Morning journal and courier., 1889-06-04
ARRESTED LAST NIGHT.


 sensation at 1he City HaII-John J.
 Olerkin Arrested In the Board of
 Selectmen,s Room-Charged With
 SvatemarIcaIly SvindIIng the Town
 of New Haven-Mrs. Andrew F.
 Callahan Also Arressed-TOwn Agent
 Todd,s Investigations.
 A oreat sensation has been created by the charges made by Town Agent Todd against John J. Clerkin, clerk in the town agent office. It is creating no end of talk, and various opinions are expressed concerning the case Clerkin is charged with appropri- ating the funds of the town in small sums.
 The climax was reached last night when Clerkin was arrested. It was not unexpect- ed by him, as he knew the warrants were out.
 The board of selectmen were to have a special meeting last night, and on account of this matter the board decided to have 8 hearing. Clerkin was on hand ready to act in the capacity of clerk of the meeting.
 When the members had arrived in the town agents office, Town Agent Todd said he would like full investigation of the mat ter. Clerkin said he wanted ss thorough a one as could be made.
 The Town Agent thought special com mittee should be appointed to look into the matter. Clerkin thought likewise Seleotman White was mentioned as 8 mem- Der of that committee, but he said that be- fore serving on it he would like to make 8 few inquiries ot MT. Clerkin.
 CT refuse to say anything about the mat ter," answered MT. Clerkin. ''My counsel, Henry Stoddard, has advised me to say nothing. desire full investigation. This is not the place for it. At the proper time and place, however, I will answer and ex- plain everything"
 At this point the door into the town agents office opened and Roundsman Mo- Bride entered. His coming was no surprise to those present. He told CIerkin that he had @ warrant for his arrest, and the latter, after looking over the warrant, smiled and said he would be ready to accompany the roundsman in 8 few minutes.
 Clerkin leaned over the table and spoke to Selectmen Klencke and Cooper. He put on his spring overcost and the two selectmen accompanied him out the front door of the City Hall and around the town agents office to the police office. As they entered the pos lice building Clerkin didn't seem a bit dis turbed over the matter. In fact, no one would have believed that he was under ar- rest.
 stGood evening, gentlemen" he said, in quite loud voice. He then walked to the desk and shook hands with Lieut.. Wrinn.
 "Come out and get my measure" i" he spoke up. Never once did he lose his self control. He gave his age as 32. Seleetmen Cooper and Klencke gave bonds in the sum of $1 800 for him. On being released from custody Clerk1n shook hands and spoke pleasantly to all in the office.
 Mir. Clerkin is not the only one implicated Mir. and Mrs. Andrew J. Callahan are charged with being party to the transaction.
 The warrant for Clerkin's arrest was @ vol luminous document, and would fill about three columns. He is charged with prejudic- ing the town of New Haven and with making false entries on the book.
 The first count states that Elizabeth Chat field, an inmate of the almshouse, was not entitled to relief from the town of New Haven, but that Clerkin prepared an order on the town treasurer for four dollars, pay able to her. The order was drawn February 1, 1889, and presented it to Town Agent Todd for his signature, we'll knowing that she was not entitled to relief. The town agent instructed him to give the order to no one but Mrs. Chatield, but on February 20 Clerkin delivered it to some person who is as yet unknown, Clerkin well knowing that this person would present it to the town treasurer and that said person would then remit the money to his own use. The order was pre- scented to the town treasurer February 20. The second count alleges that he made out another order on April 4, 1889, for four dol lars ,ostensibly for Mrs. Chatfeld. The town agent instructed him to make an entry on the books when he gave it out. It was called for by some person other than the one to whom it was made out on April F, and no time that the person would present it to the town treasurer and would remit the money to his use.
 The third count charges that on the first days of February, March and April, 1889, Clerkin entered in the books and papers of AL Klx< iIa an entry in substance that the town had paid Elizabeth Chapman in each instance four dollars, knowing full well that she was not entitled to it.
 Fourth count-Prior to October 26, 1888, one Myra Goodsell had been town pauper and had died on the date given. On January 1, 1SS0 Clerkin did appropriate $S to bis use the deceased to some person unknown. The order was sold to D. M. Welch & Son, who presented it to the town treasurer and re- ceived $S
 Fifth count-On December 7, 1889, and the first day of January and February, 1889, Clerkin did enter upon the books known as the outside poor account that the town had paid to Myra Goodssll the sum of $S on each date, whereas no money of the town was ever paid to her or her agent after her death. Clerkin Is charged with being fully aware of her death.
 l 1t 1888, Clerkin appropriated $4 to his own use. Prior to June 1, 1888, Hannah J. Smith was a town pauper, but from July l, 1888, to Mo- vember 1, 1888, did not ask for any aid. But Clerkin on August F drew an order for $4 payable to her and presented it to Town Agent Reynolds for signature, the latter be- ing ignorant that she was not asking for aid. Clerkin delivered the order to some person unknown, and 1t was presented to the town treasurer.
 On July IS, August IT, September 15 and October 12, the seventh count alleges, that Clerkin made entries in the books that Mrs. Smith had received $4 on each date, whereas she received nothing
 The last charge is that of appropriating $5 on April 13, 1889. Prior to February 8, 1889, Robert Donaldson had been a town pauper, and had had relief. On February he died and Clerkin was notified of his death on the 4th, but Clerkin still kept his name on the list of paupers, and on April 5, 1889, drew an order for $3. payable to the de- ceased, and the town treasurer paid the money to an unknown person.
 It was shortly after Clerkin was arrested that Detective Reilly, about o'clock, walked into the police office with Mrs. Andrew J. Callahan. There was no one to give bail for her and she sent for her husband.
 City Attorney Daley has associated with him in the prosecution of John w. filling. The two prepared the warrants in which the two were arrested. MT. Daley said last night that it had taken them three weeks to prepare the warrant.
 A COURIER reporter saw MT. Clerkin after he was arrested. He said he was not in the least alarmed.
 "No," he said, 'Im not in the soup yet. I will be all right in weeks time."
 He would make no statement.
 The trouble began last week, when Clerkin accused Town Agent Todd of opening his letters.
 As City Attorney Daley was then at work on the warrant for Clerkin's arrest, the latter voluntarily suspected something and so pre- pared this charge against the town agent.
 A person in a position to know says that there are many instances where orders have been drawn and that the town has been sysa tematically swindled out of considerable money. To state how much would be guess work. He told the reporter something of how the business had been carried on and how the net had at last been drawn in. xuh ho into office