The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-11-05


Allegations Against Mr.. Kinsley.
Another Hearing Tuesday.
The taking of testimony in the Kins-
ley investigation was begun last night
before Mayor Bailey and his advisory
board consisting of Messrs. Sander
son, Chittenden, Grier and Lotus, Sc
lected by him from the councils.
At the opening of the session Mr..
Ncwcombe attorney for the manage
mcnt of the Sunday World, which Is
pressing the charges, submitted the
Following:
In Re: Investigation of complaints
against e.. Il. kinsley, street commits
SiUncr.
indicated n desire to have formal charS.
- made in this ease, the Sunday World
Puhlishins company, by ITS manasrt.
John II. Blnckwood' herewith submits
formal complaint as follows:
|. The accused, OR. kinsiey, is charged
with having used the office OF street COM
missioner for his personal profit in this:
ID That ne has kept IA large number Of
his own teams and horses at work upon
the streets and i'm the pay of the city
under cover of the names OF other per-
sons alleged to DE the owners of such
teams.
e. That he has drawn a large sum of
money from the city treasury under COW
rr of services certified to have been done
by his minor son, Harry K. kinsley, IN
the employ OF said department, such
services never having, in fact, been rem
dcrri and Harry Il. kinsley not hay
ing, in fact, been i'll the employ of the
city.
CD That he has eXactcd large sums of
money from persons desiring license 10
maintain night lunch wagons, as con-
sideration for granting permits to oc-
city with Sncl WAGONS.
II. He is further charged with having
falsely certified the monthly, pay rolls
of his department whereby large sums
of money have been drawn from the
city treasury for pretended services
which have never been rendered.
Sunday World Publishing Company,
per John II. Blackwood, Manager
DISPUTE WAS REVIVED.
This resurrected the DISPUTE which
almost preciDitated a row at the last
meeting. Mr., Burns objected to the
formulated charges on the ground that
they did not follow the allegations con-
tained in the Sunday World and We're
therefore not a subject for inquiry by
the committee, as council had clearly
and specifically stated that the sun
day World charges We're to be inNes-
tigated. 1t would be unfair, he also
contended, and against all rules of law
to make additions or amendments to
an Indictment, as it would be SpringinS
charges upon a man without giving
him an opportunity to prepare de-
fense
Mr.. Newcomb quoted from the act
of 1889, showing that it was the duty of
the mayor to supervise the conduct
of all city officers and to investigate
all reasonable complaints against
them" and then went on to argue that
the mayor and committee should not
endeavor to surround the present in
Nestigation with technicalities That
would defeat the spirit of the law.
The members of the committee, at
the request of the mayor, save their
individual views regarding what the
scope of the investigation should be.
Colonel Sanderson contented himself
with reiterating his position in the
matter. Mr. Chittenden expressed the
opinion that inasmuch as the charges
had been made and widely advertised
no one, not even the accused, should
hesitate to go to the bottom of them.
Messrs. Grier and Lotus concurred in
this opiniop. Mayor Bailey himself
stated that he was willing to entertain
any and all charges that might be
submitted.
After a whispered consultation with
the advisory board the mayor nodded
to Mr.. NewcOmD to proceed and he
opened the ball by calling as the first
witness Street Commissioner kinsley.
Messrs. Burns and Watson, Mr.. kins-
ley's attorneys, promptly objected to
their client going on the stand ito
prove charges against himself" as
they put it. The objection being sus-
tained Mr.. NewcOmb called FOR the
books of the street commissioners de-
partment. containing the records of
the pay rolls for the time of Mr.. kins-
ley's incumbency. Mr.. kinsley readily
produced them. While he was upstairs
getting the books the mayor expressed
q desire to have a private consultation
with his colleagues and they retired
to the inner office. When they came
out they We're agreed upon hearing
whatever charges might be presented.
PAY ROLLS IN EVIDENCE
Mr.. Newcomb offered in evidence the
pay rolls during Kinsley's term call
ing attention particularly to the ac-
counts of E.,ward Ramsey. HAIRY X.
Kinsley and Emmet Peet. He started
out to check off the items on which the
allegations We're based. but af this
promised to be a lengthy and tedious
job. it was agreed to accept the type
written transcript. previously prepared,
counsel for the defense reserving the
right to object to the whole Sr any
portion of it,
The accounts showed that ~. NJ.
Ramsey or Edward Ramsey. WHO were
admitted by Mr.. Kinsley to be 3ne and
the same person, worked as many as
Is days in certain months, sonnet m as
being credited as a foreman land at
others as a teamster. Harry t. Kins-
ley was shown to have drawn lpay for
teams and carts, being credited with
"a days in the month of October, 1895,
Emmett Peet was also credited wit
working an extraordinary nuSnber of
days in the month with his t}am ana
carts.
The list having been gone kycr Mr.
Newcomb called to the stanl Harry
r. Kinsley, son of the street commits
sioner. He gave his age asj ~ years
and stated that he had residSd in this
city with his father for twelve or thir-
teen years. He worked for - Ontario
and Western railroad comJ,any until
November, 1896 June !, 1896. he en-
tered the employ of w. Y. Smith as
stenographer Did not know how much
money he drew from the Jity. Drew
money for the work of his two teams
while he was employed wifi the par
ties before mentioned. Owned the
teams since sometime in 1925 Believed
it was prior to July. Did NOT consider
it unusual for n boy of his kage to own
two teams. Didn't buy THEM. They
were given to him by his fAther Had
different drivers in his employ. one
of them was John Hollands. Had one
or two before Hollands, bift could not
remember the names. Ar(hur LaTIar
succeeded Hollands and is ftill driving
for him. Hollands is not jim the CITY
now. Thought he was inf New York.
He was recommended for The position
by the street commissioner to whom
he was recommended by Mrs. Duggan,
of the board of associated charities.
Hollands was paid $35 month. Gould
give no idea of the time Hollands en-
tered his employ, when hel quit or how
long he worked. Has a book contain