The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-01-26
CANNOT GETrIT BACK AGAIN.
THE MONEY! TIP rs CLAIMED, WAS
DEPOSITED IN THE MINNESOTA
SAYINGS BANK.
PECULIAR STATE OF AFFAIRS
by the Council as to Disposition
of Bail Funds. %

lin Art company, with offices in the
Phoenix building, was about the city
hall yesterday trying to break into the
grand jury room. Mr.. Michaels has an
idea that he has been imposed on, and,
while he is not looking for trouble, he
Is industriously engaged in trying to
secure $500 Of good. genuine and law
full money which is now in the hands
Of city official.
Mr.. Mtchaels and his brother were ar
rested some three weeks ago and taken
before the municipal court on a war
rant charging them with larceny. The
case was postponed, and the bail CT
each Of the defendants fixed at $1OO. l..
Michaels put up 5000 in cash for the
appearance of himself and brother at
the time set for the hearing Of the
case. The matter was postponed sew
eral times and finally on Jan. the
case against the defendants was dis
missed and they were discharged.
Mr.. Michaels Immediately asked for
the $500 he had put up for bail. T. F.
COnroy, clerk Of the court, in whose
hands the money had been placed, was
not quite ready to hand over the
amount, but finally on JAN 10 gave
Michaels check for 5000 on the Min
nesota Savings bank. Michaels called
at the bank with. the check on the
day it was given him, but was informed
by one of the Officials that it could not
be paid that day. The bank official,
Mr.. Michaels said, related a story about
a large consignment of money being
expected from New York the next day
and then theocheck would be paid On
Jan. IA andh 49, Michaels visited the
bank, but, unfortunately for him, there
was some delay about the money reach
ing the bank and the check was not
paid. Thinking it might be secured
more speedily in another way the check
was deposited inIthe Northwestern Ma
tional bank in Minneapolis. This bank
forwarded the. check to the First Ma
tional bank Of this city for collection.
This plan did not work any better than
the previous ones, and the check was
returned On Jan. Is protested and with
81 protest fees attached to it. Since
that date Michaels has been endeav-
oring to collect the money from the
clerk Of the municipal court, but with
out success. Yesterday Clerk Conroy
offered to give Michaels his notes for
thirty and sixty days each in the sum
Of $1O0 to settle the matter The propo-
sitiOn did not seem to Michaels to be
hardly the right kind and he. refused
TO deliver up the check on any such
terms He called at the office Of the
county attorney to see what could be
done in the matter, but as the county
prosecutors were in court at the time
no action was taken. Michaels stated,
however, that he had a friend on the
grand jury and would lay the facts
before that body today.
Clerk ConrOy, seen yesterday after
noon, said the statements Of Michaels
were nearly correct. He had given O.
check on the Minnesota Savings bank
for the money, having nearly $1,000 On
deposit in the bank, which was being
held by him as bail for persons whose
cases were pending in the court. Con-
roy claims that he explained the mat
ter to MichaeIs at the time by saying
that there was some question about
whether the check would be honored
but Michaels was willing to take the
chances in order to get his money.
Conroy safdLhe felt sorry for Michaels
but could help o1tm in no other way
than by giving him his personal notes
at thirty and ., sixty days for the
amount. Since Michaels was making
such a fuss he, had concluded to let
the thing go and 8TiehaeIs would have
to wait for his money until the bank
paid.
Judge Orr said the law made no pro-
vision for the clerk Of the court de-
posting the money received for bail
with the treasurer. The charter pro-
vlded that the clerk should turn into
the city trea sury each day the money
collected fer fines. The amount received
for bail was left in the custody Of the
clerk. 1t has been the practice for the
clerk tc deposit such moneys in some
bank, 0Wingsttosthe city providing no
safe place for the keeping Of the same.
In the case of Mlchaels, Conroy
claimed that the city was not respon-
sible, but that he was personally re-
sponsible for the money left with him.
BY the closing of the bank, Conroy
said, he had been obliged to pay out
Of his own pocket nearly 5000, and he
had exhausted all the money he could
raise just at the present time.
The unfortunate predicament in
which Michaels is placed will probably
result in an ordinance being passed at
the next meeting OF the council direct
ing the clerk Of the municipal court
to turn all bail money as we'll as fines
over to the city treasurer for safe
keeping. Attorneys questioned about
the matter last night said it was q
rather queer affair, but if the clerk re-
fused to pay proceedings could be COM
menced against his bondsmen.
ARBITRATION TREATY ASKED,