Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-10-06

CHIEF MADDOX NEXT

Officer Ferguson was recalled before
the judiciary committee of the city
n council when they met to pursue the
y police investigation.
4 He was questioned first in regard to
the handling of money received from
the city pound. A number of cases
n were called TO his attention in which
+ were apparent discrepancies. In one on
q two instances he could not remember
II about the money, which seemed to
n have been received by him.
"A certificate was read from
/ Justice Wright in reference
TO one of the cases which gave an ex-
n PLANTATION. There was sharp ex-
change of words between Attorney
Y Ball and Chairman Spoonts over the
y use of the term receipts" as applied
( TO the stubs in the receipt book over
a which there has been considerable con-
droversy.
In answer to further questions the
Y witness said he had never borrowed
"a nor spent any of the city's money
n He was told the auditor had dis
r covered an additional $3.50 in which
lines had been reported worked out and
u in which cash had been paid.
II Witness explained that he might have
& made a mistake in bringing the amount
Il down the wrong column, He after
y wards said he had not put 1t down in
the prison book.
He continued to ansv er when asked
\ about apparent Inconsistencies in the
accounts that mistakes might have
(. been made.
II At this point witness remarked that
\ n custom prevailed of putting prison.
er in the calaboose, turning the key on
\ him and letting him out again imme-
Il diately and giving him a credit of a
Il dollar when his fine was paid.
Il When asked about other cases he
n said that the money had been paid to
d Mr.. MatlSin. Again he said an extra
y dollar might have been put in one of
"a the envelopes.
Here he answered he had answered
the telephone 2455 times while he was
= there and told about policemen scuifling
\ in the office while he was trying to
r make out his accounts, This to ac-
count for mistakes which appeared to
have been made from the difference be-
. tween the notations on the envelopes
and the amount reported collected
II At this point 1t was stated that the
sS4.50 Just gone over did not include
/. any of the S143 shortage which had
been discovered Just before the invesI
litigation.
=. WlIneSS was tnen examined by ChleT
Maddox attorney.
He said Maddox had the combination
91to the safe. but had been told he had
Forgotten it. Maddox had no key to
the private drawer of witness so far
as he knew.
~ After a man had passed into the
calaboose Chief Maddox, officer Mat
= lSin. the turnkey and almost any patrol
man on the force could collect fine
b sfrom the prisoner.
III He denied he was the custodian of
The envelopes. Was keeping the fines
Tor Mr.. Matkin and turned them over
20 him at Irregular intervals.
"a Maddox had got s150.75 from April
~ to September 3. Here he showed q
ist of dates on which he had let Mr..
y Maddox have money which aggregated
e This amount
~ Asked about one of the orders of
Ehief Maddox for money. witness ad-
4 omitted reluctantly that Maddox had
5 wanted the money In a poker game.
rhe chief had told him this three or
-FOUR nights ago. He told witness at
The time not to Aand for him unless he
wanted him. He was at the Hotel
Worth. Did not know whether they
were playing there or not. 1t was
Dune 22.
Mr.. j. N. Noe was introduced. He
testified TO coming in from the country
with young Mr.. Burton after some
stock. He had received the stock from
q low. heavy-set, rather fat man with
q dark mustache. When officer Fer
guson was pointed out witness could
( bot say whether 1t was him or not.
Would not swear Ferguson was or was
not the man who had delivered the
stock.
Had heard that Mr.. Blair had
/. threatened to beat him to death with
rlub IL he came up here and swore.
Ferguson was not the man. Blair was
n rOthpr-in-lavy Of Matkfn
The witness claimed in answer to n
question that the threat had had no
< fffect on his testimony. Had come
f IN to the investigation because he want
ed to. Mr.. Henderson had told witness
he wanted him TO come to town.
HG Mr.. Henderson was introduced and
( told about Jim Noe describing the man
who had turned over the stock as n
fhort, feshy man with dark mus
1tache.
IN, Here officer Ferguson was recalled
3nd examined BY Col. Shropshire in
1behalf of Officer Ferguson.
IH Had not entered pleas in three GER
+ vain cases In which he had received the
1nes for the reason that 1t was out of
bis line OF business.
M Admitted asking Matkin permission
70 pass the fine OF Nelly Bly, which
be said was given. He then told about
Nelly BLY, paying her fine under anoth-
n name. Nellie Davis, afterwards.
Here the witness was turned over
~ his attorneys.
AT this point the officer was ad-
2 rionished by Mr. Spoonts TO answer
questions and not make any speeches.
Here in answer to Il question the
Witness stated that the signing OF the
1tubs did not always indicate that
money had been paid. The names on
Pie stubs were simply a record OF who
owned the stock.
Reeeipts were kept in the same book.
other officers had access to this book.
Nr Collier, the auditor. could have
gotten 1t any time he wanted 1t b.
Y nding an order for II.
~ Matkin bad never told witness there
Ras shortage but once.
I Heard M1tkin's testimony before no
dNce committee. Matkin had said there
(, tness had held out three fines.