The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-03-17
ORPHANS AS PROPERTY.
CHIEF CLERK GEO. PEARSON TALKS
OF THE SYNDICATE.
Imporient Disclosures Coming-Bru-
tas,ty in Punishment.

tairy in Punishment
HARRIsBuRG, Pa, March 14.--Geo.
Pearson, Chief Clerk of the House OF
Representatives, whose name has
been connected with those OF Wright
and Paul in sharing the profits OF
the Chester Springs and Mt. Joy
Soldiers Orphans Schools, reached
here to-day and was seen tonight
bv Commercial Gazette representa-
tive. Mr.. Pearson was very averse
to saving anything about the mat
ter, but finally consented TO make a
statement, and the question was ask
ed him =
What have you to say OF the
charges made that you are connected
With the management and owner
ship of certain Soldiers Orphans
Schools 2"
Only this: in June, 1855, | ae-
quired, by purchase, one-tourth IN
terest in tue Chester Springs School.
This is all of my connection with
these institutions" "
Was this purchase made pend
ing the Appropriation bill for these
schools before the Legislature
No; that bill had passed before
| acquired any interest" Further
more, | have never received one dol
lar profit from my investment in
that school, either directly or indl-
rectly."
CHECK sTUBs EXPLAINED.
How do you account for the
check stubs in the Mt. Joy school
check book bearing your name,
whrein you are credited with having
received s2,S00?"
When | purchased an interest in
Chester Springs | had s5,259 to pay
in cash. OF this amount | borrow
ed from ex-senator Wright s2,250
He gave me check for the amount,
which | endorsed to McCullogh,
from whom we purchased, and for
which | gave Wright my note bear
ing per cent. interest, which be
now holds. | don't know whether
this check of Wright's was on the
Mt. Joy bark or not, but THE Is the
only way in which can account for
any charge on the Mt. Joy books
against me.
NO OTHER INTEREST.
"How about the remainder
against you on the Mt. JOY books Z"
/ never got it, said Mr. Pearson
emphatically.
Didn't you own any interest in
Mt Joy ?"
Il never owned any interest In
/ Mt. Joy, and | never realized dol
lar from that school in any way
whatever. The only school had
anything to do with was Chester
Springs
Have you any knowledge Of the
management of these schools p
None whatever; | desire the full
lest investigation of my connection
with this matter. | am here now
fos the purpose of investigating, and
until / know more | have no infor-
nation that would interest the pub
lie. have always dad the most i'm
plicit confidence in the integrity and
! honor of ex Senator Wright, Ar.
Paul and other gentlemen connected
with these schools, and | still have
faith that these gentlemen will ex-
plain satisfactorily all that will be
required Of them when the time
lceSaes for both sides to be heare.
9HE RUNoRs AFLoAT.
There are great niany ugly sto-
ries floating around here, one TO the
effect that men connected with the
syndicate controlling the schools APP
preached Auditor General Niles last
winter, when the Legislature was in
session, and did their best to get his
permission to report a 5000 deti-
cheney in the Soldiers Orphans
School Department and have the
Legislature net only provide for the
deficiency, but raise the approprla-
tions for 1856 and 81 this a2Ech
more. The Auditor General refus-
ed to consent to any such deal, and
threatened 10 oppose it II 1t was at
tempted.
Parties interesting themselves in
this investigation have gOns 30 far
as to look up the pecuniary standing
of members of the syndicate, and
they report some of them as rolling
in wealth Ex-senator Wright is
rated at $4,000, Over $4,000 OF
this invested in mortgages in Mer-
Ger county. Paul is said 70 have
s50,00G, and others in same proper
ton.
THE TIP GIVEN.
1t is h.nted that the fact that this
$4,000 of mortgages was reported
to the County Commissioners of
Mercer county as being held by Mr.
/ Wright under the new tax law was
what set the Philadelphia Record on
the hunt.
| One thing can be set down as set
tied. The end ls not yet. and it is
gravely limited tonight that much
| bigger game than has vet appeared