Centre Hall reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1868-1871, 1871-09-29

The hearing upon che motion tc cen
tinue the injunction against the Comp
trollar and other city officials OF New
York, in the suit brought by John Foley
was begun in the Supreme Court, Cham.
hers, before Judge Barnard There was
= large number Of citizens present.
Richard o'Gorman, Corporation Coun'
sci, appeared for tho Board OF Super
visors. tho Aldermen and CommonAhty,
and for Peter II. Sweeny w. o, Bart
lett, for William nj. Tweed J. Stirling
Smith, for Mayor Hall, EK-Judge Bar
rctt and Mr., Strahan represented the
plaintiff. After some preliminary dis
cussion by counsel the answers OF Mayor
Hall and Comptroller Connolly, the an
davits of Deputy Comptroller Storrs and
Charles T.. Wllbour. and the record OF
the proceedings OF the Board OF APP
portionment were read aud a further
hearing was asked. At this hearing
vouchers ahowing how the city money
had been spent were 30 be produced.
These vouchers. It is claimed, we're alb
straeted from the Comptroller's Office at
night and cannot be found.
In view OF these circumstances, Mayor
Hall sent tho following letter 10 the
Comptroller
MAYoR's OFFIcE, Sept IL. 1871.
My DEAR Sm l have Just been in
formed 10y the Superintendent OF Police
that last night the Offices Of the Finance
Department we're secretly invaded. and
that as consequence thereof. valuable
vouchers, evidences OF payments aud
cancelled warrants together REPRESENTING
large amount OF discharged city liahili-
tiesl, are alleged by sone OF your subor-
dinates to have then disappeared.
The Superintendent aud the Mayor
Immediately had full conversation re-
garding the means OF investigating the
untoward circumstances of the alleged
burglary aud SO as 20 punish the guilty,
procure restitution OF such papers ns may
have been taken, and protect the interests
of the city.
I Our constituents will have a right 10
hold You responsible, and in a measure
( withhold from the Finance Department
desirable public confidence. IL is imp0s-
sible not TO perceive that the city credit
will suffer, and in a very critical period
Of municipal government
/ With great personal reluctance OFF,
cially reach the conclusion that the
exigency requires your retirement from
the head OF the Finance Department, in
order that ! may place there another
/ gentleman who viii be enabled thorough.
/ ly 10 investigate affairs, aud restore
public confidence.
I cannot suspend the Head OF any De
/ partment, not even pending an inveSti
cation. can only prefer charges tu
| the Common Pleas, who alone can re-
move, after a considerable time for trial
am compelled 20 throw myself, there
fore, as Mayor, in this sudden and un-
expected emergency. upon your mag
nanimity, and ask under the circum-
stances for your resignation.
Iours, very truly,
a OAKKY hALI., Mayor.
Hon. II. b. Connolly, Controller.
Comptroller Connolly declined 10 re-
sign. In his letter 10 the mayor he
Would not my resignation at this par.
ticular time give the advocates of the
partisan attacks upon the City Govern
menL just canse TO believe mo to plead
guilty, not only 20 participation lat least
paSsivc) in the burglary, hut as well 10
all the charges now made in the legal
proceedings ? So IL seems 10 me. Ny
official acts have been supervised and
approved by your superior vigilance.
So far as my administration is questioned,
equal responsibility attaches 20 yourself.
In your answer and affidavit, read in the
pending litigation, you have adopted
and yindieated those acts. You oould
not Justify yourself without so doing
Consequently. do not perceive why NV
resignation should be asked, or how. Ii
rendered, il would have any Just infiu-
ence in appeasing public clRmor. Con-
hdent, therefore, IN the steadfasi good
opinion of friends. in the ultimate jadg-
ment 20 be rendered by the Courts, ]
cannot, consistently with self-reSpect,
accord 10 your desire. am unable 10
submit myself as vicaFious sacrifice TO
satisfy the hungry appetite of advorsariss
f0r a victim, or, at this junctltre and
under these peculiar circumstances, be-
tray weakness Of position or fear Of rigid
investigation by rendering my reSigna-
ton.