Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-03-20

schools by Mr.. VIM. Guinaud, the contractor,
took the following testimony for the defence;
A. r.. AltessEs testified that he had been en-
gagged in the wood and coal business for Dlr.
Gunand for ten months. He had four yards,
over which he had general charge; also all the
orders from the public schools. Mr.. Guinand
would visit the yard in the morning, and then
BE- absent all day. He never took charge of the
details of the business. Never saw him weigh
but one load of coal. The tickets all passed
through witness hands, and never went TO Mr..
Guinand until the bills were made ont. Some
times the trustees would send for coal in hurry
and witness took the responsibility of sending
the coal out and signing Mr.. Gatchel's name
Weighed much of the coal that went to the
schools, and the ton that went to the Franklin
school for the janitor. He balanced the scales,
weighed the horse and cart, which was 2 060
pounds, and the coal weighed 2, 240 pounds net.
MIR. Gatchel never authorized witness to 81 IN
his name. Mr.. Gatehel would sometimes I'LL
with the witness to send ont with the drivers
and the coal None of the tickets for the last
twenty five tons of coal for the Franklin build
ing were signed by MIR: Gstchel. That was not
case of emergency, knew that Mr.. Gatchel
weigher for the government; heard that
he was public weigher, but did not know il to
he a fact. The first ticket witness signed Mr..
GatchelS name to, and he put bis own name
beneath il. MIR. Guinand always required full
we light for all coal sent from the yard. He
made statement out every night of the cash
sales during the day and furnished il to Mr..
Gufnand. once a month he made out com
plete statement OF all sales. Had told Mr.
Gatchel that he was signing his name to
tickets MIR. Gatcbel had never blamed him for
signing his name and said nothing about it.
M. g. 4. Thompson testified that he had
charge of Mr.. Guinand's Island yard. There
at 18th and II streets, and the Franklin build
ing. AT this time his scales were out of order.
Some iof the coal he weighed land some he
did not. He had received informtion that
the coal was being weighed up in the
city, and he said that If il was not correct Mr..
Guinand would make it so. Sent the tickets
that had been made out at the wharf with the
cards for 2,2i0 pounds, signed by Mr.. Gatchel,
without weighing the coal. 1t was loaded by
guess work. Had seen so much coal weighed
that he could tell pretty close when there was
been detective. 1t was the supply yard, and
the coal was generally weighed at the other
yards. Did not keep any account Of the coal
that was sent out from witness yard.
Mr. GGfcheI made explanation of the
tickets furnished by him to Mr.. Altemus. He
said that his wife was very sick that day, and
Mr.. Guipand had sent for him twice, and was
impossible for him to leave; be signed eighteen
tickets, gave them to Mr.. Altemus, and trusted
to his integrity in issuing them.
THE MEETING LAST NIGHT.
The committee held another meeting last
evening, and Mr.. Hine stated that there was
some misunderstanding as to the testimony
given by Mr.. Altemus, and he (Mr. Al was re-
called He said that bis testimony was not cor
rectly reported. He had said that when the
first order for coal came he sent for Mr.. Gatchel,
but he could not be found. and the order was
left untitled until the next morning. He then
told Mr.. Guinand of IL, and Mr.. G.. said =. Send
the coal" Mr.. GHnand never knew that he
signed Mr.. Gatchel's name to the ticket; had
never seen him do it. The tickets always were
done mp in bundles, and sent with the bills to
Mr. Guinand. Witness did not think Mr.. CUT
nand knew that witness signed Mr.. Gatchel's
name never told hin 50. Had the entire charge
OF the tickets and sent the coal. Mr.. Gatciel
lie schools previous To the CATION at the
yard Of witness, but intrusted everything TO
him.
ON motion of Mr. Ghamplin, the committee
agreed to hear
THE STATEMENT OF Mr.. GUrSASD,
and then close the Investigation. MIR. Guinand
said, a. TO that part OF the testimony in regard
to MI. Gatchels having access to the books,
that RO one had such privilege except through
his clerks, and that when Gatchel wished to
know how many tons had been sent out he went
10 the clerk, and the latter gave him the in
formation. Ia the emergency case mentioned
he teit that the coal must be furnished or the
school closed. and he gave the order that the
coal must 60 ont He remembered taking Mr..
Aliemus to task tor the emergency case. The
last order of twenty-five tons came on Fri
day. The janitors did not want the coal sent 10
them on Saturday, because they had other bust
hess than putting it away TO attend to. The
tickets showed that il was sent on Monday. lie
had never weighed a ton OF coal for the public
schools, and h ad never defrauded any of them.
He was morally responsible for the action of
his clerks. and still had them in his employ. He
did not know ANYTHING about the matter, but
Il.
Altemus and brought them to tie various dis
tricts. The case at the supply yard could not
be avoided. 1t was impossible to weigh the coal
at that time. He had always done the best he
could In that exceedingly cold weather
the scaies became frozen, and il was impoSsi-
BILE for any dealer 10 weigh coal; such things
His yard was three miles from the Franklin
school building. Mr.. NARROW s was much nearer,
and he could furnish coal much better in be-
cemher than he could. because he had a pave
mn Efa hanh rNsAh 10 80
in the matter. He might have neglected this
particular branch OF his business during the
winter, Tor he was deeply interested in some
Railroad MASTERS. He iAtrusted his business
chiefly 10 his clerks. and believed they wer.
honest. Ii the Investigation was carried fur
Their he would prove that ne had not bought his
way out or furnished the janitors or trustees
With coal at contract prices. Whenever he took
contract he fulflled VI to the letter. and eould
produce letters from the departments compli-
nenting him for the manner in which his work
had been done. He had applied himself dit
gently To his business until he had grown old,
In BODY AT least. IL the gentlemen could show
eulpabiiIty IN the matter let them do 80. He
hoped the committee and trustees would do him
Justice VI there was any criminalty in the
matter the courts were open. and they could
test 1t there. He should demand every dollar
Tor wood and coal furnished the public schools.
Tie dld not think man should he shown TO the
world a. thief and forger before the testimony
was al in and in advance of the report OF the
committee.
WHAT ME-. HINE SAID.
Mr.. Hine said that there were two questions
open; First, whether MIR. GuinanI had defraud-
ed the public schools in the matter OF coal con-
tracts, ard. second. whether he had forged the
name of Mr. Gatchei to the tickets. The evil
dence went 20 show that AIR. Guinand was en-
tirely ignorant OF this transaction, and that the
whole AFFAIR rested with his clerks, and that at
the time the coal was weighed he was not near
the yard nor daring the entire week. They
charged that Mr.. Guinand was guilty of ri wing
short weight, but never produced the man who
Te~eighed the coal to testify. Such evidence
would rot hold in court He did complain OH
the Part OF his client that the larty weighing
the coal haG not been present to testify; ami 10
convict him OIL such evidence would, he held,
lie AN outrage on justice. Then the clerk testi-
he'd that in filling the carts by g,Iess-work Mr..
Guinand knew nothing OF the fact. He sent
the coal out honestly, believing that he vas
seIding full weight, as Mr.. uinand had in
structed him that that was the way to gain Gus
tom. So far as any moral or legal responsible
ity was concerned, il had been shifted entirely.
The case here closed. and the committee went
into secret session TO consider the testimony and
Prepare their report.
The EMANCIPATION CELKBRAToS.-At a I
meeting of the 9th district colored people last
night 10 make arrangements for the emancipa-
ton celebration on the 18th April committees
were APPOINTED "a follows: On Consolidation
k-sts IL Az R.. n