The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-09-21
A SERIOUS CHARGE.
PETER COOLEY. THE CITY PROPERTY
CLERK. CHARGED WITH ENH-
REEZLEnTENT.

On the third instant the bondsman OF Mr..
Peter Cooley, the city property clerk. called on
Mayor pilsbury and stated that he wished to
withdraw from the bond of said Cooley. No 1T
tention was paid to this request until 1t was
rumored In police circles that certain property
in the hands Of the property clerk was miss
ing. Thursday an Investigation was had In
the property room at the Central Station. when
1t was discovered that two gold watches turned
over to Mr.. Cooley by Sergeant Gribert. OF the
Seventh Station, were missing
Administrator Diamond ordered Mr.. Cooley
to produce the watches. Having pawned them.
he was unable to produce til m, and being cor
nered by the Administrator. pleaded guilty. and
In sxtenuation of h q guilt, said that the city
not having paid him, he was pushed for money
and pledged the watches. Here the investiga-
ton ended for the present
Administrator Diamond Immediately sus-
pended Cooley locked uD the property room,
and turned the keys over to Chief Boylan.
at o'clock Wednesday. Capt. Manning ap-
peared before Recorder Smith and sWore out
an affidavit. charging Cooley with breach Of
trust and embezzlement OF two gold watches,
valued at $40. The accused was arrested yes
terday, arraigned before the First Recorders
Court and released on bonds. The DEMOCRAT
reporter could not obtain the amount Of the
bond or who went as security, because 1t
p1eases Judge Smith not to give any Informs
tion to the DEMOCRAT reporter.
Chief Boylan stated that some days ago he
preferred charges against Peter Cooley for
doing away with certain property. and the
charges, after being sent to the Administrator
Of Police were returned to him.
This investigation has been on foot for some
time. but was never put into execution until
| Thursday. It was brought about by adminis-
traitor Diamond calling on Cooley to produce
fifty odd dollars that had been placed In his
hands By the authorities OF the Central Station
for safekeeping, 1t being the property of q man
supposed to have been drunk. but on being
brought TO the station was found to be sick. and
| sent to the Charity Hospital, whore he died.
| Mr.. Cooley not being. able to produce the
| traitor fully g week before making the money
! good, aroused suspicion and he was Swallowed.
When the Investigation was finally had, the
| sad tale Of the watches was brought to light.
| Yesterday Chief Boylan went in the property
| room for the purpose Of getting the Tranter re-
man named Laresche in 1876
The chief not being able to find the pistol,
| called on Cooley for 1t, who stated that 1t was
whore the watches were.-in the pawn shop.
| Yesterday the Mayor placed Capt. b, 0, Minor
| in charge Of the property-roorn, who will imme,
| the property there and make report Of what
| is missing and what Is there.
| The bondsman for Mr.. Cooley considered that,
| as he had notified the Mayor ON the third in
| stant that he wished to withdraw from Mr..
| Cooley's bond and that no attention was paid to
his request. and that the investigation was put
| off until the nineteenth instant. If property
has been embezzled from the .property-room
since the third instant he should not be held re-
sponsible for 1t.