Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1889-12-27
Commissioner Kelly's Trouble.

Commissioners Kelly's Trouble.
For some months past Commissioners
Hutehison and Duncan, and their clerk
| Enos Mcdonald, have had reasons for be-
/ Iieving that Commissioner Kelly was act
/ ing dishonesty with the county, 1nd in
order to intelligently explain how he was
doing it, it is necessary to state that in q
/ great many criminal cases the county
| is made liable for the costs; the names of
the parties or witnesses in each case are
sworn to before the Clerk; and the Clerk
| certifies these to the County Commissioner
in docket kept for that purpose.
| The warrants or checks lrawn on the
county treasury and the corresponding
stub receipts, are each numbered; and when
a warrant is drawn for persons costs that
number is marked opposite his name on the
docket. Each warrant must have the
names Of two Commissioners on it and be
attested by the Clerk, though as two Of the
| Commissioners are often away on business
the one left in the Office has always been
allowed to sign two names, which with
the Clerks attest makes the warrant good.
The person who receives the warrant signs
the receipt written and printed on the
stub
The beginning Of the present trouble was
back in April last. When Clerk Mcdonald
opened the Office one morning he found
that some one had, after business hours Of
the previous day, drawn a warrant in favor
of one John Shafer for 81 p. thar the
writing on the stub was Commissioner
Kelly's, and that the case was marked
Commonwealth, showing that It was ior
costs. He went to the docket to write the
number Of the warrant opposite the name
Of John Shafier, and not being able to find
the name there his suspieions we-e
aroused.
IN May, June, July, August Sept. and
Oct warrants under somewhat similar cir
eumstances were drawn to NJ Herdman,
James Shelatree, John HaInel, c. Taylor,
James Orris, 4. Snyder, Geo. Black, ".
Reed and James Sweeney. the amounts
being - 36, 81 50, &ls1, $4.jS. $40 -. 50.
s477, % GO and $427.
In Sept, also, warrant was drawn to
Joseph Thompson for 1884, and the Clerk,
after long search over several hundred
pages Of new and old dockets, found that
the number opposite the name Of Joseph
Thomas in an old case had been erased and
the number, corresponding with the mum
Der Of new warrant placed opposite the
name. In July a warrant was drawn to
Kelly By the Clerk for So, on an order from
James McCaLc, McCabe having been a wit
ness in the case of the Com. vs.. win Kelly,
the costs Of which were paid by the county
during Marshalrs term as Clerk. Kelly
said he had purchased the costs from Nc
Cabe. but when the Co. Comm'rs inquired
of McCabe, lie told them that Kelly had
told him that VIII was liable for the costs,
that VIII wRs poor, etc, and that be had
forgiven VIII the costs, and had given
John the order with that understanding
also that John afterwards came to him,
and. alleging that he had lost the original
order, got a second one from him. The
original order called for 1872, and the
duplicate for but $G. VIII Kelly was dis
charged from jail under the insolyent laws,
which made the county liable for the costs
in the case in which his wife was the pros
ecutrix.
On the warrants drawn to other parties
Kelly would get the money from the Co.
Treasurer by pretending to have cashed
them himself The custom Of the Office
gave him the right to sign one Of the other
Comm'rs names but he had no authority
for adding the Clerks attest, and the
signatures of the alleged recipients Of som
Of these warrants on the stubs look like
forgerics.
Clerk Mcdonald kept his suspicions re-
garding Kelly to himself for some time, but
after fully convincing himself Of kelly's
trickery he notified Comm'rs Iutchison
and Duncan Of the matter, and together
they made n thorough examination Of the
books
On Saturday Of last week all the Com
missioners and their Clerk being present
the Clerk called Mr.. Kelly's attention TO
one Of the latest Of the cases, saying that
the county auditors would meet shortly,
and that there were some things on the
books that be would not be able to explain
to them. Kelly took the matter very cool
", writing the name down and saying he
would look it up. but when one case after
the other was brought up, he broke down
completely, aud Acknowledged his fault
and begged for mercy.
His two associates told him that If he
would replace the money taken from the
county, and resign his Office, they would
not prosecute. and Kelly went out and got
the money and refunded it. and asked for
time to consider the resignation.
On Monday Kelly was in the Office but
short time. He said he would not resign
that day, and told his associates that they
were all in the same boat, on account OF
charging the county for more time than
they put in on Tuesday he said he was
going to Pittsburg, Wednesday was Christ
mas, to-day CThursday) he is in the office,
and what the day will bring forth remains