Makes A Counter Charge

UHicAuo, Dea 4- Alderman John Powers made a most sensational countercharge in reply to an article publishèd in The Herald, in whicli he is accused with soliciting a Ï35.000 bribe from the anticigarette trust in return for which, it is claimed, Mr. Powers proniised to see that the anti-cigarette ordinance now aending in the council would be killed. The article accusing Pcwers of soliciting ;he bribe represents that he asked Neill McCoul, the Chicago representativo of the American Tobacco company, for $25,000 in the office of the latter while a stenographer of The Herald concealed in an adjoining room took down the conversation. What purports to bu a shorthand report of the proceedlngs was publishèd. Alderman Powers in his counter statement admits having been in the office of Mr. MeCoull, but denies the accuracy of ihe report, declares that he never asked Mr. MoCoull or any other representativo of the company for a bribe; declaros that he examined the place in which the stenographer is alleged to have been concealed and found it empty, and then goes on to nake the statement that an agent of the compnny nained Turner made what he Powers) considers an aUempt to bribe ilm, and made what he considers a boast nat Turner had already bribed Mayor Hopkins and half the counoil. This, he says, was done on the evening of Monday, Deu. 17, in the Leiand hotel cafe in the presence of a witneas, a man known as Pony Bob. Mr. Powers further says that thesu proceedings on tho part of Turner were resented by him, and the transaction of Uoc. 18 followed. Alderman Powers declares that the whole thing was a, put-up job to get him into trouble, because he vigorously supported the anticigarette ordinance and refused all advances and negotiations on the part of the cigarette people.