The Detroit times., 1912-07-27
SEVEN ALDERMEN AND
SCHREITER ARRESTED
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dealing with representatives OF the
Wabash railroad.
The investigation was fnstigated by
Mayor Thompson when local repre-
DentatiTes OF the Wabash railroad
slated TO him In Febrary that they
sought TO build a freight warehouse
70 relieve trafic congestion, but they
could not get the council TO vacate
the necessary portions of Seventh and
Congress-sts., without buying the
aldermen. They stated that the COM
pany had sought the same concession
from the city in 1909, but the plan
was tllen frustrated because the coun-
4 ciimen wanted $4,000 and the COM
pany wouldn't stand for 1t.
Mayor Engages Burns.
Mayor Thompson then sought finan.
cial assistance 10 catch the crooks
from several prominent Detroiters,
but finally Andrew II. Green, Jr., gen
eral manager OF the Solvay Process
Co., agree to finance the investiga-
ton. Detective William j. Burns was
sent for and plans were carefully
laid TO offer the aldermen money for
their votes. The plans were rapidly
nearins fruition and the detectives
expected to actually pay the cash TO
all the aldermen with whom they had
bargained and TO catch them all in
the dragnet at once. These plans
were upset when Detective Burns
came TO the city, Friday. and learned
that Mr.. Green had talked the mat
ter over with a number of Detroiters,
4 Including Police Commissioner Croul.
Burns feared that Green had spoil
ed the work of months and that some
inkling of what was going on would
4 percolate to the aldermen before the
money could be paid and the men ar
rested. For that reason Burns. Bren-
nan ana their assistants, with the aid
or detectives from police headquar-
ters sprang the coup, Friday after
noon, before all the aldermen had
received their bits"
The events just prior to the explod-
ing of the scandal were like those
from the pages of a novel or scenes
from a play. The Office OF the city
clerk was crowded with politicians at
o'clock, some of them registering
their candidates. for nomination for
various city Offices. Among them were
Louis Brozo and "Al' Deimel and
Tom Gilman. Brozo fled his nom
mating petition, remarking that he
could have obtained 5000 signatures
to H. Gilman was dressed unusually
well and was answering questions
about the probability OF his becoming
o. candidate for mayor on the Repub-
lican ticket
Everyone knows my record and
what expect to do IL became
mayor" said Gilman. "All they have
10 do is read my history in the pro-
ceedings Of the council" Gilman re-
marked that friends were circulating
his nominating petitions and he ex-
pected to be a candidate II they
brought them to him, properly signed
Friday night. Friday night Gilman
was locked up in the corridor Of the
cell block Of police headquarters with
the other aldermen and Schreiter.
branded as CRATER"
Gilman First Arrested.
Gilman, In his glad rags" went
directly from the city hall, il seems,
TO room No. 400 Ford building, where
Brennan had established his offices as
''the railroads fixer." II had been
agreed on before hand that he was to
arrive at o'clock and receive $1,000
for his vote in connection with the
street closing resolution. Arrange
lnents had been made to have Schreit.
er come at 2:30. But Gilman dallied
In the city hall and did not arrive In |
the Ford building until about 2:30 D. |
m. He received 81 900 in marked bills |
from Brennan, dictagraph recording |
his conversation in the transaction !
Gilman was then allowed TO step out |
of the Office with the "swag" as
though every little detail had been
completed satisfactorily. lie was fol- !
lowed into the hall by |. j. Coffin, spe-
cial representative OF the prosecutor |
and Detective Bert High. They ar
rested him on the spot At that mo- !
ment Schreiter put in an appearance,
and seeing the detectives on either !
side OF Gilman realized on the instant |
that the Zig" was up. Schreiter turn. |
ed and ran, hastily returning to his |
office In the city hall.
The detectives had previously |
agreed that Gilman was to be taken |
into room No. 40S, so that Schreiter, |
when he arrived, in room No. 400, |
might not know Of Glinnans predica- |
ment. The detectives took Gilman /
into room No. 408 and then High went |
after Schreiter. Schreiter had re- |
gained some OF his composure by the |
time High arrived and when High I
said: Il want you to come with me-
3D." Schreiter went along without any |
remonstrance.
His arrest was accomplished so
quietly that no one in the city hall |
was aware OF what was going on until !
after Gilman and Schreiter had been |
taken to police headquarters and later
to the prosecutors office. Detectives |
from police headquarters we're sent
to Schreiter's ONCE to seal the safe in |
the office and guard 1t, as Schreiter Is |
alleged TO have confessed to have
handled other shady" deals. Exam
nation Of Schreiter's safe is expected
TO bring to light evidence substantial
Ing the details of his alleged confes.
sion Of his connection in other bribery
cases, wherein he Is said to have act.
ed as the go-between between the out.
siders and the aldermen.
Teiegraphone Records Conversation.
When Gilman was taken into room
f. No. 400 he was shown the dicta.
gram and telegraphone by which his
Is an Improvement on the dictagraph
was recorded. This latter instrument
is an Improvement on the distagraph
used by Burns In other famous
cases. II not only records the con-