The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-04-29
HIS FEET WERE SORE
An Excuse Offered by Relief
Agent McCoombs-
MORE BOGUS ENDORSEMENTS.
His Peculiar Methods ~ Heading the
Relief TuaAs Expesea-as 10
Dfsxharxsd.

The Investigation into the charges against
Secretary }. r. MeCoomhs. OF the reisef
committee. vas resumed yesterday aftsr-
noon n the rssief committee headquarters.
corner Of Third and Cherry streets Messrs.
q III. Hebron, Griffith Davies and John
L<ary. Of the relief COMMITTEES. Secretary
Mecoonh~, his astorney. X b Alhertson.
DIGESTIVE Bolton Rodgers Police Ofsicer j.
1. Barcx and half dozen press rspresen-
tstises were present
Mr.. John Leary presided and called the
meeting 70 order IT 2 O'Clock. he stated
that charges Of having appropriated money
given TO needy people bad been maize
against Secretary AcCoombs. aud that The
committee proposed 10 investigate them.
He announced that th4 committee would
probe TO the very bottom OF the case.
Secretary McCoornbs was then called upon
for d statement He flrss detailed the cir
eumstances of the Seller case. He denied
emphaiicaIiy having retained SO OF the SD
questions Of Mr.. Hebron. Secretary Nc
Combs made the following statements:
II have never taken part in gambling
game since accepted my present. position
/ frequenfsd the whiteehapel district be-
cause desired to know the habitaes OF
that place. so in case they ever came up
for relief would know how TO act am
absolutely certain that gave Mrs. sell
Ter SO"
where did you live before you came
here7" asked Mr.. Hebron.
.In Portland"
What did you do there7"
Well
Here Mr.. Aibertsou sprang 20 his feet
with his first objection. THE committee,
said he. was satisfied with Mr.. McCcombs
when he was hired aud | do not think IL
right that you should at this late date be-
gin to enquire into his past life. OF course,
Mr. McCoombs has nothing TO conceal, but
still such q question Is not pertinent"
Mr. Hebron explained that his object
in asking the question was to ascertain
whether Secretary McCoombs was proper
person To continue in the employ of the
committee or not.
Mr. Albertson and his client retired for
moments consultation and when they
eturned the matter was dropped. and
Secretary McCoombs continued 10 answer
10 questions from Mr. Hebron.
II came here two years ago from Port
tafiA+ &SHAEA DAt TIC 1t&tHktOh 11tc
for six months. and was then laid up for
four months with q sore wrist. When /
became well returned to the Arlington In
the old capacity. Just after the fire / was
employed by Bolton Rodgers to work for
the relief committee. Ny instructions
after accepted the seeretaryship from
Governor Ferry and Jadge Lewis were to
go out and hunt up fire sufferers In need
and relieve them. | never drew . cent for
any one without the consent of the eom-
inittee or some of its members. All orders
for groceries we're either drawn on Clarke
a carder or Haley 4 Glen. II is q fact that
IL many instances where had a check tor
so with which 10 buy groceries tina; took
part OF the amount In groceries and the
rest in cash. This did where families re-
qnired medicine. wood or shoes which
could not be bought ut the grocery
store. Occasionally | took the change
to the people myself. but generally
sent IL by the grocer. did not know that
such action was in direct violation of the
committees orders. l never appropriated
a cent of that money myself. | cashed
checks, A. In the case OF Mrs. Seller, fire..
quently when the party to whom II was
drawn desired me to, and only cashed
when the beneiiciaries endorsed them. /
never concealed the amount of a check
from any one. do not see why all OF the
benefieiaries would not come here and tes-
tify that they received all that the commit
tees order called for. | did not know that
II was directly contrary to the committee s
wishes TO cash these checks. deny again
having ever retained cent on a single
check issued, or ever having received
cent of commission from any one never
gave groceries TO rich abandoned women
as charged. and Will say that that teams
ter who made that statement must have
been hrihed to do so. have never been
drunk or under the influence of liquor while
la the employ OF the committee. | have never
gaphled since entered your employ. I
will say, however, that was once an in
yesefate gambler. never sent i'm reports
bearing fictitious names. and | think that
can lind all Of the beneficlaries who re-
ceived anything during my time here"
Secretary MeCoomhs was here excused
and Detective Bolton Rodgers called 10 the
stand. In answer 10 Mr.. Heilhrou's aues-
items. he testified "a follows. II was Sc
ieSsed after the FIRE hy Judge Lewis. acting
upon the suggestion of J. H. MeGraw. 10
60 police duty sud vas allowed ten men.
MIR. MeCoornbs was one OF the first that
appointed among those ten. had known
ham then about two years. l never heard
anything against him. and never knew OF
bis gambling. AZ tho request of the mayor
have looked into this case some. bu,
find nothing criminal. took thirteen
cases that were acted upon during the past
month and detailed Officer Barck to loos
them up
Detective Rogers then read Officer
Hsrek' report. which was az follows.
Ars, q q Williams i.sss West street. rsee;vss
We ga April Is J eau and no such r,erxon.
Mira Me"ney, Washington street. between Pour.
teensA aud fsisssasa strvess received SO worth
os groceries en April :. Received the ersN,@rss.
ea' does mes remember signing any nspef.
In answer TO a question from Mr.. Hell.
hrun, Secretary MegoomhS states! that xhs
bad iadoTSea the check. aud he had esshsts
l. NJ. Davies agreed 30 investigate the mat
ter, Rodgers then went on With case No :.
Il q. wilsau, lax Cedar street. received 80
wosth Of Ts,~-erlsS Apssl Is Feaad 40 svea
nsHlleg ca tas street
The Application vas produced. and
serves The back was written:
~. RssisHsss Just returned FROM snvessir.,.
ias tsas ease. aaa sstak il DESERVING
:, p, AeCoaxwS
Then y0a weat oat 20 this address. Mr.
Mecoombs. did yoaf* asked Mr.. Hell
bFen.
No. sis," answered the secretary. and
Tor TIE agst time daring the investigation
he seemed agitstea. lie sagited nergeaslv
IN has seat. hss face changed color, and ais
EYES suagAt the HAes.
Then " SafN a