The evening world., 1894-03-15
TOWN MONEY THEIRS.
That Seems to Have Been the
Idea Of MoKane ct AL.
Sutherland and Newton Simply
Grabbed All Fines.
Middle After MIDDLE in the Graves
end Accounts.

The Citizens Committee investigating
the irregularities in the accounts of John
Y. McKane to-day furnished Lawyer
George f.. Elliott with more data for
the court proceedings which he proposes
to take.
Within the last t~wenty-four hours the
Committee has brought to light the
most fragrant cases of fraud, and there
Is no longer n doubt that McKane de-
frauded the town out of several hundred
thousand dollars.
So conclusive is the evidence brought
out by the Committee that the most
Intimate friends OF McKane are giving
up the task of attempting to prove his
innocence. They have turned all their
attention to hindering the work OF the
Committee.
Lawyer Elliott says their c%ndeavors
to shield Mckan are useless, as the
evidence furnished SO far by the Com
mittee is beyond question. 1t not only
proves Mckane's guilt, but shows that,
under his protection. other officials have
been robbing the taxpayers of the town
Tor years. The only question with the
Committee now Is to determine the ex-
act amount stolen.
Contractor O'Rourke and James Nc
Kane now deny that they have had an
expert at work on Mckane's books. The
trouble Is, 1t was learned from another
source to-day, that they have examined
Mechanics accounts. and are unable any
longer to shield him.
The contractors who have done work
In Gravesend are now up in arms
a rutrGf NInIyaNA TLa,,
the Committee with many new facts,
and threaten the ex-Supervisor with in
Vulnerable suits.
According to their statements, Nc
Kane not only robbed the town and its
tractors out of the money due them.
IN the matter Of the scandal attend
ing the erection OF the electric lighting
plant: the Committee has learned that
the 800 900 drawn from the appropriation
by McKane on Nov. 3 was to pay Pierce
& Miller, OF AZ Cortlandt street, New
York, for the boilers, which they fur
The firm never received the money,
and II. is believed now McKane appro-
priated the money for the purpose Of
paying hoaters who swelled the vote Of
Altogether the Committee has learned
mat ~ drew $4,000 from the cleo
'eN puk iii thCy
claim now was never paid.
II all Mechanics victims bring suit to
recover the amounts due them and judg-
or nothing left of his property at
Gravesend and Coney Island.
The money which McKane's friends are
is intended to pay these Contractors and
prevent the suits being brought. Nc
Kane's friends are trying to raise $50
900 for this purpose but so far, II Is said,
fnav hava haan IJnahln fn r.pnfinfn n
One of the most recent disclosures is
that since Aug. l, 1891, until Dec. 80 last
only 500 has been returned by the JUS
tees of Gravesend for fines collected
during that time. This amount came
been regarded as on the outer fringe
of the McKane ring. In more than two
years Justices Newton n Sutherland
did not turn over to the County Treasur-
err a penny for fines collected.
Justice Gladding is under indictment
with other members Of the Town Board
for emitting to redistrict the town. He
a nrSfr Newton ps1u for M Nc zane Si succ sa.nri' and
during the reign of the chief only a
small portion of the patronage of the
island was given to him.
The fees in the two years In question
amounted to $40, S49.4 40 for Sutherland and
$li.360.05 for Newton. They are paid at
the rate Of 80 cents for each prisoner SEN
ltlItt'l. II sttllo luSIthIplt W tHt NDIIl-
mittee that all of the prisoners repre-
scented by the fees of these two justices
were sent to the p~enitentiary in default
of their fines. The majority of the pris-
oners in Newton and Sutherland's baili-
wick were arraigned for intoxication or
disorderly conduct. The penalty in such
cases Is a fine.
HI books of the County Treasurer
would show that all the prisoners ar
raigned were sent to prison.
The Committee has discovered one spe-
IA ~ a n Nnhnt. N rtonrn go a--l
SIS by Newton.
The discovery Of the Committee has
brought about n state of affairs which
may result In serious complications.
Newton ind Sutherland propose to ask
that the money be refunded on the
ground that the higher courts reversed
the decision of the Justices OF the Peace.
Mr., Adams said to-day that he did not
see how he could remit the fines II re-
quested, when for two years he had not
"ecelved a penny from Newton or Suth-
erland.
Fire In an Unfinished House.