The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-04-09
Witnesses Have Wilfully With
held knowledge of Wrong
Doing and Some Have Delhi
erately perjured Themselves,
BANKERS SCORED FOR
CORRUPT INFLUENCE
Collector of Delinquent Taxes
in Allegheny indicted for
His Part in the Bribery
of Council Members,
PRESENTMENT A SCORCHER

- iTFSBURG, Pa, April S.-A true bill
charging Max G. Leslie, collector
of delinquent taxes in Allegheny
county, with bribery was returned by
the grand jury today.
At the same time 81 sweeping present
ment was handed down with general
charges that many of the 125 witnesses
which the grand Jury has had before ic
fin the graft investigation thus far
have wiIfuliy withheld knowledge OF
graft secrets. and that q certain few
have practically been guilty OF per-
jury. Directors and officials Of some OF
the six big banks that prOfited by the
corrupt depository ordinance are Sc
VeFely scored.
The Indictment Of Leslie follows his
recent acQuittal on a charge of perjury
in claiming an abb in connection with
a previous Indictment for alleged brib-
cry. He is now charged with receiving
$4,000 from the Columbia National.
bank OF Pittsburg on June 3. 1908. In
the former Indictment the date was
named as June 6, and Leslie proved that
he was out OF the city at the time 1t
is charged that Of the $4,000. he paid
over Sl1,500 to William Brand to bride
councilmen.
The indictment season reached that
complex stage today when even the
grand Jurors themselves thought it nee
essary to present a comprehensive Te-
view Of all their work
1t was declared most emphaticaIly
that former Councilman Charles b.
Stewart and Cashier James NJ. Young
Of the Second National bank have con-
cealed information from the inquisitors.
We have beer unable to ascertain
who paid Stewart this bride money
10 11r
nished by the Friend Hoffstot pool OF
banks) in New York" the jurors re-
ported.
Much Like Perjury.
Although Stewart met this man at
least upon two or three occasions. al
though he knew his name and had sew
eral drinks with him, he nevertheless
swears that he does not remember his
name"
The grand jury also recommends a
new investigation Of the directors OF ths
Second National bank, and in specific
terms charged that Cashier Young is
shielding F. y. HOffstOt, and that there
IS reason to believe that someone else
connected with the Second National
bank IS responsible for this. The re-
port made by the directors Of the Farm
ers' Deposit National bank I'm denial
Of any knowledge of payment Of money
70 bride councilmen is criticized.
The validity Of the contracts under
which six favored banks now hold the
city's money is attacked.
Important in that il shows how tina
banks were induced to put up so Iargs
an amount of money for the Doodle
fund is the recommends ton that 6 per
cent be collected on the city deposits.
from these banks from and after this
date. The city depository banks are
now paying 2 FER cent on city deposits.
and 1t Is alleged that the agreement
was that the councilmen were to get the
difference for reducing the percentage.
The presentment says:
When an ordinance has been passed
by the councils of the city OF Pittsburg
by means of bribery, which was mar
ticipated in BY more than 80 per cent OF
the then members Of councils. when
Continued on Pave Two.)