Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-08-23
afternoon Session.
Especial Telegram to the Globe. |

Special Telegram to the Globe.
ST PETER, Aug. 22.-At 2 o'clock the
mittee again assembled in the board room at
the asylum and proceeded with their business
in downright earnest. Mr.. Kerr was again be-
fore them, and questioned about certain trans
actions which seemed to the committee mex
plicable. Among them check Tor $3.50
drawn in favor of Daniel Kahn, on Edgerton &
Co.'S bank, st. Peter. Attached to the check
was this memorandum: son September 6, 1878,
| issued number of checks in payment of
workmen on the hospital, among them one to
Daniel Kahn for $23.5O, payable to bearer.
This check lost and duplicate issued,
which was paid by the bank here. Some two
months after the lost check was presented to
the banking house of Shaubut d Co., Mankato,
cashed and sent here for collection. l paid it,
expecting that something would transpire to
indicate by whom it taken to Mankato. l
have not been able to ascertain who received
the money, and ask it reimbursed"
Senator Doran said You given credit
for $2350. Why were you so credited?"
Mr.. Kerr gave a lengthy statement, showing
that after he missed the check he gave in
structions that it should not be paid. The man
in whose favor the check drawn wanted
his money. and he gave him another check.
Some time after he found the lost check had
been presented at Mankato by Shaubut u Co.,
and he (Kerr) had to pay it.
| Mr.. Morton-Were you not paid salary to
| do the business of the institution!
| Mr.. Kerr-Yes.
Mr. Morton thought it should be Kerr's loss,
and not the institutions.
Mr.. Kerr gave similar instance in which
] Mr.. Dryer was implicated, and he got re-
! imbursed.
| Mr.. Morton thought the cases similar,
and if reimbursed the other should
| be, but he characterized the transaction as
anything but business-like.
| q
made out his checks payable to order instead
of bearer.
The chairman thought it necessary to send
for Mr.. Damren and Mr.. Copeland, in order to
have the bill for extra work explained. 1t was
impossible to get the explanation from Mr.. Kerr.
| The two gentlemen were accordingly sent tor.
ANOTHER ERROR.
Mr. Kerr's attention was next called to a
voucher of his own for $3.50, and was asked to
explain. The voucher stated that the $3.50
was in error in adding up and balancing the
accounts of 1873 and transferring to the &C
count of 1874. Mr.. Kerr explained, or rather
made the mystery more darkly mysterious, by
attempting to explain that in 1877, in looking
over the printed report for 1874, he found in
carrying over the balance of money paid, the
foot of the column in 1873 was So, 057.43 and
at the head of the column for 1874 the balance
brought forward was So, 207.43; so he made out
voucher for $3.50, thinking that the only
, way to put it right.
Senator Morton asked him to refer to the
ledger. By doing so he found in 1873 bal
{ ance So, O57.43 and in 1874 the same amount
| brought forward. He had added by an inter
line $3.50 in 1874 so as to make it correspond
with the published account, There was moth
ing to show that the whole thing was anything
more than Typographical error in the printed
: report for which Mr.. Kerr had claimed $15
from the State. The gentleman was consider
l ably confused in trying to explain, Senate
, Morton advising him to take time to bring
y before the board at some future day, when h
!. had fully studied it out.
{ Senator Morton asked if the trustees eve
audited his assets and Mr.. Kerr thought he ha
: better ask them.
Mr.. Morton-This shows pretty conclusivel
e that they do not for to say the best of it, it
a terribly loose way of doing business. Her
s is an error you claim to have been made /
r 1873, which is not discovered till 1877.
On the arrival of Mr.. Damren the chairma
proceeded to swear him, and he and Senate
It Morton questioned him closely, first with
!? view to show his qualification as a superb
,e tendent of works, and secondly to elucidat
how he came to have important contrac
awarded to him in connection with Snyde
he THE OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Mr.. Damren being sworn said he has reside
a. in ST. Peter since 1866 is builder, had CO.
ID tract with the asylum April. 1868. There w
ne misunderstanding with the trustees abo
as the deadening; did not put it in the bill
cy read the contract; the specifications call f
We deadening but in different manner by lathil
en- and plastering; witness received 81
he for deadening extra. When
ut took the contract supposed the deadening W
if to be done by masons had worked at the bu
nd ness before; had not worked at the busine
long; it was not my principal business; W
GU boot and shoemaker; never was apprentice
ou to the business Of carpenter; was in Calf,
on MIA mining, then came here; worked two
three years at shoemaking in the main tn
the went to the mines for two yea
the came here and worked as carpenter at Kaso
hat afterwards went on railroad and then work
cen on mill, the Washburn mill; then was in
army; came to St. Peter in 'e6; worl
ERE as carpenter till l took contr
the at the asylum in 81; went il
partnership with Snyder, at the same time
as.) did not 60 into partnership for the purpose