The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1910-03-22
INDICTMENTS ARE RETURNED
AGAINST 40 PRESENT AND
FORMER couNclLMEN.
RESULT Of JURY PROBE
Confession OF Captain Klein Precipi-
tates an Investigation That Orags
Many Prominent Persons Into the
Mirc OF crime--Men Tell Of Their
Actions, Then Take Immunity Bath.

Pittsburg. March 2l.-Forty present
and former members Of the select ana
common councils are under Indictment
on charge Of bribery, and 10 more,
with suspended sentences. are held
In $500 bonds upon their own confess
sion Of sharing In 100000 to Influence
the votes OF the municipal bodies. This
was the result Of the irst days probe
by the grand jury following the SEN
sational confession Of Captain John
Klein. former member Of councils. All
day Judge r. s. Fraser sat az COM
mitting magistrate I'm the criminal
courtroom, and his desk became "a
throne Of grace" to many councilmen
under suspicion. who swarmed before
the Judge to be washed of their sins"
On one floor of the court building the
grand jury would hear the conscience
stricken councilmen, who wodld then
go before Judge Fraser ana take the
immunity bath offered last week by
the district attorney.
While these proceedings were going
on the corridors of the courthouse
were thronged, and as each councilman
put i'm an appearance there Vas
clamor OF when are they going to
get the big ones?" Once during tho
late afternoon north side councilman
rushed into the courtroom and wanted
to confess. but he was told to come
back tomorrow. Were too busy"
brought roar of laughter from the
crowd on the benches.
Up to the adjournment of the court
at 5 O'Clock 10 had confessed. In most
cases the amount of money they con-
fessed TO accepting as "A bride was not
over 800. One man got $500 and
another 5000. while others got but
sSi 10.
Forced to Resign.
As fast as present councilmen APP
pcared. after they had relieved their
eonsciences. they We're ordered imme-
diately to resign from the city govern
ment, and In every instance the let
ter of resignation was written in the
district attorneys office and mailed
to Mayor w. A. Magee before the
guilty one left the building. The men
| indicted are from varied professions.
| Some are professional politicians. one
IN a private detective. Saloonkeepers.
| physicians. market men, tailors and a
real estate man are on the list. G. c.
! Shad. who IL n market man, Is also
Il member Of the legislature from AL
legheny county.
Among the men to come forward
/ ha aft
Weber member OF the select council.
There was an uproar among the
crowded corridors when he was seen
to come from the courtroom and the
expression was heard. Where will 1t
end" Dr. Weber told Judge Fraser
how he received $4,000 to he distrib-
uted among councimen for their vote
and influence In the passage of an or
dinance to vacate a certain street. He
pleaded no defense to the charge of
conspiracy. Weber said he gave the
money to about 30 or 40 councilmen.
He could not remember all the names.
but recited a list including some of
the most prominent and active mem-
bers OF both select and common eonn-
ellis.
! Reads Charge.
To each man. as he stepped up to-
day, the court stated he held in his
hand San information entered against
the defendant by Henry Muth
chief of county detectives, charging
him with having received a specified
amount for his vote in councils on
the ordinance or resolution then pend.
ing
What do you wish to do?" asked
the court.
Il will waive hearing" was thu
invariable answer.
. Defendant valves IA hearing and |,
held for court In $500 ball. said thu
: court and the man In question stepped
: aside for another to take his place.
!, An Indictment was returned by tn,
grand jury. and almost immediatel,
/, the defendant entered a plea Of noll'
+; contendre. When Judge Fraser ad
journed court II was decided the gran,
r jury should hold night session
/, Weber. therefore, was taken before th
!; body, where 1t Is said he recited hi
Y knowledge of the graft conspiracy
. corroborating Klein's confession Il
. every detail. AT 9:30 1t was announces
I the grand jury was ready to make
: presentment. Judge Fraser came int
j, court and half an hour later indict
J, ments were found against 40 presen
e and former members of the tw
: branches of the city councils. Their
: were Al names in the presentment, bu
: one Of the men notified the district at
Continued on Page Six)