The morning news., 1894-11-01


you received it," said Mr. Goff.
4 am standing on my legal rights" said
Commissioner Sheehan when he again re-
fused to turn over his bank books.
You refuse to give them up"
''Yes."
Lay his refusal before the district at
torney and the grand jury" ordered
Chairman LeXow.
Commissioner Sheehan smiled as he
stepped down from the stand.
After the recess Mr.. Goff went into the
reported visit of Commissioner Sheehau
to Wall street to sell advance informa-
ton as to the decision Of the court OF ap-
peals in the Sugar Trust matter The
witness denied that he was a "huckster
of decisions" as charged. The witness
denied that he had visited Cord Meyer Q.
II. Havemeyer and others in Wall street
for the purpose of selling them advance
information. The men who said he had
done so were mistaken.
Did they lie?'
Il don't say that denied the whole
story when it first came out"
You would not appoint a man who had
committed a crime?"'
mo"
you are a defaulter though" said
Mr.. Goff.
Il am not" the witness said quietly.
Il can explain what you are getting at"
Lawyer Grant arose and asked that this
line of inquiry be excluded, as it was not
pertinent to the issue.
Senator OConnor, who was presiding
in Chairman Lexow's absence, said THE
witness will be allowed to explain every
thing at the proper time. He should be
glad of an opportunity to clear himself of
the charge. If he is defaulter it should
be shown"
MIR, Gof produced papers and doc
uments bearing the witness signature for
the "a proufpcr a 70
Sheehan had nlisapproprated $4,000 while
controller of the city of Buffalo
The commissioner told how he had re-
quested the mayor to have his accounts
examined, and when shortage was dis
covered he refunded the amount, "a LOO.
He claimed that his coupon and trust ac-
counts became mixed.
To Mr.. Goff's direct question, Commits
sioner Sheehan denied that he had mis-
appropriated the amount.
Mr. Gon read the following document.
dated Nov 8, 1888: Received from John
Sheehan the sum of $1,000 in payment of
any deficit that may be in his accounts on
a proper examination"
(Signed) T. J. Mahoney,
Schuyler T. Egan.
Mr. Goff read another letter dated Dec.
s, 1888. 1t was addressed to T. ]. Ma
honey:
Dear Sir-You are hereby authorized
anu requested 10 use and pay out the
money paid by me for the purpose of
making good the shortage which was in
my accounts at the time / turned over the
controllers office to you.
John c. sheehan.
Mr. Sheehan stepped down to give way
to Timothy j. Mahoney, ex-comptroller of
Buffalo Mr. Mahoney identified the
coupon receipts and the trust fund re-
ceipts.
who gave you these receipts?" asked
Mr.. Goff.
''Mr. Sheehan's brother, William"
Il told WILL said he. that l would not
sign the receipts for money which 1 had
not received, and asked him to tell John to
come and see me. He came in later, and
told him to pay up as soon as possible"
Did he say that the coupon account was
mixed up with the trust account"
mo"
What did he say?"
THAT he would pay up as soon as pos
sible"
What time elapsed before the story of
the defalcation became public?"
About two years. 1 was worried to
death about it,"
The witness testified that he subsequent.
ly got the money from Mr.. Egan, one of
Sheehan's bondsmn. amounted to
$5, 900.
How did it happen that you got the
THE S5, 800 was deposited in a special ac-
count and l wanted Sheehan to place It in
the general fund"
Did you use the $500 in covering the
defcit?"
Yes, and there was also a shortage in
the coupon account"
"You declined to run for a public office
because this was on your mind"
YES. never rested until it was cleared
up"
Commissioner Sheehan was recalled.
Il have one question to ask YOU" said
Mr.. Gof. "Will you produce your bank
books?"
mo"
you, defauter. a grand lanceny
thief, refuse to produce your books in the
face of this evidence?"
you're a liar-you know you are ly-
ing" yelled Commissioner Sheehan.
Your language is Incorporate" Sena-
tor OConnor admonished Mr.. Goff, who
said he used the words advisely
An adjournment was taken till to-mor-
row,