Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1895-06-13
STARTLING TESTIMONY.
IMPORTANT DISCLOSURES MADE AT
AN INJUNCTION HEARING.
Ex-Chief Clerk James NJ. Norris Says He
and Commiss ioner Received Part of
the Money Paid to Architect Myers for
the New Court House Plans.


the New Court House Plans.
Since the county commissioners sign
ed the secret contract with Architect
Myers, of Detroit, giving the latter
authority to prepare plans for the pro-
posed new court house, there has been
feeling of expectancy throughout the
county that sensation would come
some day. The highhanded manner in
which the affairs of the county were
being conducted led even those who
favored Il new court house to suspect
there was something dishonest in the
transactions, and the unbusiness-like
principles of the commissioners raised
protest that was supported by every
prominent newspaper and taxpayer in
Luzernc,
The commissioners showed their in
competency by paying the architect
$4,000 before he drew the plans, and
would have paid him $4,000 more upon
the delivery of the work had not the
county auditors interfered and served
notice upon the treasurer to not honor
orders drawn by tho commissioners in
favor of the Western architect or his
son.
The commissioners have not yet OBJ
tanned site for the court house, never
theess injunction proceedings had to be
commenced two weeks ago to restrain
them from awarding the contract for
building. This step was taken to pre-
vent the county from becoming involv-
ed in further trouble through the three
men who represent it in the commits
sioner's Office.
1t was at one OF the hearings on the
injunction case that the lookedfor SEN
sation came to light. The hearing was
held in Attorney Palmers Office at the
county seat. 1t had been agreed to by
all the parties interested to take the
testimony privately and afterwards pre-
sent it to Judges Rice and Lynch to de-
eide whether the injunction should be
made permanent.
James NJ. Norris was on the stand.
Until the 5th inst. he was clerk to the
commissioners and was credited with
being 1.-THE power behind the throne" :"
He was known to have unlimited infu-
ence with the commissioners, and he
ran matters to suit himself in the Office.
Personally he is a good-natured jovial
politician, and for ten years past has
been one of the foremost Republican
leaders in Luzerne comfy. Of late he
has been drinking heavily and appeared
to be slightly under the influence of IL
quor at the hearing.
The fact that he had resigned his po-
sition was known to no one but the COM
missioners until he said so on the wit
ness stand 1t created some surprise,
but interest in that point was soon over
shadowed by the answers he gave the
attorneys when asked certain questions.
Attorney Palmer, who was conducting
the examination, asked: "Do you know
anything about the payment of the sec
ond $1,000 by the commissioners to the
architect?"
eyes, l saw it paid"
GLOW was it paid?" asked Palmer.
"Why, young Myers got an order for
SIS, 600 and went to the bank and got it
cashed."
"Where were you?"
81 was with him at the time" said
Norris.
'What did he do with the money!"
HE gave me some of it.
How much?"
81 refuse to tell that"
''What did he do with the rest of it?"
queried Palmer.
she gave some to woman to take
out West to his father" said Norris.
''The girl had been staying in town for
for some time"
"What did he do with the remainder?"
asked Palmer.
'He gave it to one of the commits
sioners."
(which commissioner?"a
II decline to tell"
How much was it,"
''I'll not tell"
At this point the hearing was ended
for the day, as the announcement by
the ex-chief clerk that there had been a
deal in which he and q commissioner
participated was too much OF surprise
TO continue the case.
In talking about the affair afterwards
one of the the commissioners said: 81
do not know what Norris was thinking
about when he spoke that way. His
story is absolutely false. Neither he
nor the commissioners received any OF
the $1o,O paid Myers. They do not
expect to get any Of the money. They
do not want any. Norris is nearly in
sane and does not know what he is
talking about"
The confession made by Norris was
believed by many people, and the COM
mssioners found themselves under sus-
picion on all sides. On Monday one OF
the trio, Mr.. Dullard, was placed on the
stand at his own request. He said At
torney Bedford had advised them to not
sign the contract with Architect Myers,
but they thought it fair and agreed to
oriyo Mvars 900 OOO for the nlans and {