New-York tribune., 1913-11-25
Former Mayor of Syracuse
Indicted for Soliciting
Campaign Funds.
CONTRACT OFFERED
AS BRIBE, ALLEGED
Accused by Oil Agent of Pronis-
ing FavorS for $4,000 Contribu-
tion-S Contractors Testify.

James X. Mcguire, former Mayor OF
syracuse. and later the legislative
agent for the Barber Asphalt Paving
Company. was indicted yesterday 10y
the General Sessions grand jury for
violation OF the section of the corpora
tions law prohibiting person from So
letting a political contribution from
corporation. A bench warrant was is
sued for Mcclure by Judge Grain,
George II. Mcclure. brother Of the
indicted man, testified on the stand of
the John Doe inquiry last week that
James h Mcclure had sailed on trip
TO South America about week before.
but subsequent inquiry by District At
torney Whitman's detectives failed TO
show his name on any recent passen-
ger list Of boats sailing either TO the
West Indies or South America.
Violation of the section under which
Mcclure was indicted is a misdemean-
or punishable by one years imprison-
ment in the penitentiary or $500 fine.
or both.
May Indict Fowler Again.
Eight upstate contractors who testi-
fed at the John Doe inquiry before
Chief Magistrate McAdoo yesterday
afternoon told eight different but s.
nifcantly similar stories of meetings
with Everett p. Fowler. "Murphys up
state bagman." 1t appeared certain
that from the mass Of evidence so
adduced there would be a second in
dlctment Of Fowler under the same
charge that was laid at James X. Nc
Cures door yesterday by the grand
jury.
Fowlers previous Indictment was on
a charge of extOrtion. based on the evil
dence of Seneca p. Hull. Cortland
County contractor, who swore that
Fowler threatened him with trouble if
he did not come across"
McGuire's indictment yesterday was
found chiefly on the evidence given
before the grand jury week ago by
his own brother. George II. Mcclure
TO the effect that the former Mayor Of
Syracuse had solicited a 5000 cam
paign contribution for the Democratic
State Committee from Fillmore Condit
New York representative of the Union
Oil Company Of California. Condit
himself, who was a witness yesterday
before the grand jury. corroborated
this story, and added further and eX-
plicit details.
Arthur B. Chamberlain, who an
nounced himself as dealer in asphalt
and road oils. with an Office at No.
East 42d street. and who was formerly
employed temporarily for the Union Oil
Company. furnished the chief feature
of the John Doe inquiry.
II was disclosed by District Attorney
Whitmans examination Of this man
that he had attempted to influence the
evidence that Fillmore Condit was TO
give before the grand jury. He had
called Condit's office by telephone on
November l., which was the day after
George II. Mcclure had been forced by
Whitman to admit the authorship of
The famous M" telegram.
IN" Telegram Trips Brother.
This was the beginning Of McGuire's
breakdown, and his reluctant disclos-
ures about his connection with the Bar
her and other asphalt companies in
their relation to the TammanV govern
ment of the state followed in natural
sequence.
chamberlain did not get in touch
with Condit that day and when 1t was
disclosed on Sunday that Condit was 10
80 before the grand jury re called him
up that afternoon at Condts home in
Continued on third page. second column.