The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1913-10-16
HIGHWAY INSPECTOR
ALLEGES 81 BR|BE
IS OFFERED TO HIM
EmplOye of Foster Construc-
ton Company Named
AS Man.
Keller STARTS PROBE
Inspector Bulla Says Fore
man Refuses to Make
Changes.

That he had been offered a bribe Of
3 per day by Thomas Gibbons, fore
man of a road construction gang of the
Foster Construction company, of this
city, was the charge made today by
Charles Bulla, well known farmer
living north of Richmond, who has
been acting as inspector of that part
Of the Chester pike being macadamized
from the Alexander Reid farm to Ches-
ter.
Mr.. Bulla says that Gibbons offered
to pay him each day during the period
the road was being constructed on con-
sideration that he overlooked any fail
ure on the part of the road gang to
grade down extra high places when the
subsurface of the road was being lev
eled, preparatory for the placing of
the crushed rock surface. Mr.. Bulla
says that the offer to bribe him was
made during the first week in August
The road has not yet been completed.
Keller Will Investigate.
"If the facts reported to me are au-
thentic, I believe the matter justifies
a grand jury investigation" said Pros
ecuting Attorney Keller today. Il know
Mr.. Bulla to be an absolutely honest
and reliable citizen, and l will see him
as soon as possible and question him
about the reported effort to bribe him.
'If it Is true that Mr.. Bulla was ap-
preached with a bribe effer, there
may have been similar violations,
which would be very serious matter,
for the taxpayers of Wayne county
who have been spending thousands of
dollars improving their roads. That
they should know whether they are
getting their moneys worth is import
ant -
Mr.. Bulla, when asked by newspaper
men whether the report that he had
been approached with bribe while
admitted it's truth.
Tells About Bribe Offer.
Mr.. Bulla said that one day during
the first week in August Thomas Glib
bons, foreman for the Foster road con-
struction gang. came to him and asked
him to step down the road a short dis
tance, where they could sit down and
talk. Bulla says that Gibbons then
offered to pay him a dollar a day if
he would overlook improper grading
of the Subsurface
Il told him he was barking up the
wrong tree if he thought he could
bribe me-" said Bulla. II also told
him that | was employed by the county
as road inspector and could not take
p from the other party in the trans
action.
The inspector also said Gibbons in ,
formed him that the proposition he had
made was not an unusual one, and that
A-e might as well pick up little extra
money while he was sitting at the
Side of the road watching the men
wor'. Bulla said that he again re-
fused Gibbons offer, and the man
went away in huff
After that. Bulla stated, Gibbons
was relieved as foreman of the road
g~ng.
First County Contract.
The section of the Chester pike
from the Reid farm to Chester is the
first road contract the Foster Con-
struction company has taken from
Wayne county, it was stated at the
court house today. This company has
built one street for the city. South
West Fourth street. which is made of
gravel, and was recently opened up.
Bulla states that after Gibbons at
tempted to bribe him, he went to see
Mr.. Foster, and the latter disclaimed
all knowledge of the affair. and said
that Gibbons had no authority from
him to make such an offer