The herald., 1894-11-01

grand jury. The commissioner smiled
as he stepped down from the stand.
"You ara chairman OF the com mittee
on supplies? ?" questioned Mr.. Gof after
recess.
"Yes."
"Do you know the officers OF the
Buffalo sesl House company. which
has erected the election boothsT' !.
mo; Commissioner Murray had
charge Of selecting what booths were
msde."
"The company performed the work In
violation Of the law relating to the en-.
ployment OF labor ON public works."
said Mr.. Gof.
1--WE received notification from labor
unions"
"And that is all you did7"
''It was not in our province. The
booths were completed when the notice
reached Us"
"What about the condition Of the
department?
"Excellent.
Mr. Goff then went into the reported
visit OF Com missioner Sheshan to Wall
street to sell advance information "a to
the decision of the court Of appeals in
the sugar trust matter. The witness
denied he wAs = "huckster OF decisions. !"
~ charged by local pApsr. He denied
that he had visited III. 0. Havemsyer
and others in Wall street for the pur-
pose OF selling them advance iniorma-
tion. Ths men who said he had done
30 were mistaken.
ibid they lie ?"
II don't say that. / denied the whole
story when it first cams out."
"You would rot appoint Q man who
had committed q crims?"
"No."
"You are dsfauiter, though 10 ex-
claimsd MIR. Goff.
II am not" tho witness said quietly.
II can explain what you are driving At"
Lawyer Grant arose and asked that
the line Of inquiry be excluded, a. it was
not pertinent to the issue.
Senator O'Oonnor, who was presiding
in Chairman Lexow's absence. said:
"The witness will be allowed to ex-
plain everything at the proper time.
He should be glad of an opportunity to
clear himself OF the charge. If he IL q
defaulter 1t should be shown."
Mr.. Gof produced papers and docu-
mants bearing tho witness signature
for the purpose Of proving that Com
missioner Sheehsn had missppropriated
$4,000 while comptroller OF the city Of
Buffalo. The commissioners told him he
had requested the mayor to have his &C.
counts examined, and when q shortage
was discovered he refunded the amount,
$4l0O. He claimed that hie coupon and
trustee accounts became mixed.
Mr.. Gcff asked: Ibid you turn over
to your successor the accounts OF the
trust fund; the whole OF them?"
| The u,tkunr. ltI
did you turn over $S8.3lS. the
amount OF the coupon and trust Rc-
counts?'
Il turned over the amount on the
'pApsr you have in your hand"
do you claim" asked Mr.. O'Conuor,
that the balance of tho trust account
was withheld with the coupon account ?"
II do"
"Now, sir, is II not 'nt that you
misappropriated that s56yv ~
ut Is not true, SIR"
Mr.. Goff read the following document,
dated November 8. 1898:
Received from John O. Sheehan the
sum OF 5000 in payment of any deficit
that may DO in mis- accounts on Q proper
examination.
(Signed) T.J. MAHoNry.
SCHUYLER EaAN.
Mr.. Gcff read another letter dated
December 8, 1888. 1t was addressed to
T. j. Mahonsy and read:
Dear Sir:-You are hereby authorized
and requested to uee or pay ont the
money paid by me for the purpose ol
making good the shortage which was in
my accounts at the time l turned over
the comptroller's Office to you.
(Signed) JOHN @. SHrEHAN.
| Commissioner Sheehsn stepped down
10 give way to Timothy j. Mshoney, ex-
comptroller Of Buffalo. Mr.. Mahoney
identified the coupon receipts and the
trust fund receipts.
who gave you these rsceipts?" Mr..
Goff asked.
"Mr. Sheshan's brother William"
II told Will," said he, that would
not sign receipt for money whichd had
not received, and asked him to telf John
to come and SEQ me. He came in later,
and told him to pay up 81 soon as pos.
sible."
Ibid he say the coupon account was
mixed up with the trust accounts?"
mo"
"What did no say?
THAT he would pay up az soon as pos
sible."
Whot Guo ofapoou UslOKo tu0 ot0ry
OF the defaloation became public?"
"About two years. was worried to
death about it."
Witness testified that he subsea emily
got the money from Mr.. Egan or from
Mr.. Sheehan's bondsmen. 1t amounted
to 5000.
"How did IL happen that You got the
subsequent letter OF December s, 1888 ?"
1.-THE $4,000 was deposited in q special
account and l wanted tho authority Of
Mr.. Sheehan to place it in the general
fund"
Ibid you know how the deficiency oc.
cured 2" asked Senator O'Connor. ''Did
you uas the 5000 in covering the de-.
ficit?"
"Yes. there was also shortage in the
coupon account"
| "You declined to run for public Office
because this was on your minG?"
"Yes, ! never rested until it was
cleared up"
Commissioner Shechan was recalled,
Il have one question to ssk you," said
Mr.. Goh. "Will you produos your bank
booker"
| "No."
"You are defaulter, q grand larceny
thief, and refuse to produce your books
in the face OF this evidencs?'
| you're liar. You know you're
lying" yelled Commissioner 6hsehau.
"Yonr language is intemperste."
Senator OConnor admoni5hod Mr..
| ~ L =