Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-11-10

Charges Against N. ksanon Al
Explained Away.
aEPaImAsOIO THE AccustR
Ex-aidermaa L NJ Turner Explained
tho Traa>@estoas Alleged 20 Have
neen Crooked

ms tt44ttt29 9||HHtka 70 t4fc9B-
gate the charges If ersbszzismsnt made
~ Aldsrnaa Schmit against IL. Ken
bon. foreman 81 the psrk lsboFers. CON-
pleted Ia labor Hast evening and viii
hare 90 bring In report eomplsteiy sx-
onersiing Mr. kennon. So complete
and satisfactory Was his sindieaticn that
Alderman Forbes sense Ct justice vas
touched and he called Atisrnaa S.:hmit
dovn very hard for making such serious
charges against q man without thor
oughly investigating the matter first
NJ. Schmit charged that Mr. kennon
In 1880 drew si2 on account Of labor
performed by = man named Best. who
had already received HE pay. and. ind
ing that Mr.. Beat hal received his
pay. put the ti2 In his own
pocket /. NJ Turner was the
only witness sworn last night lie Vas
chairman on the committee on parks at
the time OF the alleged crooked trsnsac-
ton. He said he had very distinct
recollection OF the matter Mr.. kennon
reported az once 10 him that Mr.. Best
had received his pay and asked what
he should do with the money he had
drawn. MIR. Turner said he took the
money from Mr.. kennon and expended il
for the purchase OF animals for the park.
he said Mr. Schmit could have had the
matter explained fully without the pub
lie knowing IL II he had come 10 him be-
fore he publicly accused Mr. Kennon OF
embezzlement. Mr.. Turner further
stated that Mr.. Kennon had received
email amount Of money from tho sale Of
grass from the low lands 10 the parks.
That money was not turned into the
treasury. but Was expended for things
in the parks lie had never known Of
Mr.. kennon taking anything that did
not belong TO him. He considered him
as perfectly honest man.
said He Was Good Man
Mr. Forbes asked Mr.. Turner what he
could say Of DIR. kennou's ability as a
foreman in the parks Mr.. Schmit OBJ
iectesi He said he did not zee what
that had 10 do with the case. They
were not there to investigate Mr.. Ken
mons ability. They were there TO see IL
he was honest. Mr.. Forbes insisted on
his question. and Mr.. Turner said: 1--WE
took those parks in a rough. wild state.
There was great deal 10 dc, in them.
Mr. kennon was hired ss foreman. As
such became satisfied that he was the
best man in the city for the place. He
never claimed 20 be "A landscape gardner,
but was good faithful man. His work
was done under the Instructions OF the
committee"
Mr.. Forbes turned to DIR. Schmit and
asked him what in heavens name his
object was in asking for a committee TO
investigate such charges He said it
was a mighty serious charge to bring
against a man without more grounds
than he had shown. MIR. Schmit made
an inaudible remark about the books
not showing what was done with the
money. and that he considered it his
duty. The committee then broke up
with an understanding that report.
placing Mr.. Kennon right before the
people, shall be made
Other Committees REPORT
The committee on ordinances had I'M
der consideration the ordinance submit
ted by the new Telephone company. but
as no deposit has been made with the
city clerk the committee will probably
not report next Monday.
The committee on poor had but two
matters to consider. One was the claim
OF Anna Reus, who wants damages for
injuries received on an alleged defective
sidewalk. The other was the applica-
ton OF Hans Nelson, to be transported
TO his friends In Sweden. Both OF these
matters will be referred TO the charity
society for an investigation. the results
Of which will be reported to the poor
committee for further action.
The committee on lights had under
consideration a bill Of S5.645 from the
electric light company for the erection
% the tower which takes the place Of
the one which fell two weeks ago. at the
corner Of Hall and lonia streets. and
which. 1t is claimed. was torn down by
the careless work OF city linemen. The
committee will fully investigate before
s..ofxfp.r a ~or.crf