Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-11-29

finding it difficult to secure clear cases of
violation. In his previous administration
we could find cases as thick as blackberries,
but this time the Mayor has evidently been
more careful and the violations are less ire
quent The old cases are dead, OF course,
having expired by the statute of limitation,
which is two years in extortion cases and
four years in embezzlement. This is OBJ
viously his concealment and defense
How about ex-Mayor Pearson ~ was
asked.
I'VE are getting ready to prosecute MI.
Pearson ALSO and probably will in short
time-probablv Within ten days. In his
case we will follow up embezzlement cases,
the others having expired by the statute OF
limitation.
what evidence have you found against
him."
Will Prosecute Murphy and Pearson.
81 can't tell You that" was the reply,
''ss it might give his friends chance to
cover up the tracks if they knew"
And do YOU intend to prosecute Chief
Murphy, also?'
That is our instruction." said the
LAWYER 'and as the evidence against him
comes entirely from witnesses instead of
from records, We can say nothing about
what we intend 10 produce. There is no
hurry about Murphy's prosecution, and we
NAV do nothing in his case for several
weeks
Then the defense he made the other day
will not sav~ him from prosecution"
"So, his defense only applied TO the
license plates. He seems to have made ou:
2 fair defense on that and NAV account for
every cent of money involved in that trans
action"
Il want YOU to understand. - said Mr..
LanCftt, 'that / or those who employ
me are not in this matter to persecute any
body. Personally l am friendly to both
Wyman and Murphy, and 1 believe nv en-
ployerS in this case are also. This prosecu-
rIon is made simply to correct the evils ex-
is:ing in the Allegheny government
Mr.. Langitt was asked who his employ
ers were but declined TO name them, as did
several others interviewed, and who were
In a position to know. ''The Reform Asso-
citation did not engage me, - said Mr.. Lang
fit, ''though several of the private citizens
to whom look for nv fee are members of
that association. John Robb was engaged
bv the same gentlemen, and he has been
working on this case with us, though he has
been out of the city to-day and took no part
in the work done to-day"
Mayor WymaE was visited at his home
last evening and an attempt was made to
interview him on the suits against him, but
he politely, though positively, declined to
submit TO the process.
Wynaa VIII Only Saw Wood.
''I am in the hands of my attorneys now"
he said. Md under their instruction 1 will
say nothing about those suits. They have
opened up the matter now and the burden
Of proof rests on those making the charges.
I will say this, however, 1 have not during
ny present administration willfully or
knowingly committed any illegal act. /
may have made mistakes, as any other man,
but they have been unintentional and not
criminal
Dr. Clifford, Chairman of the Auditing
Committee. was evidently aware of the
suits having been entered when the reporter
called, but he concealed his knowledge of
that as well as any other matter in connec-
tion Herewith he NAV have had. He would
make no statement in reference to the GRIM
lnal suit: and declined to saw who had en-
ployed Attorneys Langfitt and Robb on the
case. though he admitted he knew, and said
j mattered little who the gentlemen were.
He said the suits were not brought for the
purpose of persecution, but to regulate and
discipline the city officials guilty of irreg-
ular conduct, and any citizen had a right to
Go that. .t
John f. Henricks Chairman of the Sub
Auditing Committee was backward about
being interviewed II have had so much
notorietv in connection with this case" he
said, that / am heartily sick of it and wish
it was all over. Yes, L knew the suits were
IN be entered and am glad the matter will
now come before the courts, where it can be
determined without fear of charges of
malice, political spite or personal feeling
being at the bottom OF it, as would
be the case if Councils continued the
prosecution. In our consideration of the
matter in the subcommittee it was sug-
CeSted that we follow our investigation with
impeachment proceeding against the Mayor,
but we decided the present was the best If
the Mayor is convicted of the charges he
will be deposed from office and that will
end the matter as far as Councils are con-
cerned.
No Longer a Personal Matter.
81 am glad the matter has pro.
Cressed as ii has" said Councilman Vert
heimer, who took such determined stand
in Councils to have the case taken to court
Now there will he an end to personal
charges against members of Council. The
people will be satisfsd with verdict from
the courts, but they would never be if
Councils continued the investigation. /
cannot express any opinion as to the out
must prove them. of course, before the
Navor Is convicted. / have no personal
feeling in the matter, whatever, and was
only actuated in nv desire for a court trial
by spirit of fairness
Mr.. Wertheimer could not tell who had
employed the extra attorneys on the case,
but he was sure it had not been either Coun-
ellis or the Auditing Committee.
A number of other Allegheny officials
snd citizens talked to concerning the suits
seemed to think the outcome would be bet
ter for the Mayor than if the impeachment
proceedings had peen pressed by Councils
There was considerable talk about the al
legged illegality of the Mavor's rubber stamp
signature TO workhouse commitments, a
statement concerning which was published
yesterday. Several persons questioned
seemed to take bat little stock in the story.
and the Mayor himself when asked about it
said:
''What difference can it possibly make
whether my signature is written out or nv
name stamped with rubber letters? The
commitment Is iust as good and all pur-
poses are served just as well with one as
the other. The mag strates over in Pitts
burg use rubber stamps on their commit
ments 10 the workhouse and no one has ever
questioned them. 1t seems that nothing is
TOO small for the people who are persecut-
ing me 10 pick up and charge against me-"
On Tour of Inspection.
Prof r. H. Thurston, OF the Cornell Uni
versity: T. \. Ely, Superintendent of Mo-