The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1897-09-16
COURT INVESTIGATION.
County Omoials Anxious to Clear Up the
$4,000 Mystery.

County Omcials Anxious to Clear Up the
$4,000 Mystery.
Special to EVENING HERALD.
PorrsvLLE, Sept 18-The missing $4,000
in Schuylkills temporary loan account, TO-
gether with the charges preferred against
certain county officials is still the one topic
Of conversation among those on ''the hill'
It will be remembered that the Taxpayers
Association had already entered suit against
Phil. j. Connell, the former chief clerk, but
Notwithstanding that fact the three County
Commissioners appeared before Justice Fister
and made affidavit to warrant against
Conuen which includes the following infor-
nation
Personally appeared before me, Frank
Reutz, John Martin and Charles Meyers,
county commissioners in and for the county
of Schuylkill who being duly sworn accord
ing to law, do depose and say, that during
the year 1896 Philip j. Connell was the chief
clerk in the Office Of the county commits
siOners and had in his custody the county
seal that on the Sth day Of June, 1896 the
said Phillip j. Connell attested to an alleged
minute as to a loan of $4,000 from the Safe
/ Deposit Bank, of Pottsvile which loan was
a renewal of former loans aud a creation Of a
/ new loan for 50 1000, whereas in the fact
and in truth the only correct minute he
/ could have attested to was one passed
] June o. loNOt ludN tdlltu lOI lllt ltut ai
Of the s25 900 loan then existing with
said banks that as an officer, employe
: and agent of the county of SChuylkill,
/ the said Philip j. Connell did with intent to
4 defraud falsfy the minute of June O. to OBJ
tain the said S5 600 over and above the paper
then in bank to be renewed that the min
ute of June s, was fraudulent making, signing
uttering and publishing a written instru-
: ment with intent to defraud the County of
! Schuylsill, which has done to the prejudice
/ of the rights of the County Of Schuylkill
| that by such fraudulent making, signing, ut
/ tering and publishing of the written instru
ment, to wit: the alleged minute of June s,
/ 1896 the said Philip J. Connell feloniOuslY
obtained possession of 1000 and did steal,
/ convert and embezzle the same, contrary to
/ the Acts Of Assembly in such case made and
/ provided"
] The above information was sworn to last
| Tuesday, but has just been given out for pub
lication. Mr.. Connel is at Atlantic City, and
a constable left for that place TO serve the
warrant.
1t is thought that a hearing in the cas-,
will be had Friday or Saturday, when Mr.
Connel arrives from the seashore.
The County Commissioners have recently
passed a resolution that hereafter all note
issued for moneys borrowed be made payabl,
to the County Treasurer, so that proceeds o
all such notes shall be paid direct to tina
official and there be no further opportunity
of any discrepancies in the amounts paid ant
the amounts received into the treasury.
In conversation with reporter Mr.. Rent
says he is we'll satisfied who got the money
J who the guilty party is. He further said
81 don't want to charge anybody with tn
crime until it is proven. We have proof Of
false statement having been made and tina
the records were falsifed."
The officials apparently feel perfectly a
ease and court a thorough investigation
They realize that they, or their bondsmen
will have to make good for any mistakes 0
defalcation on the part of the clerks"
The friends of Controller Severn have n
fears Of the result, so far as that official
concerned His connection with the suit
instituted is merely formal, because of hi
position as County Controller, and in orde
that he may submit his books during tn
investigation.