The evening world., 1894-03-13
Friends in q Panic and Trying b
Raise Money to Balance the
Boss's Accounts.
OTHER GRAvEsEND FRAUDS.
Charged that Fines Of $40 Were
Imposed and that Only S. Fines
Appear on the Records.

Considerable excitement was caused
among Gravesenders in Brooklyn to-day
over the statement made by John n.
o'Rourke and James McKane that they
had placed the books In which John Y.
McKane kept the accounts OF the Town
in the hands Of an expert accountant for
the purpose of clearing the Chief of the
charges that be was short in his 20
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 r.
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 sem
tence.
Despite this fact, the Committee went
to work with a will and learned that
McKane was short in his accounts nearly
500, 900. which amount, as told in THE
Evening World yesterday, was brought
down to $4,000.
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
office on Court street by an expert.
When Lawyer George F. Elliott heard
of O'Rourke's and McKane,s statements
he at once sent for the Citizens Com
mittee, to confer with him on the steps
to be taken to gain possession Of tho
coveted books and records.
Elliott's office. IS Court street. late this
afternoon.
Mr.. O'Rourke and McKane's brother
made the statement in their anxiety to
clear the ex-Supervisor. They had not
consulted any one, and now It was said
on good authority to-day they have been
taken to task for. letting the cat out
books which the Committee LAY been
searching for are locked up In
O'Rourke's safe in his office. 10 Court
III this is true" said Mr.. Elliott this
morning. .'and l have no reason to doubt
II. we will take immediate steps to pro-
cure these books.
Neither the Committee nor myself are
playing the part of detectives searching
for fraud. My clients would be only too
glad to find that the accounts of John y.
McKane are all right, and as yet all the
evidence is pointing the other way. and
/ have some new facts in my possession
which are of n startling n~ature-facts
prove to my clients that all Is not right
II will further say that while It may
be true the public accounts OF Graves
END may De wS sirh'f ihe a anS iegs' ars Gis sss
up would certainly seem to indicate
either great negligence or ignorance on
the part of the man who kept them or
When asked II he knew what books Mr.:
O'Rourke had in his possession, IL he had
any, Mr.. Elliott could not say.
Mr.. Elliot then went on to say tnat the
Committee could not find the books OF
the town, kept by McKane. which were
produced in evidence during his trial. 80,
first began the investigation, and while
he was on the witness stand. 1 had
the books there and made what notes
II was then that the Committee began to
see that their investigation might bring
TO light some queer facts, although, as i
said before, II Is not the intention or my
clients to prosecute McKane.
We propose to sift matters to the bot
tom, and when the proper time comes !
will make public the facts in my pos
session which are known only to the
Committee and myself"
MIR. Elliott refused to give out any In.
formation on the next move to be made
lone TO procure the books which
O'Rourke is said to have In his safe.
Mr.. O'Rourke was in Brooklyn this
brought out little information.
II don't believe O'Rourke said he
would place the. books in the hands Of
an EXPERT said George w. Roderick.
McKane's counsel, his morning. "Ses
ORourke and | guess he will tell you he
did not say 30. Neither did the Chiefa
brother"
S. Stryker Williamson, who is Ne
Kane's closest friend, said: "I know
nothing about 1t. l shall say nothing.
See o'Rourke."
Notwithstanding the denial OF Roder-
lex and Williamson, O'Rourke did make
the statement and II Is known nov that
ne did not know at the time why No
Kane's books were kept from the Com