The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-02-07
TO ANSWER FOR FORGERY.
COMMISSIONER wILLINK's CHARGE
AGAINST ID. j. BUTTIMER.

ButtImer Arrested and Held Under a
$500 BOnd-The Alleged Forgery
an Order on the Commissioner for
Satellites at the Bottom of 1t.
The story That Charges of I'M
parchment Were to Be Brought
Against the Commissioner the
Cause of the Arrest.
Daniel ]. Buttimer was arrested yes
terday by Constable Moses Lilienthal of
Justice Naughtin's court on the charge of
forgery. The warrant was sworn out by
Public Works Commissioner Harry Will
link. whose name Buttimer is charged
with forging. The offense is alleged to
have been committed Sept. "a Buttimer
gave bond in the sum of $500 for appear
ance before the superior court and was
released. The amount of the alleged for
gerry is S.
Commissioner Willink explained the cir
cumstances which led to the arrest. But
timer was very persistent in seeking en-
ployment from him last fall, he said, and
was finally added to the house numbering
force. He was sent out with some maps
to distribute, but failed TO do so. After
having worked day and half Butu-
mer wanted some money and asked for an
order on the city treasurer. He declined
to give any such order, but finally loaned
Buttimer 81. Buttimer did not return to
work and he saw nothing more of him
for some time.
Mr. Willink said, he heard that parties
had been to the office Of the Savannah
Press for the purpose of securing the pup
LEGATION of an article charging him with
orders q
political workers, an alleged order to ID. j.
Buttimer being the basis of the charge
Shortly after receiving this information
Charles Luerssen, grocer az GWinnett
and Cemetery streets, came into his Of
flee and presented an order for 50, which
amount, he said, he had advanced to BUT
timer. The order in itself was nothing
had it not been for the fact that 1t was
endorsed on the back of forged certl-
hcate with the commissioners name at
tached to the effect that Buttimer had
four days time due him on Oct. .. The
certificate was written in a large round
hand and reads as follows
CITY. sent "a '96.-This is to certify that
D. j. Buttimer has four days time due
HIM on Oct. 3, payable to his order on
above date H. Willink,
Com. Pho. Works.
On the back, and in an entirely different
hand, was the following Endorsement:
Five Dollars and chg to d. J. Buttimer.
Mr.. Willink has the order in his pos
session. The handwriting of the certifi-
cate IS in a large, pam nanu, Wnlle the
writing on the back signed by Buttimer
| is large, but cramped. Mr. Luerssen told
Mr.. Willnk, the latter states. that he had
advanced Buttimer S. on the order, Butti-
mer representing that he was in the city s
| employ and that the order had been given
| him by Mr.. Willink. He was informed
| that the portion of the order having Mr..
| Willinks name attached to 1t was forg-
! cry.
| MIR. Willink said that he sent for Butti-
| mer and had a talk with him. Buttmer,
| he said acknowledged passing the order
| on Luerssen and also confessed to forging
| Mr.. Willink's name. In order that ne
might have corroboratiVe evidence of this
| confession Mr. Willink said he called in
| his clerk, in whose presence Buttimer con-
| fessed that he had committed the forgery,
| Mr. Willink said he had his doubts whether
| Buttimer really committed the forgery,
| the writing of the certificate and the or
| der being so different in character But
/ timer, he said, pleaded with him not TO
| prosecute him, and he consented not to
| take any action at the time. Recently,
| however, reports have been freely circu-
| lated that charges of impeachment would
| be preferred against Commissioner VIII
! link on the ground that he had employed
men to do POLITICAL work for the Clti-
zens Club and paid them by orders on the
| city treasury. Believing that this forged
! order was the only basis for such charges
he decided to have Buttimer arrested for
| the purpose of exposing the slim basis on
| which the charges were founded.
mo orders have ever been given by me
on the city treasurer; said Commissioner
ment receive their pay through the regular
| channels, the bills being made out in due
| form, each mans time being specified
| The bill is then approved by the proper
committee and by the mayor after which
| il is sent 10 the city treasurer"
! 1T has been rumored that you have
carried favorites and political workers or
| two different pay rolls at the same time. "
Is that a fact? Mr.. Willink was asked
ut is false" replied the commissioner
| mo man was ever carried on two rolls
at the same time in this department
Every week probably there are men whose
| names go in on more than one payroll
When a man works three days of the week
| on the street and lane force, and the other
! three days on street paving or house
| numbering or some other work, his ex
| act time is charged against the depart.
ment for which he worked, which makes
| it necessary for his name to be on more
than one payroll. This is necessary in or.
| der that the city treasurer can charge the
expenditures for each different division
of the work against the proper depart,
| ment."
"All that 1 care to say about these re-
| ports" said Mr.. Willink, is that I an
1 ready to answer any charges that may be
brought against me at any time"
~