Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-01-28
The Alleged Fraudulent Pay Roll.

judge Smell, OF the charge against T. J.
Lazenby, r. w. Walters, j. ]. Wilmarth.
Guy III. THOMPSON, George b. Coburn, and
samuel L Luckett, of conSpiring to de ,raud
The District government of S696O9 by means
OF fraudulent pay roll The plea of not
guilty was entered by the defendants. The
prosecuting attorney, Mr.. Evans. entered a
nolle pros as to George B. Coburn, and he and
bonds were discharged.
oPENING STATEMENT OF THE CASE.
Mr.. Birney, District Attorney, stq led that
'oDurn ala not appear to have been impl l.
Gated with the Others in the matter Mr. b.
lhen projected 10 state what me expected tO
prove There was settlement between Mr..
" alters, the contractor for paving and mark
Tug oth street, and the District authorities
ana receipts were passed; but a clerical Omis-
sion had been found in the office of the audit-
ing commission i'm not entering the transac-
ton fully in the records of the office This
TACT came TO the know ledge of "A clerk in the
ONCE of the controller. who has subsequently
been discharged. Ii appears that he male use
OF TINS knowledge by informing Mr.. Walter;
tilaI there was money due him, accounting 10
lne records; and obtained from him permits
sion 10 collect all unsettled claims which
might be found TO be due him from the Dis
trlct: This clerk is X G. Gill, who introduced
MI. Walters 10 Mr.. Guy Fl. Thompson as am
attorney, and then follows subsequent aciS
by which the claim was got through
THE TESTIMONY
NJ u. Il dLSOn, District auditor, was the
hrst witness, and testified to receiving an
official certificate from the Board of Audit
that there was due Mr.. Walters $4,000, which
he produced in court attached to the payroll
III question. This was on the 10th December,
and on the 18th the payroll was audited on
The strength of the certificate, the other
vouchers appearing 10 him to be regular.
Ihe audit was sent to the controller and the
money paid to Guy III. Thompson and Mr.
Wllmarth by draft in the usual way they
producing powers of attorney AUTHORIZING
them to receive ii. These cancelled drafts
We're produ ced i'm court and found to be regu-
larIy endorsed. Witness had no knowlei. o
OF walters signature, but said it had been
certified by Mr.. Lazenby, a notary public
~. D. J. -NCyeS, partner in the firm of j. C.
Lay Co, was called and testified that his
finn settled the account between Walters
ana the District government by power of at
torney given by claimant. The full amOunt
OF the claim was settled with the eXceptiO,
OF five cents per yard on the paving which
was reserved the District as per terms of the
cont act. The certificates OF the debt were
9 % ana pad over to Walters. Lay 4
20. settled up the entire business of claim
AM so lar as the 9TH street work is concerned
Ihe nnal settlement was made on the 9TH of
Oct0ot last, and the certificates passed over
10 claimant at once. Witness knew nothing
about this fraudulent pay roll or of any re-
naming amount due Walters except the per
ceitage reserved as stated, which was S2TI
Hr- H. l'iu. secretary of the Auditing Com
mission. testified to making out the certifi-
cate spoken of by the District Auditor He
gave III at The request of DR.. Tindall, secre-
tary TO The commissioners. The award made
10 MI. Walters was the same as appeared on
the certificate. \ reserve of S271 was made
in accordance with the contract The cerfifi-
cate was incorrect, as he afterwards found
from the ledger containing personal accounts.
Inc certificate was made upon a statement
given by Mr.. Watson, a clerk. that il was
correct. and without an examination of the
books.
Robert p. GU testified that he was a clerk
In the office Of the Controller. His cOnncc-
ton terminated on last Thanksgiving day
After he left the office he hunted up Mr. Wal
tiers; and, upon knowledge of the existence
OF the certificate, proposed to settle I'D for
him and obtain what was due him. This oc-
CURED soon after ne left the Controllers
once Mr.. walters accepted his prOffer, and
he then introduced him To- Guy III. ThOmp-
son, and after an understanding about the
case they all went TO the office of Mr.
LaZenby. where the papers We're male
up. Witness saw the payroll made ont
and signed. The payroll was produced and
witness recognized the signature of Walters
which he saw made. Mr.. Guy H. Thomson
made out the payroll and drew up the pow
els of attorney. There were three men who
appeared to be the men claiming the money
que them for labor; saw Samuel Luckett
lnere AT the time. When witness introduced
walter TO Guy III. Thompson as proper at
toTney 10 get the claim. he told Walters
about the certificates in the controllers of
nee. Inc powers OF attorney were hand d
witness, who recognized ThOmpson's hand
writing. Three men were there at one tim.
and two at another all were IabOrarS as ne
understood. Witness gave this reformation
10 walters about this amount being To his
credit out of friendship to him, and To make
something himself thought the money wa,
honestly due him. When witness told Wal
ters about this money Walters did not saw
mat II was not due him. Witness told him
that he thought he could put a pay-rolI
ihToush for him If he would put il i'm his
hands The payroll was shown witness with
the names of the labOrerS attached as fol-
lows: John Jones, John Smith. Chas John
son, John Hume. ]. III. King and Jas John
son, and he stated that he did not know the
men.
u. II. C6rjngtOa. clerk in the controllers
Office, testified that Thompson presented
four OF the powers of attorney at that office
ana " llmarth one, and that the drafts were
paid to them.
Mr.. Birney called the courts attention In
the fact that all these powers of attorney
were dated on different days, which did not
correspond TO the testimony of Gill, who
swore that they were made on two occasions
in the office of LaZenby.
F. " DrdBeV testified that he was a CO.
partner with Walters in the 5th street con
tract; witness bOSsing the work and keeping
the time table. which ne produced and stated
Ihat neither OF the names on the payroll in
question were on his books; the men never
wOrke,, for the firm. and lie never heard of
them before. The labOrers who actually dfi
work on that lob were all paid by himself
none Of them GeiHg the same as those upon
this bogus roll.
The further hearing The case was post
pOned until to-day at O'Clock.
ARREST OF Mr.. r. Il. GILL.
n warrant was sworn out this morning by
Controller COyle against r. II. Gill, cHr-
merly clerk i'm his office, and witness in the
above case, charging him with conspiracy.
The warrant was placed in the hands of De
tectiveS Sargent and McElfresh who arrested
him and took hi N into the Police Court about
l O'Clock,
TO-DAY'S PROCEEDINGS.
The hearing was resumed at $50 o'clock
this afternoon.
Justice j. T.. X Plant was sworn, and
shown q power of attorney from George Ii.
Coburn to Guy III. Thompson, which he rec
o@nized as having certified 10. 1t was pre-
scented by Coburn.
George Il. CUbiu7l was sworn, and was shown
power OF attorney, which he recognized.
Witness said ii was made out in his name,
at the request of Guy III. Thompson, and as
there was no pecuniary responsibility con-
nected with il. he gave the matter no further
thought Had an office with Thompson at
that time. Witness had never seen this
power of attorney since, until now. LaZenby,
Thompson, Wilmarth, and witness all occu-
pied the same office, each having separate
business.
IHeophl,ts R6lneH. constable, testified to
the signature of j. T. Luckett on the powers
of attorney, and recognized his handwriting
on them.
THE RESULT.
Other witnesses were examined and the
Court held Thompson and Walters for action
of the grand jury, and discharged the others.
Mr. Gill was held to bail in 50 900 for q hear
ing next Wednesday.