Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-04-02
AN INVESTIGATION
BEGAN INTO TIE SEELEY NATTER LAST
NIGHT.
The Testimony Of Superintendent Darrah Before
the Council COmmiitee-Deep Interest
II the Subject

Ac SpcCldl NOihtu NulltHlitt''' ~
pointed to investigate the account al
legged To be owed the city by Mr.. Oscar
Seclev. met in the chamber Of the First
Branch of Council last evening, and was
called to order by Mr.. Faris. who NOM
mated Mr.. Harrcl for Chairman. There
were present. in addition TO all the mem
hers of the committee. a number of other
members of Council. Trustee Dunlcvy, of
the Gas Board. Secretary Franzheim.
Superintendent Darrah, with Hon. Al
fred Caldwell his counsel. Mr.. Seeley,
the defendant, with Col. W. W. Arnett
and Capt. b. b. Doyener, his counsel,
Superintendent CumminS. of the water
works. and a number OF citizens.
There was good deal of delay in get
ting the committee 10 work. owing 10
the fact that Capt. DOvencr was de-
tanned down street. and it was perhaps
/ half-paSt eight o'clock. when everything
was in readiness To proceed.
The first thing the Committee did was
10 read the communications from the
Board of Gas Trustees TO Council, and
/ the action of Council appointing the
/ Committee. for the general infor-
nation of those present When this
had been concluded, Mr.. Harrell asked
the pleasure of the Committee. and Mr..
Pollock Said:-
Mr.. Chairman. ! think we ought TO
hear from the Secretary of the Gas
+ Works. as 10 the orgin of these charges.
After the case has thus been made, |
/ think We can proceed to ascertain the
/ tact>-proyc or diSproyc the charges as
/ the evidence may show. 90
/ The Chair asked the ideas of the COM
mittcc. and Mr. FarriS said he thought
/ the committee wanted 10 get AT the bot
f tom OF the mattcr-get the original ac-
counts. The Secretary had already
made statement 10 Council.
The Chair think We ought 10 get
the original account before the commit
tee. and then ascertain whether or not
/ 10 is correct.
Mr.. Pollock move that Secretary
/ Frauzhcim read his statement to the
committee.
This motion was adopted. and Mr..
Frauzhcim Said:-
IL reported all the information ] had
% the City Council. Tho report was
made 20 me by Superintendent Darah
made a copy of il under the inSiruc-
tion> Of the Board. and presented q copy
% Mr.. Scclcy. That was about six
weeks ago. Mr.. Scclcy said Pee would
like % look over il and see If the ac-
count was correct told him that was
what the Trustees wanted him TO do.
as they wanted il settled without any
trouble or publicity. II went OH until
I the day Council was 10 meet. tclc-
ph0ncd 10 Mr. Scelcy'S shop. ana he
came up. lie said hc had been looking
over his books but he said it was big
/ lob. aS there was five years business to
60 over. laSlcd him how long il would
take and he said week on ten DAYS.
told him 10 was two weeks until the
next meeting of Council. and hc said hc
would attend to il. heard nothing
more Of ii until the next Council meet
ing. The account is just as il came
from Mr. Darrah. ii being a recapituIa-
tion."
Mr.. Frauzheim then read the bill.
Mir. Davidsou-Thc bill has been pre-
scented. and Nlr. Seclcy and his counsel
have heard IL read. ] think it would be
iu order 10 hear what they have TO say
about IL. The bill seems 90 De straight.
but we ought To see whether or not il Is
correct.
Col. Aructt. in reply to this. said that
| Mr.. Scclcy desired him TO say it was
true that hc had obtained some mate
rails. i'm the way of loans from the SUI
periuteudcnt of the Gas Works. bat he
| had returned the material 50 borrowed.
| The Colonel said: Il suppose the gem
tlcmcn who bring the charge only want
TO know the nature of our defense. The
statement has been made, and one OF
the pcculiartics striking me Is the alb
sencc Of dates. However. that may be
matter for investigation. There is no
denial ON our side that hc got goods. but
he answers that lac is not indebted 10
the city for the material named in the
statement. don't think / can be more
specific about il at this time.
Il believe Captain Doycner If pres
cut. would make the same statement
that l make"
ASColoncl Amctt uttered these words.
/ Captain Doycrncr catered the room, and
the two attorneys held short confer
cucc.
Col. Arnctt then again took the floor
/ and said ne desired To- rcitcrcte the
statement hc had made. He would sim
ply enter denial of the bill, and ask
I for proof
MIR. DayidSou-Now ! presume the
next thing is To hear from Mr.. narrah
and his witnesses. To prove the bill.
The Chair debtor don't deny he
got the goods. but hc does deny that he
still owes for them.
Mr.. DAVIDSON That does not alter
the case. II is simply for Mr.. Darrah
To prove that hc did not return them.
Mr.. Pollock-It seems to me that ii Is
for The defense to prove his statement
/ that hc returned the pipe.
Captain DOvcrncr-lt seems To me
YOU will have to accept our whole state
mcnt. or none of it-''he got il. and he
returned it.
After some discussion IL was agreed to
put Mr.. Darrah ON the stand. to prove
the material was obtained by Mr.. See
lev. the oath being administered by
/ Clerk Hankc. Mr.. Pollock TOOK the bill.
aS presented to Council by the Gas
Board. and began To ask questions from
| IL. but gave way To Mr.. Caldwell, who
/ took charge of the examination, In RE
Spouse To questions Mr.. Darrah stated
f he was Superintendent of the Gas Works
while Mr.. Scclcy was President of the
Board. which consisted of McsSrS. See
/ lev. JepSon aud Logan. Or. Logan soon
resigned. and Mr.. Thomas Lewis sue
cecdcd him. Mr.. George He'll was Sec
rotary of the works. Witness stated he
+ had nothing To do with ordering mater
ial. lie never gave any orders TO the
Office for material Mr.. Sccley ordered
IT, Witness was not present at any of the
meetings of the Board. unless when IL
was deemed necessary to call him in to
explain some special matter at the
works Otherwise. he was expressly
dcbarrcd. by order OF President Seclcy.
Witness kept no books or accounts at
works. The books We're kept at the
Office
f The witness then took up the first
item in the bill. dates March %. lSsG,
+ for thirty-thrce feet of pipe, and said
I the pipe was obtained az the works by
one of Mr.. Secley'S employees. The next
item. of 100 feet. was obtained in the
same way. The boy came around with
/ Mr.. Seelcy'S wagon, and said Mr.. Seeley
sent him for 100 feet of pipe. The third
item. 81 feet Of pipe, was got the same