Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-10-08

Witness explained his lack of knowl-
edge of what was going on by say
ing that he had thought the auditor
was keeping check on the accounts
and that Ferguson was keeping the
bookn. which had since been opened
by Mr.. Collier the auditor. when Fer
guson took charge Of the office.
The chief was then asked when he
first learned OF the crap shootir IN
his office and replied that he had not
known anything about II until he heard
It from the boys when they told about
It on the witness stand.
Had never been told before the inves-
tigation began about money being col
lected and not paid in. He said in
regard to the money he had borrowed
that he did not know II was the city's
money. He had borrowed 1t from them
as individuals
Asked why he kept no check on Mat
kin or Ferguson. witness said he would
have trusted either of them with $780,
600, and did not believe either Of them
would charge anything against him
which he did not owe.
No one had any right to handle
pound money except Mr.. Ferguson.
Did not know anything about the stubs
being torn out of the pound book. Au-
ditor opened up pound books for Fer
guson. Police committee told the ai-
ditor to do so. Witness was virtually
in charge of the pound Everything was
done In his name.
Witness instructed Matkin to take
charge OF the money and deposit it.
Mr.. Van Zandt told witness TO let
Ferguson take charge of accounts and
collections.
Asked by what authority he stood
good for fines, said he did not know.
He added that the city had never lost
anything in any of the cases in which
he (witness) had stood good for the
fines.
Did not examine reports Thought
It was the auditors business.
Witness never compared the reports
either before or after they We're sub
mitted to the city council.
Did not know about Matkin not be-
ing under bond until the investigation
began.
Prostitutes would complain OF police
men dunning them. When investigated
II was found the women had brought
trouble on themselves by their own
conduct.
The instructions were that Ferguson
was to turn money into MatlSln to make
deposits weekly and they were to
have weekly settlements. Orders from
witness were treated as cash.
He testified that some of the money
collected was never in Ferguson's
hands. All the money collected by
Ferguson was reported to Matkln as
witness supposed.
There never had been deputy city
marshal who did not take charge of
the money and keep accounts. The
reports were open TO the investigation
of the marshal and city marshal.
The chief said he had looked to Mat
kin TO make all the deposits. Had
looked to Ferguson to collect and turn
over the money to Matkin. Ferguson
was held accountable for the pound
4.
had better straighten out the matter
of deposits before the Investigation
began as Mr. Collier was asking about
1t.
Collier had said Matkin was behind
In his deposits and he (witness) must
get after him CMatkin) and he did get
after him. Nothing said about Fer
guson not making deposits until Mat
KIN spoke to witness about 1t and gave
witness three cases to investigate
witness said that the desk where
locked
Witness again denied he was en-
gagged in any game of poker when he
got the money on orders.
Mr. Hardwick's boy brought the order
anything"
That was the money witness wanted
TO lend to a friend. Had stopped all
huhlS from making collections on the
outside as the reports We're not show
Ing up. Witness had not been in the
hablt or playing poker while he had
been In the office of city marshal.
Mr.. Capps objected vigorously
against inquiring into personal habits
without effect.
Witness then. when the Questioning
was pursued, said he had never PLAYED
IN gambling house and had never
lost any considerable amount.
Then Mr.: Spoonts asked IL witness
ever played poker,
In reply the witness stated he quit
PLAYING faro and played poker when he
was elected chief of police.
Something about a crap game had
been intlmated, and witness made n
pun ~ them and told them they would
lose their Jobs IL they didn't quit il.
4. M. Murray was asked about a
morse IN the city pound. Had paid 81
UT SlZo 70 gentleman In the office
Here witness in answer to a cues
tion pointed out officer Ferguson as
the man who had received the money
1t was last fall some time
Ben Q. Evans, deputy city marshal
under sam Evans. testified il was the
custom Tor the assistant marshal to
Keep accounts and make collections
In the absence of Mr.. Farmer.
IN the absence OF Farmer witness
mad good deal OF the responsibility
OF the office ON his shoulders.
Chiet Maddox was recalled and tes-
tIeu that part of the money was
turned over to Ferguson becouse Mo-
kin was on night duty.
d. W. Day told about his horse get
ing in the pound during April. iSO5
lie paid s2 to a man who looked like
MI Ferguson. any
The committee then adjourned until
o'clock Wednesday night.