Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-09-16
HUNT FOR HASTINGS.
1t Is RumOred That the Market Clerk
Has Disappeared.
COULD NOT BE FOUND AT HIS HOME.
The Auditing Committees Report Is Likely
to Be Adopted.
MANCHESTER MEN READY TO GIVE UP

It was rumored last night that Market
Clerk David Hastings, of Allegheny, had
taken his departure from the city yesterday,
as result of the Auditing Committee s
recommendation that suit be entered against
him for embezzlement and perjury. One Of
the members of the committee said last night
that Hastings had skipped, and while not
definitely certain, inquiry elected the in
formation that he had not been seen about
his usual haunts since yesterday morning,
and on visit being made to his
house contradictory statements were
made by different members of the
family, one saying that he had not gone
away but was downtown" somewhere and
another stating that he had gone to the
country to visit his son.
WILL LIKELY ADOPT THE REPORT.
Allegheny City Hall was very quiet last
night, the lull before the excitement that
will prevail at the regular meeting of Coun-
CHS on Thursday night, when the report and
resolutions of the Auditing Committee on
the market house case will be received
and acted upon. 1t is the general impress
sion among councilmen and officials that the
report will be adopted, as the charges and
figures embodied in it are of such a definite
and specific nature that even were it so de-
sired, no one would have the temerity to at
tempt to smother or whitewash the matter.
Chairman Parke said Yesterday: "Some peo-
pie seem to have gotten an impression that
there is some animus back of the work of
this committee, but that is not the case, the
committee is merely doing what it was ap-
pointed to do. 1t is duty of the committee
to carefully audit all the city accounts, and
where any discrepancies are discovered, to
investigate thoroughly, and if any officer
of the city is found to be incompetent or
dishonest, steps must be taken in accordance
with such finding. The fact that this has
not been done in the past is no reason why
the present Auditing Committee should
was improbable that the Mayor would again
refuse to give up the books In his
possession, in view of the report
of the City Solicitor on the question,
Chief Ehlers yesterday suspended Hastings,
pending the action of Councils, and took
charge of the books and money in his pos
session. Constable William Lanz was ap-
pointed Market Clerk, temporarily.
MARKET MEN ARE FOR HASTINGS.
The majority of the Market House people
are still confident that Hastings is honest
in the face of the auditors detailed report
of his shortages.
Another important feature of Thursdays
meeting of Councils will be the receipts of
the Corporations Committee on the street
railway franchises. 1t is considered to be
certainty that this report will be adopted
1t has been reported that the fight which
was waged by the rival companies
in committee would be continued
at the coming meeting, but it Is
not probable that the contest will be re-
sumed, as the Pittsburg, Allegheny and
Manchester people say that they recognize
the hopelessnesg of gaining any further
privileges. A. NJ. Neeper, secretary and
solicitor for that company, said yesterday
that nothing more would be done, and that
they had received.
It is possible, however, that Chairman
Kennedy's decision that members of the
Auditing Committee had a right to vote on
ordinances introduced for the benefit of the
Pleasant Valley Company while holding
stock in that company, may be called in
question. The point made by Mr.. Ken
nedy was that the ordinances were intro
dueed in the name of the Millvale Railway
Company.
The auditors called at the Mayors office
yesterday morning for the books in the
possession of the Mayor, but as the latter
was not present they did not take them
Mayor Wyman said last night they could
have them at any time without the formali-
ty of his being present to give them to