The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-11-12
EMBEZZLEMENT CHARGED
Trouble in the South District OF Lacka-
wanna Township-Election Day
Responsible for Proceedings.

Patrick Mcdonnell, of Ninooka, was
arrested yesterday on the charge of
embezzlement, preferred by John Ly-
don, of the same place. The warrant
was issued by Alderman Howe, and
Mr. Mcdonnell waived a hearing and
gave bail for his appearance at court.
Martin McDonough qualified as his
bOndsman.
The case grows out of a dispute that
occurred in the South district of Lack
awanna township last election day. Mr..
Mcdonnell was judge of election, John
!. Joyce was majority inspector, and
John II. Brown minority inspector
The members of the board We're pres
ent at the polling place on time, but
the booth was not in readiness, that is
the guard rail was not in place, and
there were no tables or chairs, nor
any fire. That was due to the fact that
the booth had just blen completed by
the carpenters. When everything was
in readiness to swear the board in,
John ]. Coyne entered protest against
the right of Mr.. Joyce acting as major
ity inspac ctor. He alleged that Mr..
Joyce was over % years and had no
tax receipts. Mr.. Joyce was elected
%, and, of course, was qualified cleo
tor without tax receipts.
There were upwards of forty men
present besides the board when Mr.
COyne objected to Mr.. Joyce's right
to serve and mostly all of them had
much or little to say on the subject
so that it was not exactly as quiet as
graveyard at midnight. While the
interchange of opinions was going on,
Mr.. Joyce took his departure from the
booth and went home.
The question tn n arose as to the
manner of filing the vacancy, Mr.. Nc
Donnell claimed he was vested with
the power of appointing an Inspector
but it was about twenty minutes to 8
o'clock and Mr.. Coyne claimed the elec-
tors present had the power. Mr. Nc
Donnell went ahead and appointed p
j. Philbin, eX-jury commissioner. The
electors chose John Lydon. Mr.. LydOn
lost no time in getting inside the guard
rail and he took possession of the
two lists of voters and the registry
lists
He appointed John J. Cusick clerk,
Mr., Brown, about whose right to serve,
there was no qu. stion, appointed =. j.
Nulherln clerk, ana Mr.. Hhtlbin, the
judges appointee, chose John Kelly as
| clerk. Mr.. LydOn gave one list of voters
and a registry list to Mr.. Brown and
Mcssrs. Philbin and Kelley Were left
out in the cold. Mr.. Kelley did not re-
main in the booth very long, but Mr..
Philbin did. He sat there until the
vote was counted at night, although
h did no work of any account.
Me9srs. Brown and LydOn signed all
the returns in the spaces designated
| for the inspectors, and at the instance
| Of Mr.. Mcdonnell, Mr. Philbin at
| tached his name to the returns also.
| II was the same way with tha voucher
| for the pay of the hoard
Mr., Mcdonnell drew the money at
| the county trcasurer's Office Dut when
! il came to paying the inspectors he
was in a quandary. He paid Mr.. Brown
| and tbs two clerks, but when il came
| To paying the other inspector he held
| back and refused. If he paid Philbin,
| he was afraid Lydon would sue him
| ana vice versa. lie was holding the
money and still holds it, awaiting some
| way out of it, when Mr. Lydon swore
| out the warrant afor5 mentioned.