The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1898-01-11
THE CASE
DRAGSON !
No New Developments in the PrOSecu-
tiOn of the commissioners.
THE MISSING $40, 900 LOAN PROBE
he Counsel For the Defendants Contest
Every Legal Point, But Are Invariably
overruled by the Presiding Judge.
To-days Proceedings

Pottsville, Jan. 1.-THE trial of the County
Commissioners continues to attract much
attention, but so far little of startling char
acter has been brought out in the examina-
tion of witnesses. At the present rate the
trial will probably consume Two or three
weeks
Chief Clerk Reber had no knowledge of any
communication from the Poor Directors to
the County Commissioners showing the in
ability of the inmates of the almshouse to
do the excavating work for the new build
ings. The minutes of October l6, 1896
showed that the contract for the electric
light plant was awarded to the General
Electric Light Co., of Philadelphia, although
they were the highest bidders, on May H.
1896. Mr.. Reber could not tell why this was
done. He did not have the contract; pre-
sumed the Commissioners had it,
Mr.. Schalck notified Mr. Reber to bring all
bonds, contracts and papers bearing on the
almshOuse improvements into court.
The minutes of December z, 1896 showed
that resolution was passed to pay certain
sums of money to contractors. Among these
was $500 to be paid to w. j. Bast for plumb
ing. Mr.. Reber however, said he failed to
find any contract with Bast. The matter
was left unexplained by the witness
THE $4,000 RECEIPT,
Mr. Reber admitted the system of taking
receipts from the treasury was not kept up
for monies paid to him. 1t was not deemed
necessary since the controllers act went into
force. He, however, said those that had
been taken were probably around the office.
The witness said it was true that tho receipt
for the SIC, 600 loan dated June 3, 1895, was
found among the rubbish in the basement OF
the court house.
Mr.. Reber said 81 don't think Mr.
Connell former ex-Chief Clerk, ever kept
general statement or account of the
temporary loans. We have however a
separate bin or box in the vault where all
the notes, resolutions &c, were kept
Since l succeeded Mr.. Connell | have kept q
general account of the loans | made a
statement Of these loans for the year 1885,
and am positive it tailed with the banks
The resolution authorizing a temporary
loan dated July 3, 1895, Mr.. Reber stated
was in the hands of the Controller TIL,
loan was made with the Safe Deposit Bank
Of Pottsville.
In answer to a question by Judge Bechtel
the witness said the record or minutes befor,
him did not show the amount of the loan
At the request of the court Ar, Reber lef
the witness stand to get the statement h,
made as to the temporary loan.
TEMPORARY LOANS.
Deputy Treasurer S. j. Deibert was sworr
and produced the cash register for 1895 anC
part of 90, This record showed that from
January /, 1896, to October of the same yea
$1,000 had been paid into the treasury OIL
temporary loans.
WHERE is THE NOTE AND RESOLUTION.
Chief Clerk Reber returned and reported
that he could not find the note drawn Jul.
3, 1895, nor the resolution of that date. II
then produced the statement prepared by hin
showing the amount of the debt temporar
loans and bonded indebtedness on Januar.
l, 1897. The notes then outstanding hav
been redeemed and are now IN keeping q
the Controller who demanded them.
TUESDAYS SESSION.
This morning Judge Bechtel ruled out tn
second indictments found last week, sayin
that their admission might be an injustice t
the defendants especially because the presen
indictment, containing thirty-two counts,
quite sufficient to proceed on.
Deputy County Treasurer Samuel DeibeI
f was called and told of the redemption of tn
a |
standing balance of $50, 200.
Burd W, Payne, Deputy County Cor
troller, the next witness, brought tn
, promissary notes and said he became Deput
. November lst, 1896. Frank Reese was tn
q Deputy prior to that time.
, The defense is contesting every point stul
bornly, but the judge persistently overrulC
all objections aDd grants exceptions. Thel
81 al Ing big
/ so that the task of presiding over such trii
= is no easy one.
Payne identified a Safe Deposit Bank loa
resolution of March 2s, 1896, and said Il
notes and resolutions were brought to Il
Controllers office during the summer
r 1897, after they had asked the Commissions
:, for them. He did not know that he was r
A quired to bring all the notes.
e THE NOTE Is MISSING.
a Q. Where is the note for July 3, 1895 f
$4,000.
A. looked for such note and couldn
find it.
Il Mr.. Ulrich objected saying that it mu
l. first be proven that such note existed bl
Judge Bechtsl ruled him out.
q. Did yon ask the Commissioners clel
to look for it.
A. Yes, sir.
10 Q, When do your accounts begin.
20 A. Jan. lst 1897.
SAFE DEPOSIT BANK LOANS,
Mr.. Schack handed the witness note al
resolution dated Sept A. 1895, adopted by /
a. Commissioners. They related TO II $3.50
ic note to the Safe Deposit Bank coming due
that date and its renewal for go days.
was signed by Phil. J. G. pucll The nC
was signed by the defendants and attest
+ by Clerk Connell This is a renewal Of