Willmar tribune., 1910-04-13
INDICTMENTS ORDERED FOR
HEAD OF PRESSED STEEL
CAR COMPANY.
SENSATION IN GRAFT INQUIRY
Is Accused Of Giving Bribe of $52,500
to Former Counci!man-Trust Co.
Chief Offers No Defense to
Corruptionist Charges.

posures came, as promised, with the
presentment by the grand jury of
| long report in which is recommended
the indictment of Frank N. Hoffstot,
president of the Pressed Steel Car
company and one Of the most prom
inent business men in the country.
simultaneously, in open court, came
plea of Emil Winter, president OF
the Workingman's Savings and Trust
company, that he had no defense to
make to the charge that he gave
100000 bribe to Councilman Morris
Einsteiq.
The following, in abbreviated form,
are some Of the most startling lind
ings in the grand jury's presentment
in the Hoffstot case:
Grand Jury's Findings.
1. That Frank N. Hoffstot, presi-
dent of the Pressed Steel Car CON-
pany and president of the German Ma
tional bank of Allegheny and promin-
emily identified with other banks, paid
to Charles Steward, former select
councilman, the sum of $52,500.
2. That the money was bribe used
in influencing the votes Of councilmen
to pass an ordinance naming three
banks, in which Hoffstot was inter-
ested, as official repositories of the
city's millions.
3. That the arrangement for the
payment of the money to Steward was
made in the spring Of 1908, and that
the late James W. Friend, at that time
an official of the Pressed Steel Car
Company, was an associate in the
transaction.
4. That the original plan which
Friend had was to obtain the services
of William A. Blakeley,. who was then
practicing attorney here, but who
is now the district attorney in charge
of the graft prosecutions, as a stake
! ordinance had passed.
5. That Attorney Blakeley declined
to act in the capacity named and
warned all parties of the criminality
of the proposition and of the liability
to prosecution if it went further.
6. That subsequent to Mr.. Blake
ley's refusal, Messrs. Friend and Hoff-
stot completed an arrangement with
Steward whereby Hoffstot would pay,
or cause to be paid, to Steward the
sum named-$52,500.
7. That the transaction was ar
ranged to be made in New York City,
and took place there in June, 1903, in
midi %1 a,,fvr I
liability in Allegheny county.
E. That Hoffstot did also solicit
from one James N. Toung: cashier
of the Second National bank ct Pitts
burg, the sum of S21, 900 to bn paid
| to Steward to insure the selection of
the Second National bank aa one Of
the favored city repositories.
g That Steward did demand from
the now deceased Friend, who was
acting as agent for the Second Ma
tional bank, bribe for Stewards vote
in favor of the bank ordinances.
10. That in accordance with the
finding, it be recommended that in
dictments, charging conspiracy and
bribery, be returned.
The banks named as ultimate prln-
cipals to profit by the bribes alleged
to have been paid by Hoffstot to Stew
ard are:
The Farmers Deposit National bank,
the Second National bank of Pitts
burg and the German National bank
of Allegheny. In addition to- these
three, the Columbia National bank of
Pittsburg, the German National bank
OF Pittsburg and the Workingman's
Savings and Trust company of Alle-
gheny were named as city repositories
in the ordinance which passed July 9,
1903, over the mayors veto.
The court ordered Indictments
drawn against Hoffstot in accordance
with the grand jury's presentment,
namely, on two counts Of bribery and
one Of conspiracy to defraud The city.