Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-10-23
e INDICTED.
Wholesale Indictments Re-
turned by Grand Jury.
Result Of Investigation Of Mu-
nicipal Irregularities.
0efraud City Of st. Louis Of $780,.
000-.Former Mayor Included.

St Louis. oct. 22.-The Indictment,
today, Of - former officials of East st.
Louis, Ill. on charges growing out of
an investigation Of alleged municipal
Irregularities, was characterized by
States Attorney Webb as the forerun-
ner of other indictments to be return
ed by the grand jury.
Those indicted, today, include an OK
mayor. city treasurer, two former
comptroilers, two former heads of city
departments, Il former aldermen and
the present chief of detectives.
All these were part of the admin
istration of Charles s. Lambert. who
retired from the mayoraltY. last
spring, being succeeded by Mayor
Chamberlain, who was elected ON re-
form platform. Among the allegations
srpp0rted by evidence introduced be-
fore the grand jury were the following:
,'hat Fast st. Louis was more than
5000 900 ia debt.
That during the Lambert admlnlstra-
ton warrants were issued for large
officials who made contracts With the
city in violation of the law.
Many of the indictments returned
the same offences. but are differently
phrased to meet legal points.
Charles s. Lambert, mayor i'll 1911
and 1912. charged in four indictments
with entering into conspiracy to de-
fraud the city of 100000 and one in
dictment with having conspired with
other officials to defraud the city of
$25. 900.
T.. Fred Gcrold, city treasurer in
1911 and 1872, charged in four indict-
ments with having entered into a con-
spiracv with Lambert TO deffaud the
CITY of 500. 900: in one indictment with
having entered into a conspiracy to
defraud tie city of $4,000. and in one
indictment with having embezzled $50,
coo
William Rodenberger. former city
comptroller, and John J. Faulkner,
former city comptroller, practi-
caly same charges, except as to
$4,000 case Rodenberger also is ac-
cused of having embezzled city rec
ords and treasury warrants to a to-
tai of Sl0ao0.
Lester j. Grgsby, present chief OF
detectives. charged in one indictment
with ndNIiS tt1lftlttlti Jul SifiiS anu
larceny and in two indictments with
| having been party to 100000 con-
| spiracy.
DR.. Lemuel b. Short. former health
commissioner, 100000, conspiracy.
Daniel G. Wuersch. former superin-
tendent of streets, 100000, conspiracy.
Others indicted are:
John Edmonston former assistant
SUPERINTENDENT of streets: John ID.
Young, former deputy building com
missioner: Clause Tietge, former al
derman and former chairman of the
council claims committee; John w.
GavInk. former alderman, and the FOL
lowing present aldermen;
Anton Hahn. Fred w. Leckell, John
C. Matinee, Leon Prewer. Edward j.
Spiesbach, Louis q, RuntZ, John -.
Roche. Andrew Boure, William 7. De-
gan, James n. Sheer, Lee Brown,
Rudolph Huschlot
BESIDES these officials and former
officials. the following were indicted:
Michael Sondag, druggist and Ben
Gerald brother of T.. Fred Gcrold,
charged with having been a party 10
the 100000 conspiracy
Walter Hankins, saloon keeper, m
dieted with Chief Of Detectives Gilss-
bv on charge of having committed
burglary and larceny and with nav
ing received stolen property.
The 800 600 conspiracy charge. IL Is
said. deals with Irregularities in the
health and street departments Inc
health department bought large part
of it's supplies from sondag and II Is
alleged paid retail prices though 1t
bought in wholesale lots.