St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-09-13
sANDELL IS SNUBBEDs
The Tailor Assemblyman Is Worst
ed and Ciark's Pension tl
Goes.
His Eligibility Fully Established
by the ex-Police
Chief

and, as result of that decision, Mayor
Wright will draw the warrants. Some
talk had been made by Assemblyman
Sandell that Clark had not arrived at
the age Of fifty years, and, consequently,
was not entitled TO the pension. The
evidence On which Sandell based his
allegations was found to be rather
vague, and the board decided by a
unanimous vote that the action of the
former pension board be confirmed.
The meeting was called for $50
O'Clock. and eleven of the dozen MEM
berS of the board were in attendance.
In reading over the minutes OF the last
meeting it was noticed the secretary,
Aid. Copeland, had tackled on few ad-
ditional words, which We're to the effect
that the city comptroller be notified as
to the pension granted Patrolman Henry
Calvin. The mayor wanted to know if
1t was necessary to notify the comp
troller of any action taken by the board.
AS he understood the law, if any one
was to be notified it Was the city treas
urer. NO reference was made in the
law to the city comptroller, and his
honor thought the treasurer had the
complete charge of the fund.
The pension law was read by Aid.
lngersoll, and as the mayor stated, no
reference was made to the comptroller
in it.
City Treasurer Miller said the comp
troller claimed any money paid into the
treasury could not be paid out except by
warrant countersigned by him. Mayor
Wright said the comptroller went even
farther than that in the case of pension
fund orders, and held that all CITY
IONElV muCf hQ naid univ ny a rnSCl,,
ton passed by tWO-third vote of each
branch of the council. Mr.. Pike wanted
that section of the law read, and after
listening to it Aid. ingersoli said the
position taken by the comptroller was,
he thought, sound.
The mayor said, if such was the case,
the pension board had better adjourn
sine die. The board, however, did not
take this view, and, after ordering that
part OF the minutes relating to the
comptroller being notified of pensions
granted stricken out. took UP regular
business. Affidavits from John Clark
to the effect that he was born May 10,
1912, at Croghan, Lewis county, n. Y.
and from his sister, Margaret Hanscom,
relating to the same point. were read.
The parish priest at Carthage wrote that
there were no records that could be
found of births prior to 1916 and ID.
WaShe, playmate of the eX chief, sent
letter saying he was born in 1882 and
it was matter frequently mentioned
by his parents that he was three years
older than Clark.
Mr.. 1ngersoll asked if there was any
thing to the contrary as to Ciark's age.
Mr.. Sandell said patrolman and ser
geant now on the force had both told
him Clark was only forty-Seven years
old. He didn't care to mention their
names unless they were to be called on
to give evidence. Mr.. Jensen thought
unless the men were summoned it would
be best not to give their names. The
other members decided to call the par
ties in. and Sandell said their names
were Ii. N. Clouse, deputy clerk in the
police court, and Sergeant Larson, of
the Margaret street station. ClouSe be-
ing sent for and sworn said he had
conversation with Clark about fifteen
years ago. During that conversation
Clark had admitted that he was but two
said he was born i'll November,
1915. He said ne could not he
mistaken as to the conversation.
with Clark. He had told Sandell about
the conversation with Clark two or three
months ago. In answer to questions
put by Clark, Clouse denied that he had
told Sandell not to put Clark Oh the pen
sion list because it would take deal of
money out Of the fund. Mayor Wright
asked if Clouse could not be mistaken
as to the conversation and whether 1t
might not have been two years instead
of two months. Ciouse said lie was pos
tive about the talk aud was sure Clark
had told him the difference in their ages
was only two months. Mr. Doran Said
his idea of it was that Clark might have
said as many men would and DO say that
they are certain age i'll badgering
way. Mr.. Miller said it was usually d
desire to make ones age less than 1t
really was. Mr.. Clark was sworn and
said he had no recollection of telling
Ciouse his age or talking about 1T to
him.
G. w. Hartmann, who had known
Clark in 1860 at Henderson. said he had
known Clark at that time. He didn't
know as to his exact age, but was GER
tain he was more than fifteen years old.
He always supposed Clark was about
his, the witness, own age, which Was
fifty-two years. Sergeant Larson said
he didn't knew anything about Clark's
age He had heard SONS talk about it
and looked over book called History
OF Ramsey County" The book, published
in 1882. said Clark was born in jefferson
county, New York, in 1915. Clark had
never said anything to him about his
age. Mr.. Sandeli said he had also seen
the book and it gave the dates as men-
toned by Larson: Mr.. Clark said he
had not authorized any statements pub
lished in the book mentioned and had
not paid the $40 which the agent who
published the work wanted for publish
ing sketch of his life. The fact that
the statements as to his place of birth
being incorrect would, he thought, show
that the balance of the biography was
equally faulty.
MIR. 1ngersoll thought a statement as
to persons age in a book would not
make it so, and, in view Of the affidavits
to the contrary, would suggest the
previous action of the pension board be
confirmed. Mr.. Doran was also in favor
of granting the pension, and the fol-
lowing resolution was adopted:
Whereas, This board has investigated the
claim of eX-Chief Clark to participation in
the police pension fund, and has mad pre-
scented TO it satisfactory evidence as tosthe
merits of said application, which said evil
dence was not of record in the secretary, S
office at the time the action on the appHca-
ton was taken al the meeting of June o.;
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the board confirms the &C
ton heretofore had in the allowance of q
pension to John Clark.
The secretary was Instructed to notify
the comptroller in writing, on motion
of MIR. Miller, that pensions had been
granted to Messrs. Clark. Kenaley and
Calvin. There was some discussion as
to whether this was necessary, but Mr..
Miller rather insisted, and the motion
prevailed, although Mr.. Pike wanted it
understood that this would establish no
precedent.
The claim of the widow Of John Cos
tello to be placed on the pension roll
was presented by Attorney Pinch, and
the matter laid over until the next regu-
lar meeting. The attorney was notified
to present at that time additional evil
dence as to the cause of Costello's death
and the date of his appointment and po-
SitiOn on the police force.