The Washington times., 1910-03-27
MAN WHO HAD BEEN LEADER POLITICAL
ENDS CRATER CONFESSIO
LOVE OF FAMILY PROMPTS
COUNCILMAN TO CONFESS
Children of Former PittSburg Political Leader Do Not
Know Their Father Must Serve Term in the
Penitentiary.

! had to get a meal ticket for the wife
and the kids, and 1 tried to build up the
business again.
. About that time a saloon keeper
came over to see rue. Say, Johnny he
said, L want to ask you 10 do me a
I favor 1 want you 10 favor a certain
bank He arranged a meeting with the
cashier and principal stakeholder OF a
Pittsburg bank. They offered me the
3 coin, took it.
Began Working
At Ten Years of Age.
Il have worked every day since I
was ten years old and never asked a
favor from any man." continued the
captain 4 was born IN 1870 and in
lSoO was ticket taker and treasurer at
Pat Harris theater I was there nine
years and then 1 went TO the Grand
Opera House, owned by z. D. wit, and
was treasurer there for four years.
/ Then 1 began 10 run the steamboats, and
nave owned and operated twenty-three.
In the summer time. when the theaters
were not running. / managed summer
excursions down the river.
When got to councils found every
| body on the make. They all wanted TO
PICK up little coin. Graft IN Pittsburg
outside Of councils was amatenrish.
Ihey told me your hat is cha-ked,'
winch meant that somebody was collect
ing graft for me and slowing it away
In mis- own pockets. That was counted
in, but wasn't getting it,
Well, after the bank depositarv Or
dinance I began 10 go along too
Looked Upon
As the Floor Leader.
He soon became prominent and at
the end Of his first two years was
looked upon as a floor leader.
After 1 handed out the dough a few
times I became looked up to- he said.
The captain joined the Big Five
the ring which controlled legislation in
the corrupt body. and which is said 10
have eXacted tribute from every one
who wanted a franchise passed.
Captain Johnny sWears Ire never. rec
ceived all the money for which he was
credited, however. He says ne distribu-
ted several thousand dollars on the de-
pOsitary ordinance but that most Of the
money MAS kept by the gO-between.
Spent all the money ] got in trying
10 build Up my business and on INV
friends When I was indicted and
tried, it cost money to pay for counsel
After I was broke and had spent all
the money 1 went to a certain lawyer
and talked about engaging him 70 de-
fend me.
Before 1 touch your case I want.
5000 and I want it in cash. he said.
Where would I get S5,OOo. I have no
money I told him. Go to the banks,
make them put up he said.
But I wouldn't 10 it. I wouldn't
blaCkm..I any man, and although there
has been a lot Of talk in this case about
all kinds of crimes, no one has been
able to say anything about bIackman.
Aided Friend
In Similar Straits.
That bunch in councils were the
worst 1 ever saw. When I got hard
up, after being through a lot Of things
with them and loaning them money out
Of my own pocket, you would think that
they would stand by TO help me a
little, wouldn't you?
But did they? Not a bit OF it,
when Martin was sent up. 1 hurried
around and collected first $500, then
81, 500 and that was before he went to
the jail. To get his motion before the
pardon board 7 collected $500 addi-
tionaI. I used some of il TO have the
pardon attempted and the other went
20 his wife. He came out Of jail with
money in the bank. Enough to start
him anyhow.
Has he been to see me since he came
out Not a bit Of it. He hasn't come
around AZ ali