Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-04-09

The House committee On the District OF Co
lumbfa to-day continued the investigation OF the
charges made by Treasurer Glltillan against the
Commissioners of the District Of Columbia.
The first witness called was VIM Oscar
Roome. chief of the special assessment division.
He made statement in the nature of review
OF the testimony of TroXall. He said he did not
receive one-third of the Grouse certificate, nor
did he erase the name of Grouse from the board
OF audit book never issued drawback 10 Lucy
Stitgraves at all; If one was issued it was issued
without any authority from witness; was never
in partnership with E. w. Whitaker: never re-
ce1ved cent from him, except in the way OF
discOunting his salary. Witness denied that he
ever allowed Daniel O'Brien a drawback for $685.
but did recommend draw back for $I9 %, a GER
tif1catc for which has never been issued. and re-
mains unsettled to-day; never received draw
back Oh account thereof from Quinn. OBrien or
anybody else O'Brien's receipt was never miss
ing from the files OF witness Office, as sworn TO
by TroSall. in confederation of which the wit
ness produced the receipt; never told TroXall
and quinn that 1t was the last chance to make
money, and we were - id fools if we didn't
do it," Witness bad bank account in Citizens
National Bank from 1876 to 1878; had an account
In 1876 with the German National Bank: never
had an account with National Bank Of the
Republic in lS76'1S. As a whole, Mr.. Roome's
statement was general and emphatic denial OF
all TrOXall testified to.
MI. Roome was cross-examlned by Mr.. Aldrlch
as follows
Q: Did you in 1871 send letter to Mr.. BeaIl
authorizing the issue of drawback to Mr.
A. did. l have reason to believe that prior
10 that time certificate was issued by the
board OF audit. have now reason to believe
tnat the drawback was improperly issued; that
is also true with reference to the Lamb certii-
cate. TrOXall confessed in witness presence
that the w Fl. Cooley signature was forged by
Clarke. In ie71 was in the habit of borrowing
money from Mr. Slater through Mr.. Whitaker
e. What was the amount of your salary?
A. s., 200.
Q. In 1874 how many bank accounts did you
have?
A. Two; witness was not in any other bus-
ness but had charge Of considerable money
which was not his own: his funds in the Nation
al Bank OF the Republic were mixed with his
wife's: have no way OF telling now which was
hers and which was his own: was an officer of
several associations for which he deposited
money; kept the account in his own name; was
the financial agent Of a temperance society, a
Masonic lodge. and an organization OF soldiers;
kept all these accounts in his own name; had
money deposited with him by brother Albert;
bought some drafts in 1917 at Lewis johnson u
co.'s; don't know how many; have bought drafts
from the Bank OF the Republic and others; does
not know the aggregate amount OF drafts he
bought in 1871; all the drafts We're payable to
his own order.
Witness said he would take the statement OF
any property owner with reference to what dis
position was made OF his Old material in prefer
cnce 10 the report OF the superintendent of
streets, because the latter reports were the
most unreliable data he had Ia his Office. Ii a
pIopCllS-nOllef Ildut Il clalIQ 1Or Olu material,
and he was respectable, witness would take the
statement OF the prOPerty y-hOlder in preference
TO the records OF his office as made by the super
lntendent OF Streets Witness reported each
case OF forgery to the Commissioners as they
came up, and considered his duty ended there.
Did not report the fact that TrOXall said Clark
forged the Cooley certificate, because Troyall
also made the statement in presence of Mr..
Beall. The latter was TroXalls chief, and wit
ness considered that he (Beall would report the
fact. Witness said that he had never given the
committee any information touching forged
certificates; knew only Of one Or two before the
present investigation begun. Witness was
shown number of forged certificates. He said
he did not think Troxall forged them. Witness
said TroXali was partly messenger in his Of
flee and partly in Mr. BeallS Office. Frequently
employed Troyall to do errandS OF a private
nature: trusted him to the extent of sending
money by him; never had any doubts OF his
honesty; am now satisfied that Troxall COM
mitted the forgery in the Wheatley case
TToXall reported the Cooley forgery in Septem-
bel. 1879. AS far as witness Office is concerned
no attempt had been made to find the author of
the forgery. Reported the case to the engineer
commissioner October 10th, 1879.
q. Did you have anything to do with Troxalls
leaving the city?
A. Nothing whatever, directly or indirectly.
The committee at 1915 O'Clock adjourned Until
tomorrow.