The morning call., 1893-05-04
MAHONEY'S PLEA.
He Desires His Character
RehabiIitated.
SUPERVISORS WHO DISAGREE.
The Removed Police Clerk Claims His
Case Was Decided Too Hastily by
the Finance Committee.


committee of the whole. held very ex-
citing meeting yesterday afternoon.
The subject to be discussed was the appli-
cation OF James Mahoney. late clerk OF
Police Court 2. for a reepening of his case.
Mahoney was recently removed by the
board for carelessness and negligence in
office as being responsible for the loss of
the papers in the Antoine case, which re-
suited in that prisoners release.
The Finance Committee investigated the
case aud found that Mahoney was the
party 10 blame, although the papers were
subsequently found in pigeonhola in the
criminal records department of the County
Clerks Office. How they were lost and how
they got to the clerks office nobody seemed
to know.
The Finance Committee, of which Dem
man is chairman. fixed the blame on Ma
honey. and the board forth with ordered the
official guillntine to descend on the Police
Court clerks head, and it fell into the
basket
At the meeting of the board yesterday
there appeared to be considerable friction
between the Finance Committee and the
other members of the board.
Denman and Kennedy of the Finance CON-
mittee hOtly maintained the correctness OF
their conclusions and report, while some OF
that Mahoney was not the guilty party and
that the committee had acted hastily.
When the proceedings opened there were
present SUPERVISORS Denman, Day. Dundon,
Kennedy, Rogers, Mont gomery, Refs, Ryan
and Hinton. Supervisors Goodwin, Fore
man and James were absent
Supervisor Denman presided, and asked
Clerk Mahoney what he had 10 say why his
case should be reOpened. Mahoney re-
queSted leave TO be represented by counsel.
hair tod I
T. Dunno addressed the board with an elO-
quent plea for Mahoney, who lie said did
not wish his place again, but simply wanted
his character cleared of the imputations cast
upon it by his removal.
Attorney Dunno said that Mahoney had
never been in politics; that be had always
been an accountant in a large wholesale
house, and had always held the confidence
of his employers; that lie had taken the
Police Court clerkship because the salary
was greater, and he intended To get married.
He said there were two chapters TO the
Antoine case. the Police Court side and the
County Clerks side.
Counsel stated shated that he would prove
that the negligence for the loss of
the papers rested entirely with Deputy
Hawks of the County Clerks office.
The first witness introduced WAS John
Martin, the police officer assigned by Chief
Crowley to duty in Police Court2. He pro-
duced the record kept by him in order to
show that Mahoney received the papers
from him after April g. Mr.. Martin said
that the expert OF the Grand Jury had told
him that the books OF MahOney were the
te.t kept of any in all the departments Of
the government.
Attorney Dunno wanted to place ex-
Deputy Jones on the stand to prove that
Hawks was an incompetent clerk. Chair
man Denman objected to anybody attack
ing Hawks while lie was not present.
Dunno stated that Hawks had re-
signed, but" he said, 1--WE are all too
familiar with politics not 10 know what
such designations mean"
Chairman Denman-We investigated that
matter thoroughly. We will allow no at
lacks TO be made on Hawks while ne is not
present. You must coutiue yourself to the
defense Of your client.
Attorney Dunno said he would prove the
negligence was not due to Mahorcy, and
offered the records kept by Hawks IN the
County Clerks Office.
"These records of Hawks" said Dunno,
'brlstle all over with inaccuracies which
show his llllteracy and incom petence. For
alias he uses the word 'arius' and robbery
he spells 'rubery.'"
THAT is a phonetic way of spelling" said
Kennedy, "and does not prove his dishon-
esty."
ut is not even phonetic" said Dune.
Il will show you his negligence. further,
where he convicts himself with his own act"
number of inaccuracies, mistakes and omis-
siOns made nv Hawks.
One of them was where Hawks had in
the sequence of his entries left out entry
900, his record reading 2249. 225l.
IF these papers had been missing" sad
counsel, "it was his duty to notify his supe-
riors and not mutilate his record by the
omission of an entry"
II think that is point against your own
client" said Chairman Denman. at shows
that he did not get the papers"
No 1t dom" was the answer. 1T shows
Hawks to have been careless, and to have
failed in his duty to notify his superior
officer about serious matter"
Supervisor Day agreed with Attorney
Dunno and advocated MahOney's case, say
ing it was clear TO him that the mistakes
Law with Hawks.
Supervisor Ryan appeared to be Of the
same state Of mind.
Dundon-lt appears to me-
DAY. would wish to state
Chairman Denman-You have had your
day. Give Dundon show.
And everybody laughed at the chairman's
joke.
Ryan-It looks to me as If it were easier
for Hawks to do away with the papers than
MahOney.
Supervisor Dundon said that the investi-
CATION had now reached a serious climax.
where the eXoneration of Mahoney meant a
rebuke to The hastiness of the Finance COM
mittee. He deeply regretted that the first
examination had not been held In committee
of the whole, and believe that if 1t had
been the result would have been different.
Chairman Denman said il the Finance
Committee had been hasty or made mis-
take he would be the first to acknowledge
it without compunctlon. but he would like
the remainder Of the board, who were not
on the committee, TO hear the evidence on
the other side before they came to any con-
clusion.
lournment was had TO Monday morning
next at 10 O'Clock. when witnesses Will be
examined from the County Clerks office.
The PistoIesi-Erey Case.