Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-05-20
MAY
PROSECUTE PUTNEy
Councilman Threatens to Ask
Warrant for Arrest of His
Latest Accusef
COUNCIL TO INVESTIGATE

eff Mr.. Putney says / tried to mace
| him for 5000 OF $3.50 for sewer i'm
provements near his Frankford plant.
I shall have warrant sworn out for
his arrest today"
In these words, Councilman Alexis
j. Limeburner announced today he
would fight the latest charge that he
had solicited bribe for influence used
in connection with his official position.
He referred to charges +. L. Putney,
manager of the Philadelphia Felt Co.,
Powder Mill lane and Frankford creek,
Is said to have made to Director Cortel-
You and which Councilman William r.
Horn, who investigated. will be called
before the councilmanic investigating
committee next Monday to explain.
Thinks Putney Won't Be Called
| Mr.. Jimeburner intimated today that
| Putney would not appear before the in
vestigating committee Monday, while
Councilman Cox, the chairman. is GER
tain the Frankford man will be present.
"T don't know how Mr.. Limeburner
got the impression Mr.. Putney would
not be called" Cox declared. "All who
have made any charges against Lime
burner will be called Monday. They
must attend and subpenas will be is
I sued II necessary.
"The committe is determined to clean
up this matter and no effort will be
spared to have all the facts presented
Monday. No such stigma against the
city such as this S25 900 bribe case and
the allegations that have followed in its
wake can remain unanswered and un-
proved"
Putney Out Of Town
Mr.. Putney is not in Philadelphia and
will not return for a week. At his mill
1t was said he was away purchasing
machinery.
Councilman Horn. who is an admin
iStration independent from the Twenty
third ward, said he would not discuss
the matter until he tells his story to
the committee.
Carlton T.. Davis. chief of the bureau
OF water, whom Limeburner is said to
have urged not to place the sewer i'm
provements in place. also refused to
discuss the matter. He said he would
tax freely If summoned before the com
mittee.
Members of the investigating commit :
tee to whom Mr.. Horn had told the
story of Limeburner's alleged visit to
Putney, yesterday instructed Edwin
Il: Cox. the chairman of the COM
mittee, to request Mr.. Horn to testify
before the body when it meets on Mon
day afternoon.
The committee also discussed stems to
bring A. B. Schmidt, eastern manager
of Sears. Roebuck & Co., back to
Philadelphia to testify again as to the
attempt to extcrt $50, 900 from him by
mystery man."
MIR. Limeburner has been named as
having visited Schmidt in his room and
as having advised him to make the nav
ment. The committee yesterday sent n
telegram to Mr.. Schmidt to come here
Immediately so that Thomas r. Nit
ten. president of the Philadelphia
Rapid Transit Co., can repeat in his
presence his story of the convetsa- :
tion with Schmidt while members of the
committee will endeavor to reconcile
testimony. If response is not forth
coming the committee announces it's
intention of communicating with Julius
Rosenwald, president Of the mail order
firm, and asking him to send Mr..
Schmidt here.
Many Heard Rumors
The committee very uncxpectedly
projected Mr.. Horn into the discus
sion After it had decided to ask the
60 operation of both the district attorney
and the director of public safety, one
of the members mentioned the fact that
Mr.. Horn had told him the story of the
water pipe episode. Other members
story and then it was decided to sum =
mon Mr.. Horn.
The story told by Mr.. Horn to the
councilmen is concerned with efforts of
Mr.. Putney to get the city to lay water
pipes to supply his factory in Frank
ford. For a number of years, Mr..
! Putney has been endeavoring to get the
city to put in the desired improvements
by running pipe line to his plant.
Last year, an ordinance appropriatng
the money. was finally passed, but the
loan bill in which that appropriation
was embodied was held up pending a
decision on it's consttutionality.
When it was finally approved by the
Supreme Court, the ground had frozen
and it was too cold to begin the con :
struction work. Then it was that Mr..
Limcburner enters the story. For a
number of years, according to the story
told by both Putney and Horn, the
vcrtisement in patriotic Philadcl-
phia."
Mr.. Horn says that shortly after Mr..
Limcburner had entered Office in the
new council, he came to Mr.. Putney s
office to present his bill. The latter
told him of his trouble in getting the
water supply. Then Mr.. Limcburner
| is said to have left a bill for $50 and
in addition mentioned an additional
sum of $500 to the manufacturer. The
latter is said to have refused to pay
the bill.
Conference Was Held
Limeburner, according to the Horn
story, is said to have gone to Chief
Davis and told him to hold up any
action until Limeburner came to him
again. In the meantime Putney had
gone to Horn and the latter went tc
Chief Davis. The latter is said to have
told the story of Limcburner's alleged
visit and then meeting was arranged
in Putneys Office at which Horn, Put
ney and Davis compared notes on the
matter. Later Director Cortelyou was
informed of the entire affair and it /,
understood that Mr.. Putney swore tC
several affidavits ih the matter and
these Sere turned over to the director