New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-11-01
PRICE THREE CENTS.
READY TO INDICT SHEEHAN.
HE MAY BE SENT TO PRISON.
HIS DANGEROUS REFUSAL TO GIVE UP
HIS PRIVATE BANK BOOKS.

THE COMMISSIONER GOES WILD AND REPEAT
EDLY CALLS MIR. GoFF LIAR-EXCITEMENr
IN THE COURTROOM sHEEHANs BAD
RECORD IN BUFFALO LAID BARE-HIs
ACKNOWLEDGED SHORTAGE IN HIS
ACCOUNTS AS CONTROLLER
,fJ OTHY J. MAHONEY HIS Sue
Z CEssOR. AN rNwrII.-
ING WITNESS
The Indictment Of Police Commissioner John
c. Sheehan for contempt I'm refusing to permit
an examination Of his bank books by the Lexow
Committee, may be expected. His refusal was
made plain and explicit before the committee
at yesterdays session, and John w. Goff. of the
committees counsel. was directed to have the
attention of the Grand Jury called to the tes-
timony. Commissioner Sheehan declared that
he was acting by advice Of counsel In openly
defyng the committee. When it intmated
by Mr. Goff that Sc 900 had been paid by man
who had been appointed a sergeant Of police
upon Commissioner Sheehan's motion, the Com.
missioner offered to let Mr.. Goff look at the
entries in cne bank book about the date of the
sergeant's appon ntment but he refused TO per-
nit Mr.. Goff To make any general eXamlna-
ton Of that or other bank books which he had
with him. Even when he told that his
refusal would place him in position where he
would be accused of trying to conceal proofs
Of bribery, and that he accused Of cor
rupton, he refused to allow an examination OF
the books He smiled when the order was given
to have his called 10 the attention Of the
Grand Jury. His brother, the Lieutenant-Gov-
ernOr Of the State. who present, also smiled.
In the face of his refusal to permit exami-
~ orh han hoolr o1rf1i= Shaa-
han declared that he an honest man. and
had nothing to conceal He denied that the dis
cOveries which had been made in the bank
books Of John McClave had caused his own
refusal to permit an examination. He held
his ground defantly when he was accused Of
trying to sell Sugar Trust secrets TO business
men in the city.
Later Commissioner Skeehan questioned
about the charg. that he had been defauter as
Controller Of Buffalo. ie made an attempt to
deny the charge and to explain how the money
Of a trust fund had been m.>si with money of
coupon fund and ne doclarei that he had not APP
propriated several thousand dollars as the &C.
counts in the possession II Mr.. Gon appeared
t. SHOW. Mr. Gon placed in evidence a receipt
for $500 which Mr.. Sneehan had paid to his
successor in the office Of Controller TO be applied
in paymen. Of any deficit that may nave been
found IN his accounts Oh a proper examna ton"
That was followed by statement in writing.
signed by Mr.. Sheehan, authorizing the use OK
the money Tor lNe purpose OF !idhiilS Soou t"o
shortage which had been discovered in his ac-
counts.
Then the committee heard the testimony OF
Timothy J. Mahoney. Of Buffalo. who succeeded
Mr. Sheehan as Controller OF that city The
witness had been brought to this city un-
willingly, but he said that when the office or
Controller turned over TO him he had not
received a trl.s. fund amounting 70 over 81 coo.
He had refused 70 give certain receipts upon the
promises Of Mr.. Sheehan to make good the short-
age. Mr.. Sheehan had continued 10 make prom
ises but had failed TO pay for nearly two years.
and the witness had been made sick by worrying
over the trouble. At length he had refused
denominations and had made the trouble known
10 the public. Then Mr.. Sheehan had paid the
s. 500 10 make the shortage good. There had
been shortages in more than one account. the
Of the testimony that Leutenant-Governor
sheehan had been fully aware Of the trouble in
the Controllers office.
Commissioner Shcehan called back 10 the
witness chair and asked II he would still retuse
10 allow an examination Of his bank books. and
he said he would still refuse. Mr.. Gon declared
that the testimony had shown Mr.. Sheehan 70
have been thief. and the Commissioner called
Mr. Gon liar.
The committee yesterday also heard the test!-
mony of James W Boyle. the Tammany leader
in the IXth Assembly District. who denied that
he had known Of order sent TO the district
captains over his name a year ago. ealing Tor
list Of the people that are under police pro-
lection that are Indifferent The order ap-
peared T. indicate that people under police pro-
lection were expected to aid Tammany Hall at
the election.
Testimony before the committee will be contin-
,ror details in the days proceedings page ~