The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1898-01-27
MR.. ALLEN
TESTIFIES !
Another Commissioner Succeeds Mr..
Rentz on Witness Stand.
RECEIVED NONE OF The $4,000
Thus speaks Mr.. Allen He Also Testiies in
Reference to the Agreement with
the Controller in the With
drawal of the Quo war
anto Proceedings

Pottsvile Jan. 27.-Ths trial of the
County Commissioners continues to attract
attention, especially so since the defendants
were placed on the stand Mr.. Rentz, consider
ing his advanced age, passed through the long
siege Of over two days of close examination
in much better shape than was expected.
Yesterday he complained of feeling i'll and
was excused.
IMPORTANT TESTIMONY.
An important bit Of testimony was given
by Commissioner Rentz in his cross-examina-
tion when he stated that at the time the
second s., 600 disappeared on June 6th-Sth,
1895, there was eleven thousand dollars in
treasury, Indicating that on those dates the
Commissioners did not receive any notice
that the county treasury was low, and that
they therefore could not have signed the
note of June 9th, 1896, unless the condition
of the treasury was misrepresented to them
Witness said the legal steps taken by the
Commissioners ia reference to the missing
ten thousand dollars was the prosecution of
Phil J Connell, their ex chief clerk. They
had also kept back $40, 900 from the Safe De-
posit Bank until the matter was cleared up
The bank had been paid the money due on
the questioned notes. The affidavit made by
the Commissioners in their suit against Con-
nell was identified by the witness and put in
evidence by the Commonwealth TO show that
the suit was not brought until three days
after the Taxpayers Association had sued
the Commissioners.
Mr.. Rentz could not remem Der having said
the notes were wrongly drawn and signed
No direct evidence to that effect could be
| found He said the estimates of expenses
for 1894, and are not yet ready but are
being prepared. When they entered the
office in January 1894 there were about $40
600 almshouse bills and orders for 1893 un-
paid, and an estimate could not be given of
these liabilities at the time. The orders
were redeemed as they came in and we could
get no statement of the Almshouse clerk at
| that time.
Mr.. Rentz made patient witness and on
the whole made good impression.
He was followed by Charles f. Allen, e1-
commissioner, and also one of the defend
ants. His direct exam ination by the defense
related only to the uotes of July 3, 1895 and
that of June 9, 1896. His cross-examination
was very searching.
Charles f. Allen, ex-Commissoner and one
of the defendants, was called to the stand
late yesterday afternoon. The direct exam
inatiOn was very brief Mr.. Allen stated
that he had no recollection of the execution
of two $1,000 transactions, and does moi
know what money is missing from the county
treasury. He said, positively, that he never
received cent of the money that is alleged
to be missing. He first heard of the money
being lost in the summer of 1897 Thi.
ended the direct examination of the witness
CROSS EXAMINATION
In answer to Mr.. Schalck on cross-examin
alton, Mr.. Allen said he was out of Office anC
had little or no recollection at this time wha
transpired while he was County Commits
sioner. l made search for the notes.
thought the present boald were looking tn,
matter up. | know nothing of the proceed
or what record was made thereof. l wa
president of the board l know nothing
about the $751; loan. Martin and Rentz
the minutes stated, were present. Much o
our business was left in the hands of tn,
chief clerk.
never authorized Phil Connell to draw
the money. He may have got money at tn
banks, but knew nothing about it. l neve
spoke to Connell in his saloon on Centr
street i'll March, 1896, about this MISSING
money have no recollection of privat
conversation with the ex-ehef clerk ON tn
, subject.
All know is what Mr.. Rents testified to
/ which l think is correct. l signed the not
of September A. but have no recollection q
q the transaction,
l never instructed any of our clerks to dra,
money out of the banks. | understood tn
f money was to be drawn by the County Treas
e urer.
\ At this point Mr.. Ryon said that the fac
of representative or messenger from til
a Commissioners brought the resolutions to tn
!. bank was no authority to that party to dra'
8 the money. 1t should have been placed I
the credit of the county and then the recor
n would show who got the money.
II That wasn't dOne," remarked NJ
Schalck.
Witness continued 81 don't know whf
became of the $4,000 note Verifcatior
& of the notes were based upon notice frol
the bank, which was compared with I'll
carbon copies on record. This matter,
| have frequently told you, was principal
in the hands of the County Commissioners.
N Bast's charges were not increased to m
10 knowledge. If there were any charge
D. additional articles were furnished, or add
III tional labor was performed.
to Mr.. Ryon objected to the witness beir
N examined on the subject Of Mr.. Bast's poll
ir ical influence, but the court ruled against Il
ID defense, and an exception was noted.
S Mr.. Allen eaid that Clerk Q'Connor, of Il
er almshouse, wouldn't or couldn't give the
r. a statement Of the outstanding orders
1898 paid in 1894 by the County Treasurer
and that these liabilities amounted to near
b. $4,000. He gave this as reason for n
90 redeeming the temporary loans, which