The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1910-04-07
Climax Comes i'm the
Pittsburg Graft Probe

PITTSBURG, April 6.-The climax
promised in the Pittsburg graft expos
ure came as promised late today with
the presentment by the grand jury
of a lengthy report in which is re-
commended the indictment of Frank
n. Hoffstot, president Of the Pressed
Steel Car company and one Of the
most prominent business men in the
country
simultaneously in open court came a
plea of Emil Winter, president of the
Workingmen's Savings and Trust COM
pany. that he had no defense to make
to the charge that he gave a $4,000
bride to former Councilman Morris
Einstein.
Findings Of Grand Jury.
The following in abbreviated form
are some of the most startling find
ings in the grand jury presentment
made public today
THAT Frank N. Hoffstot, president
of the Pressed Steel Car company, and
president of the German National Bank
of Allegheny and prominently identified
with other banks, paid to Charles
Stewart, a former select councilman,
the sum of $4,000
THAT the money was a bride used
in influencing the votes of councilmen
to pass a nordinance naming three
banks in which Hoffstot was interested
as official repositories of the city S
millions.
3.-That the arrangement for the
payment of money to Stewart was
made in the spring of 1908 and the late
James w. Friend, at that time an
official of the Pressed Steel Car Com
pany, was an associate in the tran
saction.
4.-That the original plan that Friend
had was to obtain the services of Will
liam A. Blakeley, then a practising
attorney here, but now the district
attorney in charge of the graft prose-
cutiOns, as a stakeholder of the bride
money until the ordinance had passed.
5.-That Attorney Blakeley declined
to act in the capacity named and warn
ed all parties of the criminality of the
propos ton and of the liability to pro-
secution if it went further.
6.-That subsequent to Mr.. Blakeley's
refusal Messrs. Friend and Hoffstot
completed an arrangement with Stew
cause to be paid to Stewart the sum
named-$52,O 900.
THAT the transaction was arrang-
ed to be made in New York city and
took place there in June, 1908, in order.
if possible, to avoid criminal liability
in Allegheny county.
S.-That Hoffstot also solicited
from enc James n. Young
cashier of the Second National bank
of Pittsburg. $4,000 to be paid Stew
art to insure the selection OF the Sec
ond National bank as one of the FAVOR
ed city repositories.
9-That Stewart did demand from
the now deceased Friend, who was
az ting as agent for the Second Ma
tional bank, bride for Stewards vote
in favor of the bank ordinance.
10.-That in accordance with the
findings. 1t be recommended that in
dictments charging conspiracy and
bribery be returned
The banks named as ultimate prin-
cipals to profit by the brides alleged
to have been paid by Hoffstot to Stew
art. are:
The Farmers Deposit National, the
Second National Bank of Pittsburg
and the German National Bank OF
Allegheny. In addition 10 these three,
the Columbia National bank of Fits
burg. the German National bank OF
Pittsburg and the Workingmen's Saw
ings and Trust company of Allegheny
We're named as city repositories in the
ordinance passed July 9, 1908, over the
vote.
10
by President Emil Winter. of the Work