New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-07-27
DETROIT OFFICIALS
NABBED AS GRAFTERS
Eight Aldermen and Secretary
of Council Charged with
Accepting Brides.
w. J. BURNS SETS THE TRAP
Honest Tom" Gilman and Sec
rotary of American Mu-
nicipal League Among
Those Held.

| Detroit. July 26.-Eight aldermen and
committees were placed under arrest
this afternoon on charges OF accepting
brides and conspiracy to accept bride
! for their votes and influence in the
passing Of measure affecting city
property recently transferred to the
Wabash Railroad. At least six other
arrests Of aldermen are expected, and
it Is alleged that $500 changed hands,
in sums of from 500 to $1,000. The
bribery was consurlmated, it is said.
and the arrests made under the per
sonal supervision of Detective William
J. Burns.
The officials already arrested are:
Thomas Gilman, president Of the
council. who is alleged to have received
$1,000.
e. r. Schreiter, jr., secretary of coun-
ell committees and also secretary Of
the American League OF Municipalities.
who is charged with conspiracy to
bride and agreeing to accept 500
Alderman Joseph L. Theison, said 10
have accepted $500
Alderman Martin ]. Ostrowski, al
legged TO have received 500.
Alderman Patrick OBrIen. con-
spiracy.
Alderman Louis Tossy, said to have
received 5000.
Aldermen Frank J. Mason. Alderman
Louis Brozo and Alderman Deimel,
charged with accepting 500 each.
Alderman Gilman has long been
known in city politics as Honest
Tom When arrested this afternoon
it is said he turned over $1,000 and
made complete confession Schreiter.
who, it is claimed by the authorities.
engineered the affair, was arrested in
his office. He had not received any
money but the officers claim that he
who were acting under the guise of
Wabash Railroad officials. 10 get his
money and discovered the officers WHO
had Just arrested Gilman. 1t is said
he also made statement to the Off
GERS.
The detectives claim that they have
caught their men not only with marked
money but by telephone testimony and
Photographic record.
The investigation which eliminated
in the arrests to-day has been going
on since February. when rumors ~
graft in the councilmanic body began
TO assume serious proportions. Mayor
William B. Thompson sought the SER
Vices Of detectives, and Andrew II.
Green, prominent manufacturer,
agreed TO finance the matter. Soon
after the investigation was begun the
Wabash Railroad applied for the clos
Ing Of a Detroit street. on the grounds
that il wanted to erect a warehouse
and otherwise increase its shipping ia
clit.es. The application was held no
in the council for time. Then sud
denly the council granted the applica-
tlOn Dy vote OF SeNeEdf IIlellDcTS VINO
had previously opposed the measure.
Meanwhile the Burns operative who
represented himself to be land agent
for the Wabash. had been at work. He
had entered. according to the charges,
into negotiations with the secretary OF
the Common Council committees
Eventually 1t was decided It is alleged,
that several who had been opposing
the street measure would withdraw
their opposition for 800 each. Some
OF the Aldermen. however, are said to
have held out for more. II was then
agreed that different amounts would,
II necessary. be allowable. and yester-
day the Aldermen began TO draw their
money. The last person 10 receive his
share, IL IL declared, was Gilman
This Is the first exposure Of It's kind
that has ever been made in the Com
mon Council OF Detroit. The arrest of
Tom" Gilman. the Council leader. Is
most commented upon. 1t is said that
he has already filed his petitions for
nomination for Mayor IN the fall cleo
ton.