The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-12-19
8 HOW N III
How Hanson Was Handled by Ex. Mayor
Johnston to Cover Up Deficiencies.
He Makes Confession Before the
Board of Revision

The Board of Revision met late yesterday
afternoon, the object Of the meeting being
t, further investigate the accounts of the
late Ex-Mayor George w. c. Johnston, and
to hear the report of the expert, Mr.. Rich.
ard E zeidler. The report Of Mr.. Zeidler
covers the four wears OF JOhnston's Mayor.
atty. and is quite comprehensive one. 1t
shows that during the first term Of MIR.
Johnston, 1S73-ls75. the cash receipts from
licenses were $40, ,106 SO. Amount deposited
with City Treasurer. $40, 220 90, leaving a
deficit of 1886 SO.
Second Term, 1S76-ls77-Oash receipts
from licenses we're $52,763 o.. Amount de-
posted with Treasurer, $51, $3.50 81, leaving a
deficit of 81 1882 70. Total deficit for botli'
terms. "a, ,26S SO.
From June 9th, 1874, to March 18th, 1877.
a difference of 1885 80 in the weekly and
upon the books. or in other words, the
monthly reports Of Mr.. Hanson show
1885 so less than the weekly rel orts. Mr.
Zeidler says in his report that "the entire
records Of the Office, together with the re-
ceipts for deposit, to say the least, were
kept in very irregular manner, without a
| cash book or ledger, and unavoidably Gre
ates suspicion" After the report of Mr..
Zeidler was read, Mr.. Hanson desired to
make statement Being granted the priv
| iiege, he said: II would like the Board of
Revision t. understand that for the first
twenty months of Mayor Johnston's Ad-
ministratiun l bad No control whatever
| over the funds of the Office. Mr.. Thomas
Snelbaker Nose Kramer. Dan Fit ian and
H. J. Wehage were in the Office during this
time, and was Clerk only in name. Mr..
Johnston never would allow me to give
bond, and certain ring in this city was
determined should not remaip in the
place, and for that reason Mr.. Johnston
would never allow me to give bond"
Here Mr.. Zeidler stated that lie had dis
covered erasures in some of the monthly
reports. He produced one for the month
of September, 1876. which, on being held
mp to the light, showed that in the column
fof receipts one item originally $l7 80, had
been changed to 81 80.
| MIR. Hanson was asked il he knew who
made the erasure. when he replied that lie
expected he did it himself. and then went
on to explain the discrepancies between
the weekly and monthly reports, as fol-
lows: . 'a' ..s,
II will explain. although l do so with
1 TtIuCtduCc, rs ttC pal w WIN
me is dead, and it is very hard for me to
make any charge against him. If the
| Board knew how was situated, you would
have some sympathy FOR me.
1.-THE fact is that when Mr.. Johnston
wanted any money from the Office, lie got
1t, whether l was there or not II ~
couldn't be got any other place 1t was
taken from the License Fund. The conse-
quence was that the amount Of cash on
hand at the end of the month was always
less than what it should be, and l was
forced to make changes in the monthly re-
ports to correspond with the amount of
money on hand.
"The monev in the MAYORS Office is ell
tirelv under lis control. was under no
bond, and felt when lie asked me to alter
the reports, and to let him have the money,
that had no right t. refuse him. He had
out at one time $3,200 To supply the de.
ficencies had to change the receipts.
always knew that trouble would come ol
it, and did not do it willingly"
l-Mr. Zeidler stated that, in addition to the
snm he mentioned as the aggregate de-
ficlencv, there would have to be added
about $500 for dog license and about 81 ,2O(
of pawnbrokers' license, Of which he hat
found no account.
The Board took no action on the report
of Mr.. Zeidler, except to instruct him tc
proceed with his investigation.
The Board took up the business before It
The City Solicitor was instructed to brin.
suit against the Police Commissioners t.
recover money paid by them for attorneys
services.
As soon as the investigation into the ao
counts "f Ex-Mavor Johnston is completet
suit will be- brought against the bondsmen
Messrs. Adolph Smith and Adam Gels, fo
the first term. and Adolph Smith and G. J
w. Smith for the second.