The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-03-16
He Makes Another Pitiab|e EX.
Inhibition Of Himself.
RECKLESS USE OF THE PUB.
Lie MONEY.
Funds Belonging to the State Still
in His Possession.
Especial Dispatch to the Press.l

Ion was again before Hales investigating
committee this afternoon, and was examined
at length in relation to the large sums of
money drawn from the tire asury on his war
rants, near the close of his administration. 1t
appeared that after exhausting the contingen
fund of the Governor and Council and the
military appropriation, the sum of $4,000 was
drawn from the high school fund, making in
all $4,000 drawn as the Governor stated for
extraordinary expenses for which there are
no vouchers on file-not including the sum of
$1,000 paid to Gen. Leavitt and refunded by
him. The money was drawn on three separate
warrants as follows: $1,000 Dec. oath, 81, 700
Dec. 31st and 81 900 also Dec. 31st, the last
named sum being for counsel fees and profess
sioral services, of which the Ex-Governor
stated that he paid $500 to A. P. Gould for
services in the mandamus case, and took
| Gould's receipt for that sum on accout, the
remaining $500 being held in his (Garcelon's)
hands to pay other bills of the same nature.
When asked what other counsel were employ
ed or consulted, he said after some hesitation
that he consulted Bion Bradbury, Mr.. North
end of Salem and a Mr.. Woodman of Cam
| ~AANsoO, NSAAhS W SOo ohO oOoo duNiCO uO Coulo
on account of the disturbed condition of
public affairs. He had not settled with the
last three, but considered that they were en-
titled to pay. He had not received any bills
OR claims from them, and did not know as they
would make any claim.
OF the other moneys drawn, portion had
been paid to detectives to look after secret
military organizations and other purposes, and
somewhere between $4,000 and $4,000 had been
disbursed by DR.. Lancaster. A portion of it
also had been paid to members of his personal
staff. He had received some of the vouchers
but did not exhibit them, as he had left them at
home, and some of the bills had not yet been
| paid. He was waiting for convenient oppor-
tunity to pay the rest of the bills.
When asked by Mr.. Hale if he did not think
the matter of sufficient importance to be fully
settled in the period of eleven weeks since his
term of office expired he admitted that it was
so.
1t was most pitiable as well as humiliating
spectacle to witness the apparent subterfuges
and prevarications to which the Ex-Governor
was compelled to resort in the tempt to ex-
plain these final transactions, and the audience
were alternately amazed and disguised.
AUGUSTA, March 15.-Gcv. Garcelon was
again before the investigating committee, the
question being the expenditure of public mon
ey. The questions were asked by Mr.. Hale
The investigation began at 430 and closed at
7.3O. Gov. Garcelon explained the process of
the drawing money from the treasury A COM
| mittee of the Council reports and the Govern
or's warrant is drawn on the Treasurer, by
whom it is paid. When claim is put in it is
referred to the proper committee and report
comes from that committee. The warrant is
the voucher for the Treasurer. This is the Or
binary process. He said circumstances may
arise when this cannot be done. The appro-
priations are made for specific objects and The
accounts are kept with the appropriations.
Mr.. Hale produced the report of the COM
mittee on warrants drawn Dec. "a, 1879, ad-
vising the Governor to draw his warrant for
$1,000 from the appropriation for military pur-
poses for expenses incurred in protecting the
public property, approved and drawn by order
of the Governor.
Q.-The committee fail to find vouchers for
the $1,000. Why do they not appear?
Mr.. Garcelon answered it was necessary to
have some money and $1,000 was put in the
hands of the Adjutant-General to pay the men
employed at the State House. The Adjutant-
General gave receipt to the Governor for the
amount. There was need of extra force to
protect the State House from invasion. This
was two weeks before the meeting. of the leg
islature. He deemed it necessary to have
the guards here to prevent inroads upon the
capital.
Specific reasons were asked for and the Gov
ernor answered, "Well, general threats
through the columns of newspapers and in
public meetings"
Q.-Was there single threat by word or
letter?
Ayes, facts in my possession which am
not at liberty to make known. Commenced
guarding the State House as early as the 18th
of November. Threats were made that the re-
turns should never be seen by the legislature.
Saw it in the papers. Can't recall precise pa
per.
His attention was called to his previous tes-
timony that he did not know of any public ex-
element at this time and why he increased
the force at the State House.
Q.EDid Messrs. Dingley, Lindsey and other
gentlemen in their interview make any threats
Did not the promise of the Governor and
Council to open the returns the LIST of Deem
Der serve to allay public feeling SO as to rem
der force unnecessary?
A-Had reason to suppose that there were
designs to seize the returns; guard was pro-
vided for the nighttime.
Odd any person, high or low, in Maine or
out of it, up to the time you issued the certif-
Gates, threaten to get possession OF the State
House?
A-There may be some difference of opinion
as to what you call threats. They were made in
speeches. &C. In w. p Fryes speech at Lew
iston (though that was wild speech), and in a
meeting at Augusta There were rumors of
the raising of many thousand men and march
ing to Augusta.
Q-Was single indignation meeting held
until after you issued the certificates?
A-Think there was not. may have mixed
things up somewhat as to dates Dozens of
persons said that attempts were to be made to
get the returns
Hale Name one, for this is certainly new
information to the committee.
Garcelon-I cannot now, but certainly have
| tie impression got the information very d.
rectly. No one was seen during the night
| lurking about with the purpose to get into the
building. l increased the guard from time to
| time as needed. Had however heard of per-
| sons lurking around the house. Commenced
| with some 20 or 40 men. The warrant was
| drawn for police purposes. Did not regard it
necessary to call out the militia. Did not file
| voucher for it was in a time of great excite
| ment and the bills were running along, and we
| didn't know how much it would take to pay
them. There was higher state of public feel
dered the Adjutant General to bring the arms
from Bangor. Deemed it my duty after advs-
| ing with Councillors Brown, Chase and others.
1t was for the public defence.
| Odd you know that the militia was at
your command and that you had no right to
| increase the civil police force?
Al considered it proper to do SO. Gave or
ders that in case of attack made to use the force
| to repel it, Consulted with Mayor Nash, who
offered the police force of Augusta for the pro-
lection of the capitol. A committee of citi-
zens extended the same thing. Refused to &C
cept it. Was willing to do SO provided the
| police force could be equitably divided between
the political parties. In the event of that be-
ing done would not have had the guns brought
from Bangor, but it was not done. Had pre-
1 viously issued orders to Gen. Leavitt to bring
the guns and was called away from Augusta
that night before getting other orders to him,
and the next morning was surprised to learn
the guns had been brought from Bangor
| Odd you know the character of the men
you had brought here?
| A-No sir. Had nothing to do with select
| ing them.
Q-Did you recognize any as men whom
/ you had pardoned out of the State Prison?
A-No. There were twenty, thir ty and even
sixty or more men employed. Took Lancaster
| receipts for money paid them
| Q-Have you those receipts?
| A-Not now in my possession.
| Q-Can you produce them?
Al think can if l can collect them to-
L Oh