The New York herald., 1879-08-01

I
he thought MIR. ShearInan ought to have sought al
explanation from the Police Board before handing
III his report.
Mr. Seth c. Hawley. the Chief Clerk of the Police
Board, is the officer now in charge OF the Equipment
Bureau. He has been. by resolution of the board
vested with full control the matter Of uniforms
aud other requisites. and he takes entire charge OF
the bureau This TACT renders his views on the sub
ject OF Mr.. Wheelers alleged difficulty soinewh hat
important. MIR. Hawley said yesterday that he did
not have any personal knowledge of the truth
charges made against Commissioner Wheeler. All
he heard was in the form OF rumors. He had under
stood for time past that Mr. Wheeler had placed
himself under heavy pecunlary obligations in con-
nection with the Equipment Bureau. which necessi-
ated the raising OF money by his friends to prevent
him becoming further embarrassed. II there
deficiency it WAS caused. no doubt. by failure to
account for the profits received He had no doubt
whatever that any dehciency would be made good.
Mr.. Wheeler in the habit of spending money
freely. ana il might possibly be that his accounts
had become entangled.
THE NEWS AMONG THE POLITICIANS.
Nothing was discussed by the politicians last
night but the Mayors action III removing the Com
mlssioDer 1t was generally regarded with surprise,
but everybody seemed to have vague idea of his
own to what it meant. The anti-lannanyite
were generally jubilaDt, and regarded with great
glee what they termed the coup detat of Mayor
Cooper. Around the Monument House. in Union
square, where the Mayors champions are wont to
consregate, large number of politicians TO be
They were greatly excited. ana talked and
laughed boisterousiy. Aldermen Kenny. StracK,
Haughton and other City Fathers talked confidently
of beating the opposition organization at the next
election. The Talnmany people were not only sur
prised but thunderstruck at the Mayors decided
course. They appeared to have no idea that such q
thing as the removal of Mr. Wheeler would be at
tempted. and did not seem to relish the prospect
which their anti-Iammany friends mapped out for
them. One prominent member of the General Com
mittee said that it meant nothing nor less than
the capture of the Bureau OF Elections in Tilden s
interest.
..The combination between our party and the re-
pnblicans, made short time since, he continued.
provided for leaving the 'ants out in the cold
regards inspectors or election or supervisors. But
Mr.. Cooper what fix that would leave him in.
he in tends to have Wheeler and Smith removed.
That is his object, you may depend upon it, 1t will
ExJudge A. j. Dittenhoefcr said that in his opinion
it shame to remove Commissioner Wheeler on
such frivolous charges. Even il there a det-
ciency--and he understood there was none-it
would not be cause enough to warrant his official
decapitation. He meant what he srid. although he
opposed to Mr.. Wheeler on many grounds.
MIR. wHEELER's DEFENCE.
Mayor Cooper, at about seven O'Clock in the even
ing handed to his official messenger the copy of his
charges which he wished placed in tie hands Of
Commissioners Wheeler. He Instructed him spare
no pains to find the Commissioner In pursuance
OF these instructions the messenger dashed up
town, He went to Police Headquarter but Mr.
Wheeler was not there. He went to the
Gilsey House, and to the Everett House, but
the Commissioner was gone. He had just left
that he might be back late i'll the night. At the
Everett number OF Mr.. Wheeler's friends were
found, but the gentleman himself was not there.
Several other haunts visited in turn, but the
portly presence OF the much sought Commissioner
nowhere to be tOunu. HERALD reporter,
who had followed the Mayors messenger, at last
broke away from him and had not the slightest diff
fculty in finding the whereabouts OF Mr.. Wheeler
"Mr. Wheeler" began the reporter, 1.-THE Mayor
has preferred formal charges against you.
HAS he?' said the Commissioner, with evident
surprise. ri didn't think he would take such de-
cided action until after he had given me pre-
liminary hearing"
Ho has set the hearing down for the 4th Of
.lather quick work. isn't it? He sends one of his
Commissioners OF Accounts TO examine into my &C
lowing Wednesday, and charges preferred on
Thursday, and then only four days grace"
.Well, what do you intend to doY asked the re-
..Oh, suppose will have to prepare my defence.
1 think it will be very laborious work. But then it
"How edo you explain the charges made by Mr..
ShearmanY
Il can honestly say that 1 was never moro aston
shed in my life than was when hoard that there
deficiency in my accounts never had the
most remote idea of any such thing. l was under
the impression that the books had been oil squared
up aud found all right"
"Aow did you first hear of the alleged defalca-
tion?"
ment clerk. The former placed the deficiency at
about $4,000. could not and would not believe
the statement, but it perfectly astounded me. In
answer to my questions Mr.. Shearman explained
that the greater part OF the missing money was to
be found by examining the Equipment Bureau ac-
counts. felt convinced that he was wrong but
he could not be convinced. He said these
are the results OF my examination;
showed him receipts for money that he said had not
been accounted tor. One OF these receipts was for
5000. This of course reduced the deficiency by
tins amount. i asked Mr.. Shearman II 1t were not
possible for him to 90 sa oser the accounts
might be explained. l felt sure in my
mind that everything could be satisfactorily ac-
counted tor. l did not think it worth my
while to aid Mr.. shearrnan in his work. can hon.
estly say that far AS know and am concerned,
there Is dollar OF deficiency in my department
accounts.
..But MIR. Shearman certi6cs that there is.''
s'rhen why did not Mr. Shearman come to me and
wait until could explain? have been busily
engaged in my bankruptcy proceedings for some
time past and it utterly impossible for mo to
to Mr.. shearinan at the very moment he wanted me
to. Instead OF this, the matter is rushed into the
newspapers. for the purpose OF having me removed
and some more plant tool Of certain people ap-
pointed in my place. That's all there Is OF 1t. you
may depend"
"sErAnATE AND DISTINCT"
''Do you consider your accounts with merchants
as coming under the head OF department accountsY "
II certainly do not. The two things entirely
separate and distinct 1t is purely private business
between merchant and merchant, ana has nothing
whatever to do with the department or with the
.'How will you show that?"
ut is "a very simple matter in my mind. Tho
truth of the matter is simply decided to give the
under charge the benefits OF purchasing the
very best goods at very nearly cost price. under
no matter what the description. arising be-
tween aud the furnishing merchants. 90 not
Nor do the accounts have any thing to do with me
treasurer OF tue Board. They are exclusively in
the nature OF private transactions, and as such are
not mat tters for official investigation.
''What do you think Mr.. Sht a.man means then?'
al think he aludes particularly to the diversion of
department funds. When he tod me OF the alleged
dehcicncy Uniformed him that IL he could show any
such diversion the sum neces sary 10 qudate them
would be forthcoming before lie could count ten.
1 was confident such diversion could have been
discovered. because none existed. The bureau OF
Equipment and Clothing was constituted only ms q
convenience for the men. and 1t was managed and
ADMIN stored with that object"
Ibid you receive any money from Tammany
Hall help you out of any Indebtedness to trades
peopley'
Never; never received any money from Tam
many Hall tor any purpose whatever nor from any
politicians tor any purpose Whatever. have never
In the renotes degree oecn influenced tn my action
by any such consideration, and my official
and political been pursued without any
thought of being indebted to anybody. l cannot
md language strong enough to denounce the circu-
lation such vile siandcrs have been ipade the
subject OF charges against me. and you can make
what have said strong rs you like"
''iou will pay all you owe In deficiency has
/ been discovcrcdf'
"AIost assure lily. Every debt will be paid in full