Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-03-23
THE AUDITORS CIRCUS"

THE AUDITORS CIRCUS"
A MUSS WITH MUSSER.
"sTEINMETZ, SIT DOWN !"
MUSSER DEPOSED FROM THE PREsI-
DENCY OF THE BOARD.
Great Excitement and Lots OF Fun.
Ever since the meeting of the board of
county auditors, consisting Of Frank Mus
ser, Jim Collins and Frank Curran, there :
has been a good deal Of wrangling among
the members and great deal of delay in
the work of auditing the accounts Of
county officers entrusted to them.
Last week Musser, who is president Of
the board. insisted that it was = part Of the
duty of the auditors to audit the accounts
of the sheriff and prothonOtary as
well as Of the commissioners, county treas
urer and other officers, bat q majority
of the board "sat down on him." On
Monday the auditors completed their ex-
animation of the accounts Of County
Treasurer Croft and declared them correct,
and ibwas proposed among them to pass
a resolution complimentary to the treas
urer in acknowledgment Of his efficiency.
On Monday evening, however, Mr.. Mus
ser issued subponas to the county treas
urer and his clerk aud to all the bankers
and testify. Yesterday afternoon they ap-
onl xvoro osLoA
questions by Mr.. Musscr, the only
important ones being whether tho
county treasurer had deposited
with them any Of the state
or county funds ii SO, what were tho
amounts, and whether the banks had paid
the county treasurer any interest on his
deposits, or given him any other valuable
consideration for the usc of the money:
The officers Of the three national banks
and of Reed & HcndersOn's banking house
testified that Treasurer Croft had deposit
ed with them ut various times and in va
rious amounts, the county money, and that
he had never received cent Of interest or
other valuable consideration for the do
pOsits. The other city bankers said no.
deposits had been made with them.
A scene Of great turmoil and confusion
followed. Collins and Curran insisting
that the audit of the treasurer's accounts
had been. finished, and Musscr insisted
that further investigation was necessary
aud that no other business should bo trans
acted until the investigation was had.
After a long wrangle the board adjourned
until 9 o'clock this morning.
As soon as the session was opened this
| s1orning Treasurer Croft arose and said
the proceedings instituted by Mr.. Musscr
were nothing more than u persecution.
Mr.. Musser-Sit down, Mr.. Croft will
you sit down, sir?
Mr.. Groff-BefOre this investigation
ends, I will prove to the satisfaction 0f tho
auditors and the public, that Mr.. Musser,
is bl:,ckmailcr and bribe-taker. I will
prove that he came to me and said that IL
there were any discrepancies or irregulari-
ties in my accounts he would have
them "smeared over" and that no harm
should come to me from them. l will
prove by tho testimony of unimpeachable
witnesses that when the last years audit
was made Mr.. Musscr received bribe.
| While Mr.. Croft was speaking Mr..
Musser was constantly rapping ON tie
table and commanding Mr.. Croft to sit
down and Mr.. Croft replied. that he
would not sit down until 4 majority of the
board ordered him to do so, and that MIR.
Musser could not knock him down.
There was the greatest confusion for 4
time, during which Treasurer Croft left
the room to procure counsel.
Mr.. Musser at this point took occasion
to read in full the decision of the supreme
court ON the case of Runkle VS.. the com tn
recently rendered by Judge Gordon, and
laid particular emphasis on tho passage
which says that the powers of the county
auditors are as full and complete within
their jurisdiction as the powers Of the
courts they may issue subpenas for par
tics and witnesses they may compel the
production of books and papers" &c. Mr..
Musscr then recalled David Warfel, the
trcasurer's clerk, who was ON the stand
Yesterday, and asked him what amount Of
the state and county funds the treasure
had in his safe, vault, or other places on
| the 31st December last
| MIR. Warfel-I cannot state exactly
without referring to the books; made
| no memorandum at the time, but as near
ly as l can tell the amount WAS about
$4,000
Mr.. Croft having returned to the room
accompanied by his counsel. j. l.. Stein
metz, esq.,, the latter gentleman said he
| supposed that Mr.. Musscr wanted to ascer-
lin the exact condition of the county
funGs, and
Mr.. Musser-Sit down, Mr.. Steinmetz.
Mr.. Steinmetz-rll do no such thin.
and if l was member of this board OF
auditors would sit down on yOn.
| Mr.. Musser was very much excited, his face
was flushed and the veins stood out ON his
forehead like whip cords. He raped vio-
lently on the table with his cane and be-
tween every other breath commanded
Steinmetz to sit down.
The other memt s Of the board said
Mr. Steinmetz was in order, and had u
right to be heard. Nj. Musser wanted to
know whom he represented in this case,
and Mr. Steinmetz said he represented the
county treasurer. Mr.. Musscr said he
wanted that put down. land forthwith
put it down..
| Mr.. Steinmetz-I want to ask this
board one question.
| Mr.. Musscr-Mr. Steinmetz sit down
you have no right to speak until l am
done with this witness.
| Mr.. Steinmetz insisted on standing up
and talking defiantly, whereupon Mr.. Mus
ser called upon Tipstaf FlOry to arrest
Mr.. Steinmetz and commit him for con-
tempt of court.
| This was zoo much for tho crowd, con-
sisting of county officers, clerks, lawyers
and others, who had been attracted to ''the
circus" and there was asimultaneous roar
Of laughter in all parts of the room.
| Mr.. Musser, alternately pale with rage
and flushed with excitement, hammered
on the table and called again and again on
| the tiDStaff to arrest and commit Mr.