The morning call., 1894-01-21
WOULD NOT REPLY
McCrosson Defies the
Grand Jury.
Trouble From the Refusal of the
Superintendent of Streets to Ap-
prove His Claim.

Some of the proceedings at the Friday
afternoon session of the Grand Jury re-
suited in a complaint being lodged against
j. F. McCrosSon, the well-known con-
tractor, charging him with contempt of
court.
The trouble has arisen from the refusal
of Mr.. McCrosson to answer certain ques-
tions put to him, and the facts and circunl-
stances leading up to the charges are as
follows: On the 30th of last October the
Board of Supervisors awarded contract
to McCrosson for the repairing and keeping
in good order of the bituminous pave
ments of the city. The contract was to
last twenty months, and McCrosson was
TO be paid $3.50 for the whole job, receiv-
ing S497 80, or one-twentieth of the whole
sum. at the end OF each month, provided
always that the work done met with the
approval of the Superintendent of Streets.
The end of November came and Nc
Crosson put in his claim for S497 so, as
per contract. but Superintendent of Streets
Ackerson refused to approve the claim on
the ground that only S160 worth of work
had been done during the month. Nc
CToSson protested that he had adhered to
his part OF the contract, namely, that the
street pavementS should be preserved In
good condition, and that he was entitled
TO his money. Ackerson persisted in his
refusal. however. and McCrosson appealed
to the Street Committee of the Board Of
Supervisors. He was told that his claim
would have to be audited, but On his APP
plicatiOn Auditor Broderck refused to
audit the claim on the ground that 1t had
been rejected by the Superintendent OF
Streets.
Back to the Supervisors went McCros-
son with his grievances and the matter
was then referred to District Attorney
Barnes for his opinion. Barnes filed a
written opinion with the Board of Super
vlsorS, in which he stated that in his judg-
ment the money ought to be paid. The
to reject the claim. as the Board OF
Supervisors was the supreme legislative
body OF the city. The contract was made
between the Supervisors on the one part
and McCrosson on the other, and there
was no legitimate excuse why the money
should not be paid. provided always that
McCrossOn had faithfully performed his
duties according to the terms of the con-
tract.
The question of the payment of the
money remains in allegiance, but day or
two ago there came report to the ears OF the
Grand Jury that McCrosson in conversa-
ton with Mayor Ellert had made some re-
m arkably peculiar statements. One was
that George Ackerson, brother and deputy
or the Superintendent of Streets, had ap-
pludCu6U uIu VIII OAcI W dppTUfo all
his claims for a remuneration Of 500
month.
The Grand Jury Immediately deter
mined on an investigation, and both par
Ties were summoned to appear on Friday
last. They came, and McCrosson was
asked the following questions:
Question-Did you state to Mayor Ebert,
in the Mayors Office In the new City Hall,
in this city and county. within the past
few DAYS, that If you paid George Acker-
son, Deputy Superintendent of Public
Streets. Highways and Public Squares,
S100 per month that the amount due you
under your contract for repairing bitumin-
Gus pavements would be paid and the
other bliss coming due would be paid? An
swer-Yes, / had such a conversation with
the Mayor, and it was substantially cor
rect.
Q.-Rave you ever been approached by
any party who demanded or requested
that you should pay to him or any other
person any sum of money for the purpose
of having your claims allowed. Al
have.
Q.-Recently? A.-Within the last six
weeks.
Q.-Who was the person who thus ap-
preached you? Al refuse to answer
Q.-Do you think that George Ackerson,
the brother of the superintendent of
Streets. who is deputy in his office.
wants any pay from you to have your de-
mands under your contract allowed?
Al refuse to answer.
Q.-Do you refuse to answer these Ques-
tons because you do not desire to Grim
mate yourself? A.-No; / am not afraid
OF discriminating myself.
Seeing that it was useless to question
McCrosson further the Grand Jury let
him 60, and the further Investigation
of the matter was postponed. But when
business was over for the day Thomas j.
Welsh, foreman of the Grand Jury, pre-
pared an affidavit setting for the facts as
recorded above, which document he filed
Yesterday morning with Presiding Judge
Hebbard. accompanied by an application
to have McCroSson cited for contempt of
court. Judge Hebhard Immediately is
sued an order summonng McCrossOn to
appear before him on Friday next, the 10Th
inst, on an order to show cause why he
should not be punished for contempt.
Perhaps this may have the effect of making
McCrosson change his mind. and the
whole truth Of the matter will then be
made known.
McCrossnn's story is Indignantly denied
at the Office of the Superin tendent of
Streets, where it is alleged that spite was
the cause of his action, by reason of the
refusal of Ackerson TO approve his claim,
A Nevada Find.
Carson Appeal.