Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1891-10-23
HARRISBURG.


it was possible so 10 do in view of the de-
fective condition of existing laws relating
to state taxes and the collection and return
of the same and that all of my said official
acts in reference to the settlement of ac-
counts against county treasurers, and
especially against the late treasurer OF
Philadelphia county, which acts are now
alleged in said proclamation and in SAID
message to have been illegal, were in con
| formity with the law as it was understood
and interpreted by me and my predecessors
| for many years back, and was in conformi-
| ty with the long established usage OF the
auditor generals department, which SAID
usage, although it must be presumed to
have been for many years well known to
| the executive department, which Is
specially charged by the Constitution to
| 'stake care that the laws be faithfully exc
cutedD has never before been made the
| subject of executive animadyersion during
the administration of my predecessors, or
during my own administration, until many
months after it was made publicly known
| that John Bardsley, ex-treasurer of Phila-
| delphia, had been unlawfully using public
| money"
Mr.. Boyer's denialis as sweeping as words
could make it as follows.
81 expressly deny each and every charge
| of official misbehavior and misconduct ID
said message, alleged or suggested oy
direct statement, inference or argument
expressly deny that | ever, either IN per
| son or by letter, or in any way whatever
asked or received from John Bardsley, OF
| from any person representing him, any mon
| ey, gift or thing of value, or any promise
| thereof. / expressly deny that l ever
knew of, assented or agreed to the use by
John Bardsley of any public money for bis
or my own gain or profit, or for gain or
| profit Of any other person or persons.
| expressly deny that combined, confeder-
ated or agreed with any person or persons
to permit John Bardsley, either dsectiy
or indirectly, to retain or make use OF any
| public moneys for the gain or profit OF my
self, himself or any other person or persons,
or for any unlawful use or purpose. | ex-
| pressly deny that now know or ever knew
| of any person or persons'in the service oi
| the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, or OF
the City of Philadelphia, having any reia-
| tion direct or indirect, with John Bardsley
| for the improper detention, use or employ
ment of the moneys belonging either to the
State of Pennsylvania or the City of Phiia-
| delphia.
| / expressly deny that l ever had any
correspondence or communication OF any
kind with John Bardsley, or with any
person or persons representing him, upon
| any improper, dishonest or unlawful sub
ject, or for any improper, dishonest pur-
pose or object, or that / knew of any such
| having been had with him by sany other
person or persons whatsoever upon any
such subject or for any such purpose OF
| object"
| He gives a history OF his transactions
with Bardsley, as to the school warrants,
quotes the law as to the Philadelphia
| school district, and ends by declaring that
| he has not been guilty OF any official mis-
conduct or misbehaYior, and has neither
| done nor omitted to do any act which
would Justify his removal from the Office OF
State Treasurer.
| After the letters of defense were read a
| dispute arose among the Senators as to the
| expenses of the session and the matterSwas
| left to the Attorney General, who decided
| that the State Treasurer could pay them
| upon warrents drawn by the officers of the
| Senate.
| Mr.. McCamant's case was then taken
| up, but the Attorney General proposed al
| adjounment for consultation, and this WAS
| agreed to, and the Senate adjourned until
| Monday at p. Ii.
The Senate assembled, Monday after
noon wit twenty Republicans and ten
| Democrats in their seats, and Senator
Finn moved to proceed with the trial OF
| Treasurer Boyer. This motion was sur
prise, as when the Senate adjourned
| Friday it was understood that McCamaAt
was to be tried first. Attorney General
Hensel objected as he had prepared for
McCamant's case, and Senator Hall pro-
posed to try the two men together.
| discussion followed and the motion 10 taha
| up Boyer's case first carried by party
vote. Then Senator Hall threw a bomb
| by presenting a motion overrullng tho
| plea of the defendants that the Senate had
no power to try their cases, and another
| discussion followed, and the resolution
was defeated by a strict party note, 20 to9.
| The Senate then adjourned until Z. n
| at which time there was CARLOAD OF book,
papers and rolls of testimony crowded mp
on the table of the Attorney General HIS
| deputy Mr.. Stranahan and two ste nogrn-
| pliers shared the table with Mr.. Hense,
| who looked worn and tired. The attorneys
| for the defense sat at their table adjolr-
| ing. Their table was clear and they looked
with evident interest at the stack of
evidence intended to be offered against
| them.
The whole of the evening session was
| devoted to the consideration of Mr.. Bards
| ley's books and accounts Francis Reeves,
| Chairman Of the Commission appointed BIZ
| the Governor TO investigate City Treas
urer Bardsley's affairs. reviewed and ey
| planned what his committee had found.
| Two expert accountants who had assistedin
| the investigation were called TO identity
| the statements submitted by Mr. Reeves
/ and David G. King, chief clerk for Mr.
Bardsley, and George ID. Phelan, State
clerk in Mr.. Bardsley's Office, were called
to identify Mr.. Bardsley's account AMI
| checkbooks.
| In the checkbook number Of stubs had
| been destroyed The Attorney General.
| however produced the checks, the number.
of which corresponded with the stubs.
They were made out To ''self, were
signed by John Bardsley.
With each check the Attorney General
produced letter from William Liysley,
late cashier of the State Treasurer, in
| which he thanked Bardsley for fayors re
| ceived. One cheek made out as the Others
was for 81 900. The stub OF il was still
| in the checkbook. On the stub were tbs
| letters al. l. McC., alleged to be Liysey,
| and McCamant.
| 1t was 1890 o'clock when the Senate de
| cided TO end the inquiry for the nj ght, and
| n series Of resolutions on the death Of Sen
| ator Mehard were read and the Senate adj
| journed until Wednesday morning at ID
o'clock
On Tuesday the Senate took rest, ex
| cepting those members who went u
| Senator Mehard's funeral al w Wampum.
| IL was reported that the Attorney Gen
eral would apply TO the Supreme Courr
| for an order for Bardsleys appearance be
| fore the Senate; and also that crimin al
charges would be preferred against Liysey
! so that he could be extradited from Cana
| ada, If found there. Auditor General Nc
Camant called npon The Attorney General
| for written opinion as 10 the payment Of
| the warrant authorized by the Senate 10