The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-05-12
He Makes : Confession Exon
Grating Kennedy.
He WILL PAY THE MONEY BACK.


4cdaughey making . confession, In which
he exonerated Kennedy from all
blame. taking the responsibility Of the
charge on himself His confession
was made in the presence of his attorney,
Charles F. Fishback, Auditor Twichell,
Clerk of Courts Spencer. the county COM
missioners and Prosecuting Attorney John
r. Miller and his assistant, William Nc
Bride He explained the manner in which
be issued the certificates and he acknowi-
edged that the accounts of the alleged
transactions a. published were, In the
main, correct.
As result Of his confession and his
promise 20 make restitution to the county
for ali the money purloined, and to pub
hcly explain the whole matter and all the
circumstances surrounding it, the case
against him will not be pushed Kennedy
will not be prosecuted either.
Since the young men were arrested
week ago on q charge of petty larceny
Mr.. TwicheIl and Mr.. Spencer have been
busily investigating the books and records,
and yesterday, is appearing to them that
the charge should be grand larceny instead
OF petty larceny. Mr.. Twichell went before
Justice Won Tobel and swore out war
rant charging the two young men with
stealing ISL from King county"
The warrant was Immediately placed in
the hands of Sheriff Woole-y. This was
at 8 O'Clock in the morning, and ut 10
o'clock, after the sheriff had served the
warrant, McGaughey sent word 70 Mr..
Twichell and Mr.. Spencer that he would
like to see them. He was taken into the
prosecuting attorneys Office in the court
house, and there he made . full breast oft
whole affair. At times he cried bitterly,
and between his sobs he begged that he be
allowed to make restitution to the county
and not be sent to prison. He had been
sick for some time and was quite ema-
ciated, and his condition was truly pitt
full. Kennedy was present, but said
nothing.
McGaughey explained, in extenuation
Of his ofense, that he took the money to
send home 70 his stepmother and father,
who are destitute in California. His
father, y years of age, Is Q helpless Grip
pie, and his stepmother for some time
past has been washing dishes ct hotel in
6issons, CAL, for 81 per week. One day
when the unfortunate woman went home
she found her house burned to the ground,
and her feeble husband had barely time to
crawl from the house and escape with his
life.
That was last August and the woman,
in sore distress, wrote to her step-son ask
ing him for Gods sake TO send some
money; that they had only their clothes
to their backs and not cent in the world,
nor place to lay their heads.
McGaughey showed this letter to Mr..
Twichell yesterday and had proof that he
had sent home all the money he could.
He received. as salary from the county,
SIPS month and $50 of that he sent home
every month. He said he was about
half crazy with concern for his
parents. He gathered up . lot of
certificates that had been on his desk I'M
called for for . long time. He Endorsed
them and carried them about in his pocket
for some time. meditating what to do.
Finally he gave them to Kennedy, telling
him nothing, only to cash them. He
knew at the time that he would be
found out some time or other.
1t was about the first of August that Nc
Gaughey first began operations. and it was
about that time that he received the letter
. from his stepmother concerning the burn
ing Of her home. He has received many
letters since. and in nearly al Of them she
asked for aid.
As time passed and the chances Of being
discovered became mo,r numerous, he
schemed and figured 10 conceal his doiugs,
and how cleveriy he accomplished his pur-
pose il demonstrated by the fact that for
some time after il was known that certif-
Gates were being fraudulently issued, Ken
nedy was the only one suspected.
Mr.. Twicheil, though moved TO sympa-
thy for the young man, was loath 10 with
draw the complaints he made against him,
and he said he wanted the COM
missioners to take action and hear
the confession for themselves. He
f;nallysaid that IL McGaughey and Kennedy
would make a pubic statement of the
affair over their own signatures. explain
ing all and everything, quoting all the
conversation that took place, and if the
county commissioners would consent he
would consider the proposition of with
drawing the complaints. on The promise
that immediate restitution would be made
the county.
The young men were allowed to go
, about during the afternoon on their own
irecognizance, bat at 5 o'clock they met, by
appointment, their attorney, Mr.. Fish,
back, in Prosecuting Attorney MiIler's
office, in the Union block on Front street.
A quarter of an hour later County Com
missioners Cash, Wooding and Taylor ar
rived and with them came Mr. Twichell
and Mr.. Spencer. They all were closeted
in Mr.. Miller's private Office.
Again MeGsughey made his confession.
generating Kennedy, and at times he
wept like child. 1t was plain that the
commissioners were moved to sympathy.
Mr. Fishback made plea for the young
man, and the conference concluded by Mr..
Twichell promising TO withdraw the CON-
plants; the young men acceding 10 all
the conditions asked, especially to the one
wherein they are 10 publicly admit the
truth of all with which Mr.. Twichell has
charged them.
Mr. Miller was pleased that the case
should have terminated as il did. az have
known McGaughey for years." said he,
sand won't believe that he is acontrmed
criminal. know that when he was q boy
he herded sheep in Walla Walla county.
and IN the winter went TO town, did
chores, sawed wood and went 10 school.
He was graduated from Whitman college,
at walla Walla- am confident that un-
less there were unusual circumstances.
such as have been shown in this case, he
would never have been guilty Of dis
honesty. When he makes restitution.
dollar for dollar, TO the county, l think
the matter should be dropped"
KELLEHER AGAIN IN OFFICE.