Evening journal., 1893-06-02
SIMMONS AS SUCCESSOR
The Ex-Sheriff Offered the
Place Wiley Now Holds.
WHY THE MAYOR DID NOT RESIGN

He Says 1t Would BE a Quasi-Ad-
mission of His GuiIt-AIthough Re-
publican He Opposed Sur plus and,
Willingly or Unwittingly, Took Heroic
Measures to Reduce II.
Mayor Wiley denies that there is any
collusion between him and his bondsmen,
and says that the failure of Robinson &
Co., was like a thunder clap out of
clear sky to him.
Yesterday afternoon an EVENING
JOURNAL reporter asked:
Mayor, did you ever tell the Supreme
Lodge officers that the bank was as safe
as the United States vaults OF any bank
in the conntry?'
Felt Safe, But Never Said So.
81 never made such remarks. / felt
that the bank was perfectly safe II Il
had not | would have been culpable then
| for keeping the money there. The loss
was like thunder-elap out of clear
sky to me"
Mr. Brayton says he wrote to you
suggesting the permanent investment
and asking for list?"
| THE letters will tell. / thought
those fellows got off little early"
"What was your idea in refusing to
resignG"
To Resign Would BE an Admission.
''To resign would be quasi admission
that had done something wrong. | am
not going to resign. l know what they
will do, and they have the power to do
it. | know the extremes to which they
will go. | have done nothing wrong, and
when man feels his conscience is clear
he can do what justice and prudence
would dictate"
you assert that Mr. Robinson did not
tell you last year that the fund was so
large that it should be permanently in.
vested and not entrusted to the care Of
any individual?'
HE never told me anything Of the
kind. l have always said, however,
that, while was not Democrat in pol
itics, was opposed to a surplus.
repeatedly stated that. deposited the
money, but it was lost, and through no
fault of mine.
'Do you deny the charge that there is
collusion between you and your bonds.
men7"
No Diclxer With HIS --Bsndsmen.
eyes, emphatically / have only seen
one of my bondsmen since this trouble
occurred. am being guided by the
advice of my counsel
''Did be advise you to turn over your
Dental Company stock to your bondsmen
instead Of to the Supreme Lodge2"
mo. did that before engaged
counsel. / would rather work my shirt
off my back than have any man pay
money for me. / never have allowed
man to do it and never want to. hsv,
done nothing wrong. 1t was nothing
but an error in judgment. l put thu
A money there and it Is gone That is al
there is about it. f"
offered to Ex-shsrig simmons.
Ex-Sheriff William Simmons viii
probably be Supreme Master of the Elk
chsquor Willey's successor as soon as
| the mayor is bowled out of the
/ office which he holds in deiianc,
OF the request of Supreme Chan
cellor Blackwell for his resignation
The may or knows that the supreme
council which meets in Chicago on Jun,
{ 10 will not temporize He will be ex
I PEELED from Office, whether he is presen
or absent.
p Sheriff Simmons served the summons
y on him yesterday and the mayor did moi
commit himself as to whether he woul,
go to Chicago.
I Supreme Chancellor w. w. Blackwell
has offered the office to sx-Sheril
Il William Simmens one of the leading
:, members of the order in this state an
j. Delaware's representative to the Suprem
= Lodge. The tender was accompanied b.
v the unanimous approval of the othe
v Supreme Lodge officials here.
l. Mr.. Simmons did not give a deinit
i answer He did not refuse, and it
\ more than likely that, as soon as Mayo
u Wiley is deposed, the Supreme Counc
: will elect Ethe ex-sherif as his.successoi
Y The salary is nominal, being only abou
s $780,
= No More Cash for Wiley.
!, Mr.. Simmons was seen at the Coul
u House this morRing.
Il suppose you won't need anythin
larger than 10-cent pocket book to hol
the Supreme Lodge fund for awhile no ".
suggested the reporter.
n "0h, yes. l suppose there is fro
$40 900 to $15, 900 on hand"
y 1T is not going into Mayor Wiley
Ia hands,"
N ooh, no; it is being held !"