Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-02-12

the collection of fees from the county and
the alleged appropriation of the money to
his own use.
The testimony of the Commonwealth's
chief witness, Mayors Clerk Henry Hun
neshagen, was to the effect that the money
collected from the county was paid to ar
resting officers in the cases upon which the
collections were made. 1t was the general
talk among the attorneys that the evidence
had more weight against Chief Murphy,
Mayor Wyman and Chief Kirschler than
against Mr. Pearson.
; Nj. Pearson is represented by attorneys
John Robb, Thomas Marshall and J. Scott
Ferguson. while the prosecution is con-
Quoted by City Attorney Elphistone, Jos. A.
Iangfitt and u. f. Patterson. The jury was
composed of Harry J. Donnell, farmer, Fawn
township; Jacob Nuts, farmer, Twenty-sec-
pnd ward, Pittsburg; Anthony Breen, gen
tleman, Fourth ward, Pittsburg, I. H. wat
son, gentleman. Mckeesport Henry Dit
laborer wilkins township; j. H. Nieman,
baker, Eighth ward, Pittsburg; Thomas
Loughrey, clerk, Fourteenth ware, Pitts
burg; VIM. Campbell. farmer, Harrison
township; John f. McKeoun, caulker. Eliz-
GbeTh; George knott, merchant, Twenty-htth
ward, Pittsburg, and John Meyers, farmer,
Indiana township.
Charged With Embezzling.
Attorney Patterson opened the case for
the prosecution. He read the act OF AS
sembly covering the taking of money from
q corporation, and claimed that the defend
ant had on April i, 1891, while Mayor, re-
ceived S794 and converted it to his own use.
The charge is that the Mayor did not turn
over to the City Treasurer all fees which
were received from commitments OF prison
ers to the different places for their lncarcer-
Stion in the county. The prosecution then
offered in evidence number OF ordinances,
acts, etc, outlining the duties and powers
of the Mayor OF Allegheny.
Clerk White of Allegheny Councils, was
the first witness called. He produced the
salary ordinance approved by Mayor rear,
son in his term, which is now being used
against him.
Mr. McBrier, Clerk Of the County Control
iler's office, identified y number OF recelpts
and warrants issued by him TO officers from
the Mayors office in Allegheny.
The defense objected because not one of
the warrants bore Il. L. Pearson's signature
or showed that he had received the money.
The objection WAS overruled.
Controller Brown was the first witness
after the noon recess. He testified that
Mayor Pearson made returns or reports to
him of moneys collected every 30 days. He
produced the origins of the reports which
mitted that the County Treasurer had paid
the money on the warrants, but would not
admit that any part of it had passed into or
through Mavor Pearson's hands.
Mayors Clerk Hunneshagen, who has been
getting considerable notoriety in connec-
mon with the trial, occupied the stand the
most of the afternoon. The prosecution
relied on his testimony chiefly to establish
their case but it was conceded by many
that he proved as valuable to the defense in
this case.
Where the Money Went.
He testified as to the general practice of
collecting Jail and workhouse receipts. The
witness indorsed commitments and the
front office people-generally ]. R. Murphy,
William Eichenlaub, Samuel Mcclure or
John Glenn, the detectives-got the money
from the County Treasurer
Mr.. Elphinstone-Wasn't t this all done with
the full knowledge of the Mayor?
Objected to ana sustained.
The witness was shown a long list of re-
turns for Jail commitments and the warrants
on the County Treasurer in 1avor of Mayor
Pearson, running from June !, 1855, until the
end of the Mayors term. They showed
the amount collected from the county
each month during that period. Mr..
Hunneshagen testified as to the dis
was paid 70 the officers 10 whom it
belonged as fees anG tnau in no case did any
OF it pass into the hands of the Mayor.
Mr.. Patterson-Did the Mayor know the
officers were getting warrants cashed in his
uame3
Mr.. Hunneshagen-I do not know.
You only collected on Jail commitments"
'That's all"
"And had nothing to do with the work
house collections"
NO, sir. The warrants for the workhouse
were for the front office men,"
Judge Porter-Were the proceeds OF no
workhouse commitments turned into the
City Treasurers office?
Hr. Patterson-who regulated that prac-
tice?
"It was long established custom"
You had a workhouse fund, hadn't your"
Yes, sir.'
The Fees Were Placed in |. Pool.
"That was pool among the front Office
men, was it?'
"WelL they got it,"
Did you get divvy?"
''No sir
''Did the Mayor"
''Not that know Of
Judge Porter-You were in charge Of the
financial affairs OF the office?
Witness-les, sir
Who put you in charger"
''The Mayor"
WHO informed you of the practice in re-
lat1On to the collection of money!"
My predecessor, Mr. Scandrett."
Did You have talk with Mayor Pearson
about iI:' :
Not particularly"
That was the custom in vogue when you |
took charger" |
''0eS, sir"
who gave you authority to sign the |
mayors name on the warrants?"
NO one; the collections had always been |
made that way
Have all our county treasurers been cash.
ing warrants Tor the Mayors OF Allegheny |
upon other peoples indorsements?'
4 guess they have?''
EX-Chlef of Police hirschler testified to |
having gotten a warrant for S33 cashed on |
june .: ISIS, by indorsing it "R. T, Pearson,
per :. hirchler." He explained that his |
predecessors had informed him that this |
money belonged to the front office men Tor |
expenses
William Elchenlaub testified as to the Gus |
tom among the front Office men and their |
manner OF collecting the fees. There was