tht
grand jury astounded every one. Fol
some years Hoffstot has had his resi-
dence in New York. The grand jury
takes cognlzance OF this ana calls oil
the district attorney to proceed forth
with to extradite him" in case he does
not obey the summons to appear be
fore the grand jury.
Famous In McKees Rocks Strike.
Mr.. Hoffstot as president of the
Pressed Steel Car company, one OF the
largest Industries Of ITS kind In fhe