Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1896-11-16
MADE THE OFFICE PAY.
A SCHUYLklLL SCHOOL BOARD LOOT
ED THE TREASURY.

Whenever Surplus of Funds Accumu.
lated, They Issued Orders on the Money
aud Divided 1t Among Themselves
Now on Trial for Their Crime.
A highly sensational case is being
tried at Pottsville, wherein the members
of the school board of Blythe township
are charged with misdemeanor and gross
frauds. The defendants, James Kenna,
Martin Delaney, Joseph Clemens,
Michael Conroy, Michael Whalen and
| Michael Brennan, who constitute the
board of the township, have pleaded
guilty, after the examination of num-
Der of witnesses who furnished damag-
| Ing evidence against them. Michael
Brennan, secretary of the board, acknow-
lodged his guilt first and was the star
witness in the case.
Brennan had the order and minute
book before him while on the stand, but
the latter was Of no value whatever, as
in no instance did the minutes show
who attended the meetings or what
business was transacted beyond the pay
ment of teachers salaries. Brennan ex-
planned this by saying that it was ar
ranged that he need not bother about
bringing either the minute or order
book to the meetings. Witness said that
himself and the rest of the directors got
something out of every order issued.
In 1894, when orders were drawn for
paying the teachers for attending the
county institute, the directors stuck it
into their pockets, witness declared, and
that the teachers received nothing. In
August, 1894, an order for S174 was
drawn in favor of Matthew Whalen.
Out OF this order each director received
So On August 4, 1894, an order was
drawn for $3.50 in favor OF the board
for expenses to Pottsville.
Shortly before this an order was drawn
for nearly $500 to pay for preparing
plans and uperintending the erection
of new school building. Out of this
every member of the board who had a
relative teaching in the district received
S., while witness and Kenna, who had
no one teaching, received S65 each.
Another order was drawn in favor of
Bernard Dougherty for $31O for repair
ing school buildings. Out of this order
each director received S25.
U on another occasion, a witness
testified, the board determined to pur-
chase supplies. For this purpose an
order for 5000 was drawn, but only $50
was expended for supplies, each director
receiving $25 from the order. Later,
supplies to the amount of S22. so were
purchased, but the order for paying it
was made out for S45, the difference
being divided among the directors. The
board determined to purchase stove
upon one occasion. An order for 800. 10
was drawn for the payment of the bill.
Out Of this transaction, which he said
he engineered, the witness and Kenna
each got SIS.
The evidence of the witness was all
such as to implicate some members of
the board in every transaction, although
he did acknowledge that in number of
instances Kenna objected to the crook d
work. His testimony also showed that
in the purchase of books, plans, supplies
and other articles the dealers were not
in any way implicated in the steals.
The directors were released on 81, 900
bail, sentence being suspended until the
30th inst. to give the defendants time to
settle up their affairs. Judge Bechtel
said the question of restitution would
be considered.