The City Hall Corruption Scandal Deepens
Prominent businessmen are arrested as the city chases missing funds and a key fugitive.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
Fred E. Sander and L. H. Griffith were arrested yesterday and placed under heavy bond in connection with city money procured from Adolph Krug. While Comptroller J. M. Carson continues to hold office despite missing funds, the arrests of Sander and Griffith have caused a stir. The warrant for Sander's arrest was served by Constable Terry King at the corner of Commercial street and Yesler avenue. Justice Caldwell set bail at $15,000 for Sander and $20,000 for Griffith. The defendants, represented by attorneys Hale and Dempsey, expressed confidence in their exoneration once Krug is returned to testify. Prosecutors stated that should further warrants be issued, they would target P. T. Denny, noting that Carson's arrest remains a 'last resort.'
“He is the only man who can clear the innocent and accuse the guilty.”
This scandal was part of the political fallout of the 1893 economic collapse, which triggered intense scrutiny of municipal finances. The intersection of Commercial Street (now 1st Avenue S) and Yesler Way was the heart of the original Seattle business district, a hub of both commerce and political intrigue.
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