The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1890-04-08
sEElEY MAKES no DEFENSE
Against srpt. Darrnh's Charges and They
I Are Reported MS Proven. -

Are Reported MS Proven, F'
The special Council Committee
Charged with investigating tho charge
made by Superintendent Darrah, OF the
Gas Works, against Councilman Oscar
Seeley to tho effect thut when he YVES
President Of tho Board OF Gas Trustees.
IN 1867, he Borrowed" gas pine and
fixtures to the amount OF S741.6l, and
that he has never made any return OF the
SAME, met ngain last evening and
concluded It's work. The conclusion was
reached much sooner than if was sup.
posed 1t would be, for tho reason tha,
Seeley declined to make any defense
whatever. When given an opportunity
to put In evidence to contradict tho very
strong case that had been made apajns,
him, he contented himself with a gen.
efal denial, made through, his attoraev.
capt. 3. Il. Dovener, and n statement 10
The effect that II the city felt satisfied
IRON the results Of the Investigation IN
to that point, that Superintendent Dar.
rams charge was correct, she might 20
ahead and sue or endeavor to collect In
some legal manner, and that not until
then would he feel himself called upon
to disprove tho charge. Altar hearing
TINS the committee very promptly de.
cidcd TO report to Council that the
charge that seeley "borrowed" pine il
proven and also tho more ser;ous
charge that he never made any return
Tor the same, and to recommend that
steps be at once taken to recover from
him the value ofthe goods 80 "bor.
rowed." So. ..yl;,,' NJ = - /, -
Last nights meeting was held in the
First Branch chamber, which was well
filled with Councilmcn, witnesses and
interested citizens. All the members nj
the committee were present. A number
OF witnesses were called and examined
by General All. Caldwell, Mr.. Darrah's
attorney. Their testimony was all in
the nature OF a veritication OF the testi. t
mony given by Mr.. Darrah on the occa.
sion OF the committees first meeting
held one week ago. The defense salts,
fed itself with either no cross examima. | |
lion at all or the asking Of simple ques. 1
tion or two. 5> 5T'1'>' G
A number Of men who worked at the
gas works during the Seeley regime were
put on the stand aud testified as to See.
ley taking away materials and never re.
.trning them. James Dyson told about
seeley using some oil the material he
borrowed" in fitting up the county's :!
sad OF the Public Building. All of this ,
testimony corroborated all that Mr.,
Darrah had testified to ut the previous :
meeting. lI -, ~ 8
Mr.. Darrah went on the stand again
Ind told Of rSeeley's interference With
he conduct OF affairs at the works dur. !.
nc. his regime. He called one day and !,
seeing one William Shields at work, he
navlng been given some temporary =
position at the request of Trustee !.
Thomas E. Lewis, asked: "NVkat is that Y Y
sd d-n Republican doing herc?" I
When told, he insisted that he be fred y
md Shields went that evening. At an !! Z
'ther time when. tho plumbing business !;
vas slack he had "a good u
nan discharged in order to make . .
place for one Of his shop :,
lands. Another part Of Mr.. Darrah's q
was that Seeley, having gotten
Squire" McCahon, a well known South
side character, . place at tho works =
ordered that he be made boss purifier; I
his Darrah hatly refused TO do and d
'seley evidently seeing that he was u
soing too far did not press the point. &
When the Darrah side rested, and it 1
vas learned that Seeley would make no Il
lefense, General Caldwell proceeded to a
glve q red hot arraignment of SeeIey.
lie hurriedly went over the evidence he v
lad been holding back for rebuttal. This I
evidence is in the shape Of bill after bill 'V
made out by Seeley against the CITY. d
marked 20. "by him as President. and u
'eceipted by him-all OF which is in di.
-ect violation OF the State law. Further, il
,he Darrah side offered to show that il
sseley had said to Secretary He'll that il
hat kind Of thing was not quite proper t
Ind that he would change things; and
hat the way he did this was 10 make
out in his own handwriting bills ;
against the city for amounts due Fred '
Brand, young man employed by him. d
These amounts were for work, labor. and /
supplies, and were marked 20. K" by v
Seeley and receipted by Seeley "Frei r
Brand by O. 81. These bills, with all :
Tho writing on them in Seeley's hand, II
we're examined with considerable /
interest alter adjournment. Another r
point General Caldwell made was that r
seeley had formed tho quorum that v
passed on many OF these bills. The G
deneral did not make a very long speech, i
but what he did say was very i,
and the deak behind | A
which he stood was heaped high with b
pills, checks. vouchers and minutes \