The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1898-01-12
SENSATION
PROMISED
The Prosecution Hint at Startling Devel
OpmentS in the Case.
COMMISSIONERS TRIAL FOURTH DAY
The Proceedings so Far Have Been Tire
some and Long Drawn out-The
Jurors Complain of the Tilts
Between the Opposing.
Counsel.

Pottsville, Jan. 12.-The trial of the
County Commissioners, charged by the Tax
payers Association with misdemeanor in
office, closes its fourth day with little of
startling character. There is apparently bitter
feeling between counsel, and it crops out
occasionally in passages of words.
When our report closed yesterday after
noon, Charles f. Hazard secretary and
treasurer of the Safe Deposit Bank, was
turned over to the defense for cross-examina-
ton In reply to Mr. Marr the witness said
they had the $50, 900 note at the bank when
the statement was rendered. Interest was
paid by warrants on the county treasurer.
| The Commissioners never lifted any notes or
received any currency at the bank to my
recollection. The money was given to their
representatives, Mr.. Connel or Mr.. Moser.
| was not intimately acquainted with either
of them. The payments IN currency was
made that way, because we had a surplus of
it on hand
To Mr.. Marr-The resolution of June s.
bears the seal of the county, and the sigma
lures of the Commissioners. That of June
9 bears no official authority, and Mr.. Hazard
admitted he would not accept it in that con-
dition. The witness never knew of case
where the resolution failed to bear the county
seal, or the proper signatures of the Com
missioners
THE MISSING NOTE.
c. II. Tyson was affirmed Am President
of the Safe Deposit Bank of Pottsville. |
frequently negotiate loans with the County
Commissioners by telephones; of late years
that has been the practice cannot tell any
thing about the SIS, 600 loan of July 3. 1895.
any more than it was negotiated; cannot say
whether it was made with the full board of
Commissioners When the phone was not
used, messengers generally came from the
court with the necessary authority.
have no personal recollection of the matter
except the notes were always accompanied by
the resolutions. Mr.. Connell, l believe,
made application at the bank several times
for loans; don't think Mr.. Moser did; don't
know what became Of the note and resolu-
tion Of July 3. 1895, for $500 Mr. Haz-
zard looked after the details.
&. n. McGinnis, former paying teller of
the bank, was sworn; had no recollection of
paying any of these MONIES out, nor to whom
they were paid
b. w. Payne was recalled and produced
number of vouchers which he was requested
early in the day to bring.
IhE NolE OF JUNE D.
Horace f. Reber recalled | made up the
temporary loan statement referred to on
Monday from the notes, resolutions, papers,
&C., in the vaults of the Commissioners
office. Since | made up this record .he papers
have been handled by Mr.. Shortall and others.
They are not, therefore, in the order | left
them. As far as | can remember the notes
think were all cancelled. Witness never
wrote any resolutions. Mr.. Moser was the
typewriter, and think he did all that work
that is on the carbon copies. That was the
case with the various notes, and renewals
with the State Deposit Bank of Pottsvile
Mr.. Reber could not tell what became of the
carbon copies missing in two cases. Carbon
copies appeared not to be signed in any
instance. The note and resolutions of June
8, 1896 were shown witness. He had no
recollections of the carbon copy it was with
the papers found in the office. don't know
whom the cancellation was made. l don't
recOllect the settlement with the Safe De-
posit Bank had nothing to do with re-
ceiving cash from any of the banks.
Witness read the minutes of July g. 1895
1t shows the adoption of resolution author
izing temporary loan from the Safe De-
posit Bank. Commissioners Rentz and
Martin were present. The amount and con-
ditions of the loan are not named in the
minutes. Witness said the note of that date
is missing.
+ Mr.. Reber produced the registry book of
} the Treasurer's accounts. 1t contained the
receipts and disbursements 1t recorded an
entry of July2, 1895, which witness thought
should be July 3, for temporary loan from
! the Safe Deposit Bank of $4,000. A receipt
for the same from the Treasurer's office
5 shown the witness, He said it was filed in
? the vault but couldn't say how lsng it re-
mained there. 1t was subsequently found by
Mr.. Berner and C. G. Reed, of the Commits
sioners' office
The prceedings Of yesterday were marked
by some bitterness of rcpartee between Attor-
neys Ryon and Schalck which led Judge
. Bechtel to inform counsel that these side
: remarks would not be tolerated, and that he
{ would find way to stop it if persisted in.
The Judge is pushing the trial forward with
all the speed possible.
This morning he informed counsel that the
jury had complained they could not hear the
witnesses because the lawyers stood between
them. His Honor therefore instructed all
concerned that the space should be kept clear.
There are whisperings of sensation to be
sprung shortly, showing who got the money,
what they got if for, and why they failed to
1 return it, if they ever intended TO do so.
Chief Clerk Reber was recalled and swore
that he kept up the cash register to Decem-
Der, 1895, when he was assistant clerk. He
' worked at the book when he could get time
> Mr. COnnell started the register which had
10 not been Kept by any Of his predecessors.
= Clerk Schmidt kept the register after Reber
was was assigned to other work and there
was no entry made in it later than February
Witness read the minutes of September 4th,
1895 and answered that they contained no
reference to the renewal of the SIS 900 note
of July 3, 1898, the only entry was a ditto"
= The minutes of September 30th showed the
Commissioners spent the day adjusting ASSESS
S ments.
IS The November minutes have no reference
v to the renewal of the notes, neither have the
4 January minutes; but the minutes of Jan
- uary Is, 1896, refer to the payment of an
other loan for $50 900 from the Safe deposit
Bank, on that date. The minutes of March
o, 1895, recite the renewal of $4,000 loan
from the Safe Deposit B INK for 90 days at S
+ per cent interest; Iha minutes of April 2,
y 1896, tell of 50 600 loan ON same bank
The carbon copy Of the resolution author
e iZing this loan shows that there was an erase
ment Of the figures $4,000. and that S., 600
was written over it.
The minutes of June 9Th, 1896, refer TO the
renewal of So, 600 note and have no refer