The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-11-01

Said, and Exonerated the Accused.
Testimony In Detail.
William May, the young man who
circulated the story that Sl00 were
paid hy him to Select Councilman Nc
Cam for Mayor Bailey for signing the
ordinance settling the May claim
against the city, made a clean breast
of 1t last night and admitted that he
lied and that he wanted the money for
his own use. His testimony and that
of his uncle, mother and sister, and Of
Mayor Bailey were heard in the may
ors Office before Councilmen Finn,
Lansing and Robinson, the special
committee appointed TO investigate the
charges. John Power O'Connor took
a stenographic report of the testimony.
Mayor Bailey took the witness stand
first. on Wednesday. oct. 10, Thomas
Cummings, uncle to young May, came
to the office for information concern
ing the May claim against the city.
The mayor told him he did not recall
it. Cummings put 1t clearer then. He
told the mayor that Willie May drew
500 out of the bank which he repre-.
sentcd at home was for getting the
claim passed through councils, and
that the money was to be paid to Mr..
McCann to turn over to the mayor
for signing the ordinance.
This information dumbfounded the
mayor. He sent for young May the
next afternoon to see what he had to
say about the matter. May came and
unbushinSly stated that he gave 800
to Mr.. MCCann to give to him. That
was on Thursday, the goth, and that
night at the mayors instance Wade
Finn introduced a resolution directing
that a special committee be appointed
to investigate certain charges that
money had been paid to city officials
for settling damage claims against the
city. Mr.. Finn, Mr.. Lansing and Mr..
Robinson were appointed on that
committee. The next day May came
around again and retracted all he had
said the day before. He explained
that he hatched the story up to get the
money from his folks and never
thought it would come to the pass it
did. This statement was taken down
by Stenographer O'Connor.
CUMMINGS TESTIMONY.
Thomas Cummings. Mays uncle.
was sworn. Mainly through his ef-
forts the case came to head. Mrs.
May is his sister. She told him she
thought it was queer that money had
to be paid to city officials for getting
the claim through. Cummings at once
scented fraud and started to investi-
gate. lie met City Treasurer Boland
on the street and told him about it.
Mr.. Boland said he would wager any
amount that the mayor never got
cent of the money.
Cummings next sought out young
May. He found him on a street car
on LaCkawanna avenue. May told
him he paid the money to Mr.. Nc
Cam, but advised him not to make
any more fuss about it as it's some
thing they all do when they get a
chance Cummings then told May
what Mr.. Boland had said about the
mayors not getting the money, and
he told him go and demand il back
from Mr.. McCann.
Mrs. May was the next witness. At
Mr.. Cummings request she was not
put under oath. Her memory was very
defective. She knew almost nothing
about the proceeding, but it was evil
dent that she was endeavoring to shield
her boy. Miss Katie L. May, her
daughter, was sworn, She testified
that the $500 was put in the Merchants
and Mechanics bank in her name when
it was paid over last May by the city
Some time after that Willie, meaning
the young man in the case, told heI
he had TO have 500 to pay for getting
the claim through. She trusted what
he said and the check was drawn
She and her mother never questioned
the propriety of doing this. Mr. Nc
Cam was never at their house about
the matter. And 10 her knowledge he
never got any of the money. Willie
told her afterwards when it came out
in the newspapers that the story was
a makeup of his own.
The young man was then sworn
He was laboring under considerable
emotion. Despite the humiliating plight
in which he was he deserves credit fol
the open manner in which he con-
fessed his wrong doing. Messrs. Finn
and Lansing made him vince with
some Of the questions they put to him
Mr.. Finn said:
SAID HE LIED.
And everything you said about the
mayor and Mr.. Mccain about getting
any of the 800 was a le?" He an
swered in the affirmative.
Mr.. Lansing asked him: What in
the world possessed you to cOncoct
such a story to blacken the reputation
of two reputable men?" His answer tc
that was that he did not intend tc
blacken their regulations. He fixed uT
that story to get the money and never
dreamed it would get out.
Aren't you ashamed" said Mr.. Ian.
sing, Ito sit there and admit that you
swindled your mother and sister Out
of Sl00?" He said he was. He said
also that the money was all squanderet
but SIS.
Mr.. McCann was present and wa.
! asked few questions. He lives neal
the Mays on North Ninth street, and
| had no conversation or understanding
| with the young man about the settle,
| ment of the claim. He went with hin
| to the city clerks Office and identified
| him and then to the treasurer's Office
| Mr.. Mccain said he knew nothinf
| about being mixed up in the charg.
until after the resolution was passed
/ in select council. Councilman Melvin
was the only other person present al