The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-05-09
A LITTLE DEAL IN IRON.
1T RESULTS IN AN INVESTIGATION
OF TWO CITY OFFICIALS.

A Report That Old Scrap Iron From
the CrematOry Was sold TO Mr..
william Kehce and No Returns
Made to the City for the SaIe-The
Superintendent of the o. f. VI. De-
partment and Foreman of the
CrematOry Called on by the Mayor
for an ExpIanatiOn-Their State
ments of the Affair.
A little sensation developed in local pol
ities yesterday that is likely to be dis
cussed at meetings Of both the political
factions in the near future and the prob
abilities are that with other reveIa-
lions OF a similar character the discussion
may prove acrimonious.
Mr.. William Kehoe has a little matter
Of difference with the city over a bill for
a quantity Of scrap iron, delivered TO him
from the city crematory. Several days
ago Public Works Commissioner Willink
reported to Mayor Myers that Mr.. Kehoe
had declined to pay the bill on the ground
that it was understood when the purchase
was made that the cost was to be taken
out in work done in repairing the ere
matory. Mr.. Willlnk said that the fore
man of the crematory had no authority
to make such an arrangement, and that
he had stated to him that he had not
entered into any such agreement. The
bill, Commissioner Willink said, is a small
one, and if it were necessary to dray the
iron away from Mr.. Kehoes foundry, the
cost of drayage, he said, would exceed the
value of the material
Mayor Myers investigated the matter
when it first came to his attention, and
in the course of his investigation learned,
it is not known from what source, that
Mr.. kehoe had previously purchased a
large quantity of scrap iron from Supt.
Rogers of the O. E. NJ department and
Foreman Peck, for which apparently no
returns had been made to the city.
tions to the heads of all the
city departments several months
ago on the subject Of prompt account
ing to the city for all receipts of their
departments from every source. He found
that the sale Of this first lot of iron
to Mr. Kehoe was last fall, and he prompt
ly began an investigation of the matter.
Foreman Peck, when called upon, stated
that he had accounted to the city for
every dollar received by him since he has
had charge of the crematory, and that
he had receipts for the same. He pro-
duced a receipt from the city treasurer
for $3.50, dated last November. the pro-
from the crematory, after deducting the
expense of the same, and receipts for
similar items for money turned over to
the commissioner of public works since
he has taken charge of the department
Mr.. Rogers made a statement to the
mayor that he sold a lot Of old scrap iron
to Mr.. Kehoe last fall and in explaining
the transaction he said that he requested
the permission of the mayor some time In
the fan to gather up scrap iron scattered
around the crematory, the ACCOMMODATIONS
Of the last three years, most of it on lands
not belonging to the city, and to dispose
of 1t for his own benefit. He was given
permission, he said, to gather up this iron
on lands adjoining the crematory lot, pro-
vided he did so at his own expense. He
did so and IL was this iron which he sold
to Mr. Kehoe and which money he kept
as he claimed he had a right to do. He
further stated that the expense of gath
ering up and hauling the iron exceeded the
receipts from its sale and that he was out
Of pocket by the transaction.
Mr.. Kehoe paid for the iron which he
bought in checks payable to bearer He
now holds these checks for some thing
over 5000, endorsed by Mr.. Rogers and Mr..
Peck.
Mayor Myers was out of the city yes
terday and could not be seen. 1t Is I'M
derstoOd, however, that he has not yet
concluded his Investigations. The matter
became noised around during the day as a
political sensation. The Citizens Club peo-
pie were quite stirred up over it, and as
a result they promise to come back at their
opponents with some revelations Of similar
occurrences during the previous admin
istration in the same department.