The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-12-22
. TEED GETS A v|ND|CAT|ON
The President of the Council and
the Street Department
A VERY TAME INQUlSlTlON
Lots Of Witnesses Testified, But There
Was No Sensation
nne Man Who Is Badly Wanted Could Not Be
Pound Yesterday-The Hearing Is Ad-
journed to Be Resumed Thursday
A VERY TAME INQUISITION

The enquiry into the ownership of the
several teams employed in the steeet de-
partment was begun before the board of
public works yesterday afternoon. Deputy
City Attorney Crutcher conducted the case
upon behalf of the city. Councilman
George Stockwell acted as the sergeant-at-
arms for the board and President iced
worked hand at examining the witnesses
when the occasion required. Street Sup
erntendent Howard YVES on hand an in
terested spectator of the proceedings.
Lots of witnesses were examined and but
very little was accomplished. The object
of the hearing appeared to be to prove be-
You'd any question of a doubt that iced
had no interest in any of the animals or
wagons at work for the city, and that OBJ
ject was abundantly demonstrated.
A. E. Lester, d. Mitchell and A. W.
Pommering swore that each and every one
of them are the owners of teams at work
in the street department and none OF them
were aware of any teams there at work be-
longing to any one else.
George Welch was sworn and that gave
Superintendent Howard an opportunity to
object. He thought that WEIGH ought not
to be permitted to testify as his statements
had already been given in open court.
They tended to drag in the mud the names
of certain people, Howard said. who all
knew to be innocent of any criminality.
Chairman Munson thought the witness
ought to tell what he knew unless the
members of the board would object.
Welch's attorney was not averse to having
his client talk, although he said that
WEIGH might talk or not just as he saw tit.
De putty City Attorney Crutcher ana Coun-
Gilman Kingery thought that Welch should
talk. President iced expressed himself
in a similar rain.
The argument ended with the witness
telling his story. WEIGH did not know of
teams employed in the street department
which is entered in the name OF any one
other than it's real owner. Herbert How
ard, the brother to the street superinten-
dent, had and is now claiming the owner
ship of mis-, Welch's team. The witness
was positive that he did not know any
thing else. and he was excused.
Joseph Arguello could throw no light
upon The pending controversy and neither
could Z. Eesterbroo
Mrs. Net.el having said she has had a
team up on the cily's pay rolls for over two
years. Her husband owned the team be-
fore his death and driver is employed to
drive for her and she draws the money for
the work done and no one else has ever
derived any benefit therefrom.
Frank Jacobson had bill of sale to prove
that his team was his very own property.
1cGu aSk6u Tie NilIleSS IL ne IdO ever
been employed in the park and he acknow
lodged that he had and did not know the
reason why Superintendent Meserve had
let him out. The team lie had in the park
service was the property, he said, of Chas.
Hubbell until he purchased it.
Samuel Ayers the succeeding witness
furnished slight sensation when he test.
led that he had two years ago driven a
cam in the park depal tment which was
the property of F. A. Howard who was
hen the secretary of the board of park
commissioners. Ayers admitted that he
was dismissed from fine park department
because he had some trouble with a fore
man. He was then driving Howard's
team.
j. Hardcast,e, shifty looking youth who
looked when he took the oath. as if he was
alb ut to be hanged, had bill of sale for
team which he claimed to have purchased
from one Hersly, a park enploye where
Hardcaslle was also then at work. The
witness knew his story so well that he con-
tradcted himself in several material
points. The money with which he bought
the team, he said, was not furnished to
him by any one. 1t was all his own. He
was discharged from the parks on Satur-
day and upon the following Tuesday. he
was again at work, in the street depart
ment.
The only point to the testimony of NJ.
4. Whiteside was that when laid off a
short time ago Councilman NJ. p. Snyder
had gone to Superintendent Howard and
had him reinstated. Snyder is a Demo-
crat and says that he indorsed Whiteside
because the latter is a neighbor and per-
sonaily deserving and a Republican.
Jos Merritt said that the team which he
works i'll the street department lie has had
for fifteen years. That settled it. Merritt
was forthwith excused. H. ". Pierce. the
son of General II. A. pierce, testified that
his father owns Il team at work for the city
which he drives. Part of the money
earned by the team goes to himself and
part to his father. The team is in the
name of the general upon the city pay
rolls.
OF the Witnesses who did not turn up
Joe Carroll was discharged from the street
department few days ago charged with
drunkenness, so it is stated, G.. j Howard
could not be found. Officer Davis, who
served the citations in the case. asked why
il was that men in the employ of the city
could not he found through the medium of
the city directory or the great register. No
one was able 10 answer this conundrum.
The investigation will be resumed next
Thursday afternoon at = o'clock.