The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-03-10
RLACK'S BOOKS

MouuhI-N0Wn4 IN tue "LuhfkeE OF
Deputy COlleetOr-RulI Particulars Of
the Capture and the subsequent Pro-
eeedIREs,
For long time there has been draw.
back to the proceedings against George Q,
Black, sx.City Collector on account Of the
fact that said officer has withheld certain
books containing memoranda and data al
legged to be essential to the successful pros
ecution Of the case, on the part Of the
city, The prosecution has been so pro-
tracted and gradual that it has lately at
tracted but little attention from the public.
The work, however, has been quietly and
and surely proceeding, and q movement
was made last Monday that will likely give
q healthy impetus to the work. Mr.. VIM,
Erskine, late City Solicitor, has had
suspicion for long time that books need
ed were in one OF the rooms in the City
Building, and has been on the lookout for
them.
Last Monday morning he had occasion
10 have recourse TO the written ordinance
book Of the city, and going to the Clerks
office he was informed that Alfred Cald-
well, Esq, had the book, Going up stairs
he found that Mr., B. A. Galligan, who is
revising the ordinances, had taken the
book containing them into q little room
adjoining the COLLECTORS office, which is
used by him and Mr.. Black as private
office, Mr.. Erskine tried the door OF this
room and finding that II readily opened TO
his touch he entered the room and found,
not Mr., Gallighan, but on q table the very
books he had 80 long been In search oil,
some thirteen In number. These he re.
moved to the City Clerks Office and then
went To the Chairman OF the Board OF
Claims. Mr.. VIM. B. Simpson, for an or
der authorizing him (Erskine) TO transfer
them TO place Of safety. Mr.. Simpson
thereupon gave him the following order,
and Mr., Erskine procured the appended
signatures; ~ aH.
WHEELING, W. Va, March 9TH, 1881,
For the safe keeping OF such books OF
account and assessment books OF the city,
as the the attorney for the city may regard
as essential, or necessary, to be used in
evidence in behalf Of the city OF Wheel
ing In her suits against George Q, Black
ct 'al., the undersigned members Of the
Board Of Claims hereby give their assent
that they shall be placed In the vault oil
the City Bank, there to be kept so long as
the committee may deem advisable.
W, B. SIMPSON,
y. CLARK,
r, F. CRIswRLI,
CHAs. EScHsTRUTH,
JIG. HADRRPIRLD.
In the City Clerks office, after no had
obtained the order, Mr., Erskine had Oppor.
tunity 10 examine the titles OF his books,
which we give as follows
Two personal property books for 1874,
one water rent book and two personal
property books for 1875, One water rent
book, one hand water book, marked First
District" enc personal property book and
one hand personal property book, marked
"First Distrist," for 1875. One real es.
tate book and two personal property
books, marked "Flrst and Second Dis.
tricts," respectively, for 1877; also one
other water book for 1877; one small
personal property book in pencil with no
date attached,
While Mr.. ErlXkine was examining the
above and making a memorandum Of
their names and dates for the purpose OF
leaving q voucher with Mr.. Bowers, the
City Clerk, Mr.. B. A. Galligan came into
the Office in. a hurried manner, and 10 Mr..
4. W. Dunaway, City Receiver, we are In.
debted for synopsis OF the animated dis'
logue between the two:
Galligan-Where did you get those
books2 .......
Erskine-I got them out Of room up
stairs, aud brought them down here. l
did this by authority and direction Of the
Board ot Claims. They are books in rela.
ton to the Black matter.
Galigan-Those books were placed in
my charge. -.r
Erskine-Dy whom?
GallIgan-.By George @, Black, and l
think you have displayed good deal Of
''Cheek" in entering my room and taking
books that were left there under my
charge.
Erskine-What l have done I have au.
thorlty for.
Galligan-''Yop may be right and you
may not. You think you know q did
sight, but the older you get the more you'll
find out the less you know" aud out he
stalked.
Mr.. Etskine then took the books and de.
posted them In the vault ofthe City Bank
on Market street, where they would be al
once safe and readily accessible whenever
he would find II necessary to refer TO
them. The books will also be ject 10 the
order OF Mr.. NJ. A. Chandler, the expert
who worked up much useful data In the
interest Of the city some three or four
years ago when the affair first came To
light
RRsKlSE's STORY.
For the relation Of most OF the above
narration we are indebted 10 Ool. Duna.
way, City Receiver, but after we had heard
his "side Of the story" we sought Mr..
Erskine at bis Office on Market street in
the Crsngle Building Mr.. Erskine de.
tailed the facts in nearly the same language
used by Col. Dunaway, but differed
somewhat in bis ideas ofthe dialogue be-
tween himself and Mr.. Galligan.
II was in the City Clerks office en-
gaged In taking the titles OF the books, and
also the year for which they were Used,
when Mr.. GalliRan came In and said "who
in the hi has been in my Office and car.
ried of some books7" .,,..-.ss.-......a- --.-.
II got those books" .r.
II think 1t was id cheeky perform.
anCe." H1 .ru
Efskine ~ got those books in The dis.
charge Of my duty"
Galllgan-"You had no business 10 20
10 there and take advantage ofmy having
left the door Of that room un.
locked. Those books have been placed
Under my special charge, and you had no
business 10 NEEDLE with them.'
Erskine -"Who put them In your
special charger"
Galligan-"George @. Black"
Erskine-"Well you can understand
now that they are in the possession Of the
,lty and under control Of the Board Of
Claims"