The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1898-01-13
CONNEAA
TESTIFIESl
The Ex-Clerk Makes Startling State
ment Before Court.
"A Niger IN THE WOODPILE p

Ex-Clerk Connell Makes the Positive State
ment That Neither Himself Nor Any
One in the Commissioners Office
Received the Money.
Pottsvile Jan. 13.-Judge Bechtel yester-
day afternoon adjourned court at an earlier
hour than usual, to allow some of the jurors
to go to their homes. His Honor took ad-
vantage of the opportunity to speak to
counsel about the techni al points raised by
Mr.. Ryon ON the statement presented to
court about the county Indebtedness and
permission to erect the new buildings at the
alTshouse. Judge Bechte said he held to
his previous ruling that the date of April g.
1896, should be amendable to read October Z,
| 1896. The commonwealth gave notice they
would move to amend the error this morning
His Honor also stated that the situation
was such that he had decided to secure the
services of another Judge to take his place
next week, in order to hear civil cases.
Irwin w. Moser, of Pottsville, formerly
typewriter in the Commissioners Office from
March, '04, until August, 97; was clerk and
typewriter; | did copying, transcribing and
etc. was authorized at times by the Com
mssioners, other times by Mr. Connell, to
prepare notes for loans the outline was al
ways written for me made carbon copies of
notes and resolutions original note was
signed and taken to the bank carbon copies
were filed away in the vault the resolu-
tions were also taken to the bank. Have no
recollection of the note of July 3rd, 1895, for
! $4,000, negotiated with the Safe Deposit
Bank.
THOSE ERAsUREs.
The witness was asked in reference to
several notes and loans, but he invariable
answered he could not remember. The
original notes of January s, 1895, and April
2, 1896, with alterations, were shown witness,
and he explained There was an error in
drawing this note up. 1t is for $4,000 but
should be for 1000 | made the erasures or
changes it is my writing the erasures were
made before the note was signed / think
the resolutions call for s., 600; resolutions
were first passed, and the notes prepared
afterwards; the chief clerk gave me the
resolutions can't say if ] wrote the resolu-
tion of June 6 (the carbon copy of this was
shown witness); it was in the line of my
duty the resolutions of June and inst
| 1895, are different; the note of June seems
to correspond with the carbon copy of the
resolution of that date; don't know any
thing about the original resolutions have nC
recollection of the transaction with the Safe
Deposit Bank on June g can't say what be
came of the carbon copy of the resolutions o
June s l drew money from the Schuylkil
Trust Company on loans, but never got any
cash from the Safe Deposit Bank think
got checks there, but cannot give any partic
ular date ; | delivered them to the county
| treasurer.
On discrimination the witness said bC
took no receipts from the treasurer for money
turned over to him never copied any
minutes in the minute book besides myself
Mr.. Connell, Mr. Schmidt and Mr.. Coogar
used the typewriter; l took my vacation il
August, 1896 never used any private mark
for identification.
WROTE THE MINUTES.
Joseph Schmidt, who was witness anC
docket clerk, said he did general work, wa
directed by Mr. Connell in 1895, in the latte
part of the year for period of two or thre
months, to back the minutes in the book
my entrees began January 3, 1894 and | ais
entered minutes late in 1895 and some il
1896 l never attended the Commissioners
meeting the back minutes were in al
=
never wrote notes and resolutions, and knew
nothing about the transactions of June or
1896; had nothing to do with loans resolu
tiOns or notes.
Clerk Schmidt was recalled this morning
and crosse examined by Mr.. MARI Tn
minute book was in the drawer at time
and often laid in the drawer. Connell'
desk was for a long time without lock
ba ala Z ha uuh
1t always stood on Connel's desk, and coul
be gotten without the asking. He neve
knew of the Commissioners using the sea
l went up to the Grand Jury room to writ
out the minutes because it was quieter theT
and would not be bothered.
r Charles q. Reed, now first assistant cler
in the Commissioners office, said the $1,000
receipt was to the best of his knowledge
. found on the floor by himself and q.
Berner, Esq He also told of the manner i
To- which papers were or were not filed away,
. coNNELL ON THE STAND.
/ Phil. j. Connell, was called and sworr
e He said entered the Commissioners emplo
t Jan. l, 1883. Was promoted Chief Cler
n January lst. 1892. Was familiar with til
method of negotiating temporary loans Th
Deputy Treasurer would notify me when tn
missioners They would instruct me to col
fer with the banks by telephone or othe
wise. Sometimes they would confer wit
j banks at their respective homes. Allen
, Tamaqua, Rentz at Ashland, aud Martin q
+ PinegrOve.
+ They negotiated loans with the said bank
They also would instruct me to negotia
:, loans by word of mouth, naming the amOun
. time, bank and rate of interest. | would pr
pare resolutions and notes according to I'll
forms in use before | took office | woul
dictate the form to the typewriter. If the
we're busy with a crowd OF people, the
would not formally organic" but simply te
me to prepare the resolutions The typ
writer during my time was Mr. Moser. Il
came in during 1894. At first wrote OF
the forms, but after while he becan
familiar with the forms and | would simpl
tell him the amount, time and rate, Whe
prepared he handed me the notes and resoll
uNha ,riuinals vara usa1 and eiuna.