Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-12-21
OUT AT LAST.
Charges Of Malfeasance and MIsfea.
sance 10 once Made Against
Mayor League by His Ex.Sec.
Rotary, Andrew Davis.
A Startling Development that ne.
quiFes the Most Searching
Investigation.

1t will be remembered that some time
since Robert Emmett League was act
ing as Mayors secretary or clerk, and
that he was summarily discharged from
that position on it being discovered that
paving scrip had been stolen from the
Mayors Office and other Irregular.
ties had occurred. Ex-Alderman Au-
drew Davis was appointed Mayors clerk
soon afterward. The General Council
appointed a committee to investigate the
sc%rip-stealing, but the committee while
investigating the affair never made any
satisfactory report to the public.
Last night President Gent Of the Coun
Gil presented the following specific
charges made by Andrew Davis against
Mayor League:
CHARGES AGAINST MAYOR LOAGUE.
The charges are seven in number,
First, that Mayor League, in bis official
capacity, did steal or permit to be stolen
three thousand or four thousand dollars
of the paving scrip bonds. Second, that
he made no effort to recover this scrip,
although informed where it was. Third,
that he is guilty of forgery, or has used
his position to screen the guilty and
protect the thief. Fourth, that be Davis
a year ago informed Mayor League
where the scrip was deposited and asked
him to have the thief arrested, but be
refused. Fifth, he Davis had given
him a list OF the stolen bonds, but be
Mayor Loague) made no effort to have
the stolen bonds returned. Sixth, be
Mayor Losgue) caused the entries on
the financial books to be changed. Sew.
enth, that he used his official position for
promotion of his individual interests in.
stead of the good of the city.
Accompanying the above charges is a
communication from Andrew Davis, who
among other things says that he, being
made secretary after the discharge Of
Robert Il. League, the Mayor asked him
to examine the books in the Office and
ascertain how much had been stolen
This he did, and informed the Mayor,
who asked him to admit that he (Davis)
vas mistaken. he Davis refused to
do this, but when he had found about
eleven hundred and ffty.four dollars
missing, the Mayor stopped further in
vestigstion. The communication details
the manner in which the alleged larceny
OF the bonds was committed and the way
he Davis made the discovery. He saw
one Of the stolen bonds in the hands of
Major I. B. Edgington, who being ques-
toned admitted he had bought the bond
at the Mechanic and Traders bank. He
subsequently, saw a lot of these stolen
bonds in the Mechanic and Traders bank
and asked the Mayor to have the officers
of the bank arrested until they told
where they got the bonds. The Mayor
refused, and said This would never do
The informer also gives a list Of the
stolen bonds, their respective numbers
and denominations, and says that he
had neglected to bring these charges
against the Mayor because of illness.
However, he had previously tried to get
the papers presented, but failed because
the persons to whose hands he entrusted
the same wished to screen the Mayor.
Now, he Davis was sick and feeble,
and being unable to 60 before the Coun.
Gil had employed a lawyer. They had
to deal with a we'll and willy man who
had so often filed their heads with mes.
sages and vetoes until they hardly knew
If they had q head. he did not want
any money, but asked that the-eity bear
the expense of the case and employ
Colonel George CAN'T to prosecute it.
he Davis was quite feeble and might
not be living when the Ease was tried,
yet he would give the Council all the
necessary information. Every book in
the City Hall would have to be destroyed
in order to blot out John Loagde's guilt,
and aver then he believed be could give
them witnesses who would prove the
charges.
The reading Of these startling charges
created great sensation at the meeting
last evening. They have been made
often before on the streets, but being
mere umO were not noticed by the
press. At the conclusion Of the reading
a committee of investigation was ap.
pointed, consisting of Councilmen Car.
peuter, MOores, Hewitt, Ryan and
Vance and others,
WHAT MAYOR LoAGUE SAYS,
Our investigating commissioner visited
the City Hall this forenoon In order 10
have a talk With Mayor League as to the
alleged stealing Of paving scrip and over
issue Of the same, ETC., shove stated.
Our man did not interview him with
question aud answer after the ridiculous
style Of journalism which of late has
cropped out, but our commissioner, In
bis most Chester6eIdian style, politely
referred to the charges, and asked the
Mayor what course was intended to be
pursued in the investigation. Mayor
League stated that the investigation
committee Of the General Council would
meet O. the City Hall at 4 O'Clock this
afternoon, apd he hoped that the com.