The evening world., 1894-03-13
COMMITTEE IS AFTER THEM.
Friends in a Panic and Trying to
Raise Money to Balance the
Boss's Accounts.
OTHER GRAvESEND FRAUDS.
Charged that Fines OF $40 We're
Imposed and that Only SIS Fines
Appear on the Records.

Considerable excitement was caused
among Gravesenders in Brooklyn to-day
over the statement made by John H.
O'Rourke and James McKane that they
had placed the books in which John Y.
McKane kept the accounts of the town
in the lands of an expert accountant for
the purpose of clearing the Chief of the
charges that be was short in his ac-
counts.
The cause OF all the excitement was
the effect the report had had upon the
Citizens Committee which had been ex-
aiming McKane's accounts. When the
Committee started on their investigation
they were greatly hampered In the work
by finding that nearly all the books
were missing.
McKane's friends say that as the ex-
Chief had little knowledge of business
methods he had failed to keep proper
accounts, and had only a few books in
his possession when he started to Sing
Sing to serve out the six years SEN
tence.
Despite this fact. the Committee went
to work with n will n learned that
McKane was short in his accounts nearly
s2O0.0 900, which amount, as told in THE
Evening World" yesterday. was brought
down to S9O,0 900.
All the time the Committee were maxi
Ing every effort to obtain more data they
suspected that McKane's friends were
holding back the books, but they had no
positive proof that other books were in
existence until Mr.. O'Rourke and NC
Kane's brother made the statement that
the books would be examined in their
office on Court street by an expert.
When Lawyer George +. Elliott heard
1 Of O'Rourke's and Mckane's. statements
he at once sent for the Citizens Com
to be taken to gain possession of the
coveted books n records.
The conference will be held, In Mr..
Elliott's Office. &c Court street, ate this
: Mr.. o'Rourke and Mechanics brother
made the statement In their anxiety TO
Gear the ex-supervisSr. They had saId
taken to task for. letting the cat out
Sf the be-; I. is known now a that Dt the
O'Rourke's safe in his office, 40 Court
street. Brooklyn. r,. All,
morning, land I have no reason to doubt
It, we will take immediate steps to pro-
cure these books.
playing the part of detectives searching
Tor fraud. My clients would be only too
& glad to find that the accounts OF John Y.
s Mfikans are Il p all 5isht ;h en otS as vet saS an a tns
I have some new facts in my possession
which are Of a 1tartling nature-faet
which I cannot make public but which
IT will further say that while It may
be true the public accounts OF Graves
end may be straight and legitimate, the
W. would certainly seem to indicate
either great negligence or ignorance on
the part Of the man who Kept the" OF
When asked II he knew what books Mr.
O'Rourke had in his possession. II he had
any, Mr.. Elliott could not say.
Committee could not find the books OF
the town, kept by McKane. which were
produced in evidence during his trial -,
nrsf ha that TIN time, rvs sais tinn. a ana While
he was on the witness stand. ha6
the books there and made what notes
could. Nobody noticed what ! was hse aonh x
see, that their investigation might brinS
10 light. some queer facts, although. as
said before, 1t Is not the intention OF my
clients to prosecute Mckane.
I'VE propose to sift matters to the bot
tom. and hen the proper time comes
VIII make public the facts IN my pos
Committee and myself"
Mr.. Elliott refused to give out any In
btSrmaton on the next move to be mad,
N"c Nuiitiiittcts VI WA WYNN. ~
done to procure the books whicl
oRourke is said to have In his safe.
Mr.. O'Rourke vas In brooklyn TIL
morning. Inquiry as to his whereabout
Drought out little Information.
Il don't believe O'Rourke said h
would place the books in the hands Q
Hekane's counsel, this morning. "Se
yhourke and 1 guess he will tell you h
brother"
Is. Stryker Williamson. who is Nc
Mshe.s closest friend, said: II know
Bee O'Rourke."
Notwithstanding the denial of Roder
the statement and II IL known now tina
Il X uia not know at the time why Nc
mitteas BOOKS were kept from the Com
~ n'tlee. Neither did McKane's brother
snsy were not on the inside.
incident took place In Brooklyn thi
tos"ssasds .. sanlA Fso&