Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-07-25
THE BARDsLEY MIDDLE.
Auditor McCammant Testifies-He Denies
All Charges Against Him.

PHILADELPHIA, July 24.-The COM
mittee of councils that is inquiring into
ex-City Treasurer John Bardsley's NAL
feasance in office and the affairs Of the
wrecked Keystone National bank, met
this afternoon. A number OF witnesses
had been subpenaed, including the
presidents and cashiers of the banks
that are alleged to have paid interest
to Bsrdsley on deposits OF public
money; editors and publishers OF
papers that are alleged to have paid
40 per cent. rebate to Bardsley on pub
lie advertising, and Auditor General
Thomas McCammant, who is alleged to
have received share of the rebate.
Thomas McCammant, Auditor General
of the State, who with Bardsley, had
control OF the letting Of the advertising
of the Mercantile appraisers list to be
published In four newspapers OF Phila-
delphia, testified. The reports OF the
experts who examined Bardsley's books
recently showed that check had ap-
parently been sent to Mr.. Cammant
for S7,144.52, being one-half of the re-
bate Of 40 per cent. on over $40, 600
worth of advertising paid by four news
papers in 1890. Mr.. McCammant denied
emphatcally that he ever received d.
rectly or indirectly one penny OF this
money He also denied the various
sums credited on the stub OF Bardsiey's
check book to "Mc" had ever been
received by him. He stated that the
advertising business had been trans
acted through Captain Fl. M. Graffin,
who had for a number OF years been
employed in the Auditor Generals de-
partment, and who had charge of such
matters, but who is now dead. After
Mr.. McCammant had left the stand and
room, Committeeman Etting stated that
notwithstanding the Auditor Generals
denial, 1t had been his (Etting's) inten-
tion to examine him upon certain docu-
mentary evidence in his possession, but
that upon advice from the District At
torney, that it would be unwise to make
public disclosure of the contents Of
the documents at this time, he had re-
Trained from questioning the witness.
When the name of ex-State Treasurer
VIM. Livsey, who is alleged to have re-
ceiYed money from Bardsley, was called
telegram was read, stating that be-
cause of the serious illness of Mr..
Livsey's daughter, in Milwaukee, that
gentleman had to go to that city. lie
says he will return as soon as possible
and requests the privilege Of then ap-
pearing before the committee.
J. L. Singer, of the Fourth National
Bank, related conversation with
Marsh, the fugitive President of the
Exchange Bank, in which Marsh said
he had tried to bluff Wanamaker, but
failed. Wanamaker refused to use his
influence to keep the bank open.
Clayton McMichael, OF the North
american, Robert j. Cook, of the Press,
and other managers Of papers alleged
to have paid rebates on the mercantile
appraisers list advertising lists, were
sworn. Their testimony was to the ef-
feet that they could not get the adver-
tising without paying commission OF
40 per cent. to the person bring
ing it to them, and as they could
print the matter and make a
profit after paying the commission,
they did so as matter OF business.
None of them had knowledge that the
commission was to go to either Bards
ley or the Auditor General. Mr.. Cook
admitted that Capt. Graf1in was the man
whom paid the commission. When
asked who got the commission in 1891,
Captain Graffin having died in 1890,
Mr.. Cook declined to reveal the name,
saying that the person was not public
official, and it would be unfair to make
his name public. The committee then