The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-05-27

county hard road affairs Indict-
ments are against the Pittsburg Paw
ing Brick company, corporation;
Robert Nash, r. D. Calvin, the Cof-
feyvIlle Vitrified Brick and Tile COM
pany. a corporation; A. w. Shultis.
G. E. Mosher, E. r. Dick, the Buffalo
Brick company, a corporation; C. w.
Roberts, George S. Walsh, - jack
son. C. w. Oswald, and Will Towns
ley.
The companies and their agents are
charged with entering into a combina-
ton which tended to advance and con-
troll the price of brick used in the con-
struction of Reno county hard roads.
1t is alleged that Will Townsley,
editor of the Great Bend Tribune and
G. w. Oswald, proprietor of Hutch
inson laundry, conspired with the
Pittsburg Brick company, the Coffey
vile Vitrified Brick & Tile company,
and the Buffalo Brick company, to
Reno county, receiving, respectively.
one and three cents per square yard
for all brick delivered for use.
In another indictment returned to-
day, Pat Shea, sub-contractor On the
Medora concrete road project. in this
county, was charged with the at
tempted bribery of D. E. Gilmer.
former county engineer. 1t is alleged
he left four $50 bills in Gilmer's Of
flee.
David z. Gilmer pleaded guilty to
charges of forgery and fraud in con-
nection with a fraudulent warrant
for $3,023.23, known as the Wallace
& Simpson warrant, a fictitious firm,
today.
The evidence before the grand jury
is being taken under the direction of
two assistant attorneys general, E. w
Claussen and Charles Griffith.
Arrests Are ordered.
Pittsburg, Kan, May 27.-No state
ment was forthcoming from the office
OF the Pittsburg Paving Brick COM
pany here today concerning the in
dictment of officers of the company
by the Hutchinson grand jury in con-
nection with the road investigation
there.
A telegram from the sheriff of Reno
county received at the office today
stated that he held warrants for the
arrest of r. G. Nesch. president, and
r. d. Calvin, secretary and treasurer
of the company. Both are out of the
city.
1--WE know nothing about the indict-
ment and therefore have nothing to
say" State Representative ]. ]. Nesch,
one of the principal owners of the
Pittsburg company. said. Il am try
ing to reach our officers who were in
dicted and have them go to Hutchin-
SON."
The Pittsburg Paving Brick com
pany operates a large plant here. 1t
was established thirty years ago and
has specialized in paving brick. Its
product has been used extensively in
paving work in Kansas and neighbor-
ing states. The business was founded
by the late Robert Nesch of Kansas
City. r. C. Nesch and ]. ]. Nesch are
his sons and are the principal owners
of the business.
Will Townsley, editor of the Great
Bend Tribune, one of the men indict-
ed yesterday by grand jury in
Hutchinson in the good roads probe,
heer today stated that his only con-
nection with the Reno county high
way project was in circulating petit
tons for highway construction. EAt
the time Townsley was secretary of
the Kansas Good Roads association.
he said.
-"I first became interested in the
good roads movement in Reno county
as secretary OF the State Good Roads
association said Mr.. Townsley. 1.-THE
petitions Originally drawn up called
for brick pavement. At that time the
| law specified that only one kind of
material could be mentioned in the pc
titions. Later a local association of
good roads men was organized at
Hutchinson and C. w. Oswald Gone of
those indicted) was elected president.
1t employed me to circulate petitions
| but 1 was not even an agent of any
brick company and received no fees
from them