The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-09-26
L. D. ROSS HEARING
Borrowing Habit Of City Off,
cials Brought Out.
MANY TAGS ,nTHe CASH DRAWER
Tbs New Treasures Secures Boaas saa
VIM Quality Tsdsy-Krsg on
bfs Way Home.

Justice CaidweIi's court room Vas well
hiiec yesterday afternoon during the pre-
hmInAry examination Of L. d. Ross. one
OF sae kid committee. on the charge of
aiaing and abetting in the misuse OF pnb-
nc innos The proceedings were stopped
~ 400 O'Clock. and the only suggestive
tning brought cut Was that the ex-trsss-
nfer sonstimes naid advance money on
salaries due csty officials. As direct sur
prise 70 those believing that he would
wave hearing and let the grand jury ex-
anime bis case, Ross appeared in court ac-
companied by his attorneys. Hart 4 Hart.
ana asked 70 have his bearing proceed.
Inc stats was represented by Assistant
Pnosecutins Attorney Mcbride. Special
counsel w. II. White and Corporation
Counsel Donworth.
Attorney John b. Hart took time by the
forelock and demanded that all witnesses
De sworn and excluded from the room.
Mr.. White objected to Mr.. Donworth being
excluded. and this brought Mr.. Harris pro-
iessionai wrath on his head.
Il should like TO know" he asked,
what authority Mr.. White has tor APP
pearing in this case ?''
Mr.. White smiled, pu. his hand in his
pocket and said: by request of the
prosecuting attorney"
Mr.. Hart then argued that Mr.. White
was not deputy, and that proceedings in
which he took part ~ . representative of
the state were Illegal. Furthermore it
was suggested that Mr.. White had been
employed 10 buIldoze the case through.
Justice Caldwell stopped the wrangie by
having the witnesses sworn and excluded
from the room. and then overruied the
objection to Mr.. Donworth's presence and
the assistance OF w. II. White.
Andrew Blackstone. deputy comptroller
of the city, was the first witness. and
through him it was learned that about
the time Ross Is charged with having re-
ceived 1880. August g. is92. s.. 80. Is. and
August q. $2.6s25o. were paid out but no
warrants were Endorsed by Mr.. Ross.
On cross-examination. Attorney J. B.
Hart elected the information that Krug
sometimes paid money to city officials in
advance of the time their salaries were due.
Mr.. Hart--How about Mayor Ronald7
Mr.. Blnkistone-krug advanced money
TO Mayor Ronald before his salary was due.
Then Mr.. Hart smiled, and his client
smiled. aud Attorney Lee Hart curled his
mustsche with q satisfied air.
How about Chief Jackson 2" asked Mr..
Hart.
The witness said the chief never drew his
salary in advance. and gave the same reply
to questions about COMPTROLLER Carson.
Then the state called Deputy Treasurer
]. ]. Knot, and on direct testimony he
corroborased what had been stated by Mr..
Blackstone.
Mr.. Hart then took the witness and
asked:
Ibid you know anything about Krug's
advancing money on salaries before they
were due" YES"
Howl al found slips in the money
drawer. do not remember the Names
Despite Mr.. Harris efforts he could not
learn the names Of those who had received
money In advance.
did you see Mayor Ronald's tag there ?''
81 cant say positively. but l think so,
once. I never saw Chief Jackson's or
| CORPORATION Counsel Donworth's."
Was there ever discrepancy in the
balancef" Never"
"who kept the bank books ?" "Krug.
and he signed the checks Adolph Krug.
/ city treasurer"
| Mr.. Mcbride took the witness again, and
| the examination continued about as fol-
| lows:
How about checks being paid outf'
There would be no record of checks paid
| out by krug. so far as am concerned"
Have you the stub books for check 7''
1.-THE finance committee has them"
Have you ever paid advance money on
| saiaries7" "only by direction of Mr..
Krug."
Paid TO whomi :" ITO Blackstone, the
deputy comptroller"
Cant You name anyone elsef" 81
mi hal a ~ cth ax
WAS any record kept of these trans
| actions ?" "None by me. The slips were
counted as cash. and kept by Krug."
At this point a messenger called Mr.. Nc
Bride from the room. and Mr.. White pro-
ceeded to round off the corners OF the
advance pay system by explaining with
| the help OF the witness that the amounts
on the different Slips were deducted from
the salaries, or supposed to be, when paid
When Mcbride came into the room
again he announced that Judge Humes
demanded his presence Immediately. Mr..
Hart objected TO q continuance and
wanted an evening session, but Justice
| Caldwell said he had something TO say
about that. Then Mr.. Hart said that he
had called for certain city records, the
contents Of which he was not familiar
with. He would not object TO the con-
tinuance If he could have the evening to
examine those papers. which he was sure
would prove Mr.. Ross innocence. Mr..
White replied that the papers in question
would probably convict Mr.. Ross. and he
did not want to have any missing links.
The papers should be locked up in the
city vault from 5 o'clock in the evening
until morning. The examination should
be made in the day and before proper
officials.
Mr.. Hart informed Mr.. White that he
did not care to take the documents into a
private closet Justice Caldwell evidently
thought the discussion should be ended
and asked Mr.. Mcbride If he could be in
court this afternoon. On receiving a reply
in the Affirmative. he had all the witnesses