The Bribe, the Clerk, and the Police Chief

Tacoma, June 21.—The city council committee investigating bribery charges against Councilman Thompson and City Clerk Smyth continued its inquiry this afternoon. After the session the committee met privately for twenty minutes and decided in a general way on the report it will present to the council tomorrow. Before the meeting tomorrow the committee will prepare the report, which, it is announced, will be brief.

Chief of Police Smith was on the stand. He refused to give the names of the gamblers who intimated to him that there was money in it for him if he let gambling run at the Haymarket. He explained that for a man in his position it was impossible to give such information without seriously injuring his effectiveness as an officer. He received information from all classes of people and must maintain their confidences. The committee did not press him to make the statement, as it did not concern the issue.

Assistant City Attorney Gibbs was on the stand. He said that Councilman Thompson had said to him: “If a man did take a bribe and got no further—” Gibbs interrupted him with: “If a man did give a bribe and talked about it, he’s a d—d fool.”

Mayor Orr said Smyth told him distinctly, in the presence of the city attorney, that last Wednesday, near the courthouse, he paid $125 for his job and that he paid the money to Thompson to vote for him. Afterwards, Smyth told him in the city attorney’s office that he proposed to deny the charge.

Ed Flanigan, who was proprietor of the place when it was running, was on the stand. He swore he knew nothing of the alleged attempt to bribe Wickersham to let gambling run there. Thompson and another defendant were both on the stand and pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.

The committee’s report, it is announced, will be brief.