The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-02-10

him aside, II 1t was possible that he had
thus betrayed the confidence OF the Trus-
tees. and had swindled the city. Max
welllreplied that, as he expected 10 answer
before God, he had never falsihed an &C.
count, or wronged the city or the gas con
sumers knowingly, 10 the amount OF one
cent. 1t was upon this solemn statement
that myself aud Mr.. James Maxwell fell
called upon 70 sign the bonds. -
6a. SIR. Il. a. tRAcRApr,
an active member Of the committee, whose
legal knowledge vas Of great In the
Investigation, was found doing In O large
easy chair before his Office fire, by our In,
quiring young man. Bridge looked tired
and sleepy, but he readily granted an
interview, expressing his regret that the
Information desired was oil such a character
ton, 'has'T'''.''
"Mr. Cracraft," inquired tho reporter,
'are you at liberty to state tho nature oil
the evidence discovered by the committee
duplicating Maxwell and kingln this bus
ineas?" b. ..I'.y
Mr.. C.-sNo, l am not. l can give you
no information as TO the nature Of the evi'
dence. The evidence OF fraud from the
start was almost conclusive. both Max,
well and King have personal friends on
the committee, who were Obliged TO con-
Tess there could be no explanation Of the
Overwhelming evidences Of guilt"
Reporter the books found 10 be
much dalatgedn
Mr. c.-"Not enough 10 retad the In,
vestigation,"
Reportet-Why, Mr.. Cracrait, do you
still maintain secrecy In connection with
tho transactions Of the committee, now
that there Is no doubt NJ fraud, and the
suspected parties have been arrested9"
Mr.. C.-Because, my dear sir, we're
only Just commencing the investigation
We propose continuing right on, and meel
again this evening TO pursue the iuvesti'
CATION" ,'1a4se' isre,s-t7'i
Rep.-"Can you give an idea Of the
amount Of the discrepancies iound?"
NJ C.-"Sot the remotest. ] really
Rep.-"Thcn why was the amount
placed at 5000 in The. warrant charging
embezLlement?" 7''' 70
Mr.. C.-"That Is simply matter OF form
Tho warrant don't amount to much. The
amount elnbeaxlel may be 5000, or Il
may DO $1,000. The figures In the war
rant rant Dc 2 not always represent the amount
Rep-'The warrant for arson, / OBJ
serve, charges the tefendantswilh burning
the building. Why Is that2" 81 b
Mr.. Q.-=hleDallss that Is the proper
form. To burn the smallest corner Of that
mantel there would be arson" l4 J9
The reporter, as he withdrew, expressed
his regret that he could obtain no iniorr
nation relative TO the peculiar oharaoterol
the frauds alleged to have been committed.
Mr. Cracraft replied that he was not al
liberty to give any further information,
He assured the reporter thet the evidence
both Of embezzlement and arson was &C
strong that he could not conceive It pos,
sihle that the defendants we're Innocent.
In short, the evidence was not susceptible
OF explanation. 'ffF
CHAIRMAN REEVES NE
was at his home on Chapline street, South
Side, when our reporter called To ascertain
Il no felt free TO unbosom himself OF some
Of the secrets OF the investigating commit.
toe, The doctor was catching "cat naISl'
on his .ottlco sofa, butarose Of tho newspa.
per mans entrance and bid him welcome
in hearty, cordial manner which at once
paved the way for an interesting inter.
view. 4u7 ~ t4rht Vi - n
m4pll US all about 1t, Doctor, begged the
scribe.
'Doctor-'tImpossible as yet. We're Just
at the Threshold OF the investigation, and
there are q good many reasons, you well
without publicity"
Reporter-""The evidence before you
must have been of the most positive char.
acter, .to. warrant the action you have
TAKEN"
Dr.. R.-"of course, We. took no hasty
steps. Our own lawyer, Mr.. Ctacraft, and
the Prosecuting Attorney, certainly found
enough legal evidence OF fraud
Reporter-"What will these disCropan.
cies amount top" ~ - : ~
Or, R,-.That no living man can tell
Even theclerk OF the committee doesn't
know. It isnot 'allin one place" T''
| Reporter-"Will it go into the thou.
sands2"'. .17.s-.-.-s,.-.
b.; R:-SYes, 1T win 60 into the thou
sands, but tits impossible to state the
amount"
RsRorss,r+.I observation-disclosures Otarson Al
Dr. Tenthousand people have been
hanged on far less circumstantial evidence
than We have that the defendants in this
case areguilty ofarson.n'a NchB1iF
Reporter Flow long do you think YOU
will be engaged in the investigation"
Dr. Rive cannot tell. The resolu.
ton under which tho committee was ap.
ntedproyidel Tor a sweeping invest,
CATION, covering the gas Office, The Tfus.
toes, tho superintendent, etc. 7 For that
reason sc. can make nothing public that
might retard the investigation. It has
been the desire and wish Of the members
OF the committee from the start 10
find these people innocent Only after
the. most convincing testimony were VIC
reluctantly compelled to take the steps
wGdid. The greatest care was taken In
the examination OF witnesses TO elicit the
truth. All the witnesses were examined
in a fair and impartial manner, and every
effort was made to bring out any thing that
would throw additional light on tho sph.
ject."
The above Is the substance Of a long
talk with pr. Reeves, and contains about
all oil any Interest that the Doctor had to
communicate upon the subject.
TEMroRAnY ARRANGEMENTS AT THE GAS
~ &c -. OFFICE.
We understand that the Gas Trustees
will be at the gas Office to-day, 10 receive