Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-03-24
Bride Takers Confess
Guilt at Pittsburg'
Tell All They Know and Their
Sentence Is Postponed.
Traffic in DisorderIy Houses Next
To Be Investigated.

Pittsburg Pa, March 23.-Nine more
men conscious stricken over taking
money for their votes appeared before
Judge r. $. Fraser today and after
telling all they knew of the council
manic graft conspiracy. had sentence
postponed. Besides the nine the former
president Of the common council, Will
liam Brande, one of the ringlcaderS,
according 10 those WHO confessed, haS
also made statement which is in the
hands of the district attorney. J. G.
WATSON, who is in the penitentlary.
made his confession to the grand jury
today He wept like a child during his
recital. while John G.. Klein. the arch
confessor, tried to sooth him.
With complete statements from
Brand, WATSON and Klein, who were
the principals in the conspiracy, ac-
cording to their own statements, it il
said the district attorney is ready To
proceed against the bride giv"rs and
while no names are given out. Was
sons statement is said to implicate
some prominent men. The opportunity
to voluntarily confess and receive
postponed sentences or immunity
has passed for those that have not
come forward. Those that nave Deen
indicted will be brought to trial ana
the first Of these trials will start Mon
day.
Already q campaign against jury fix
ing has been begun by the district at
torney Today five men We're dragged
from the court room by county detec-
tives. 1t il said they We're busy with
about tho
court house corridors. Each man was
nut through a severe examination ana
the arrest is probable of n number OF
other known about the court house.
No indictments We're handed down by
the grand jury today, although it has
sufficient evidence for true bills against
more than so These will come along
according to the assistant district at
torney before the end of the week
Now that the councilmanic graft evil
dence is about all in, the district at
tOrnev is about to take up the traffic
in disarderly houses and vice in which
councilmen have been implicated by
the confessions. Detectives have al
ready furnished evidence against pro-
prietors of 10 gambling houses and PIG
disorderly resorts.
The instruments of the graft story
have been so spasmodic that synop-
sis is here presented for those who
missed the first charters.
Klein's display of 100000 in bills on
the street. June %, 1908, excited the
suspicion of Ernest Frey, harness
| dealer. He reported the discovery to
| the city auditor. the latter told Mayor
Guthrie and he passed it on to the
voters League to whom the citizens OF
Pittsburg are indebted for the pros2cu-
tion that was set in motion. y Getec-
tive's bribery of oouncilmen in connec-
| ,ion with fictitious wood IaNing Tlan
| started the ball rolling. This led into
| the bank depository conspiracy ana
otter forms of graft.
| The fact that about 80 counclimen OF
the past and present administrations
are involved in the scandals thus far
exposed indicates percentage OF loss
than an per cent. dishonesty.
| At the time most of the grating was
in nrogress. the Pittsburg councils were
te,nnorarily abnormally large. There
| were "A wards in Pittsburg ana IL IN
| Aueoheny with altogether la2 select
| and common counciimen.