The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1898-03-16
NEWS FROM P0TTSVILLE.
Lawyers on the witness stand in Com
missioner Meyers Case.


missioner meyers '"s''
Special TO EVENING HERALD
pottsvilIa March ia -Tbe ectb dav of
Cl,a,ia, ,ra,.,rs, triol ,,os
~ '''''' 'o' ''',
iu"Iheu ny very SUI" "IIenua"Vc, 'o"H
McGurl, Esq, son OF Contractor DANIEL NC
Curl and the latter's confidential clerk and
legal advisor, was put through severe ex-
animation ms to the extrgs. the charges for
,,Iicb bo ,d,,itt,d an tho stand Notbipg
''',, ', ,....,t,t -
W '''Po' ''"Vv ""' 'uu-"' o"'
AlthllecI nm ; It9uH"ny ue'e'oPou wv
lact that in spite oil the absence ol MS ap-
prOval Of many items Of the contracts their
paymcnt was ordered by the Commissioners,
i,cI,dip, tho daf,udant Un had condemned
,t' t,.it,r -. 'I,,, raaen, inyoI,i,,a
s9S -r,,,5 ,,|s ;,o,,, ,,.',g ,,aiJ S,,nn ~ tbe
,','" ., -,
arc liEnI9 N'Ir pau" Ioi 'N'e V"ii"s ~ Soilo @
JuEEu"I VI ".9'"Nc J." '"e "", VI VNV"'
whieh ne had not approved Inc Judge
asked the witness a pointed question IN refer
once To these llghts. he extras ON the hshts
amounted To S5I5. lie clAlmtu lhere were
$50 iucaudescent and SIX arc lights, ana not
Nl5, the number claimed by the prosecution.
Expert Meyers, of Philadelphia, dlsallowed
~, 300 ON the different items OF McGurl
contract, but the Commissioners deducted
thercfrom the actual cost of the defective
work, reducing the amount to ~, ,632 10.
They then allowed S6l5 73 on extras Among
these defects were window fasteners in the
hospital worth $ cents each, when the specl-
icatiuus called for 81 fasteners. The hinges
put in cost 5 %, instead of g go. The
painting omitted was worth from S25 to $45.
Thomas W. lIademan, Manager of the
Edison Electric Light Company. said Il far
price for the extra lights charged for at the
rate of 81 so by the Almshouse contractor
/ would be from g. to 81 80 for concealed work
and about 81 30 for open work.
William Wilhelm Esq, testified that John
/ =. Martin, then candidate for prison warden,
and now County Commissioner, had in Jan
/ uary, 1892, been appointed by County Com
missioners Bowes and Reed. The court re-
/ fusing to confirm the nomination Martin en-
gagged John w. RyOn and witness as counsel
aud later upon Mr. Wilhe.m's sug-
gestion, George j. Wadlinger, Esquire,
had been added to the list Of counsel.
/ Commissioners BOwes and Reed had employed
/ the witness Mr.. Wilhelm admitted that he
borrowed and received from Martin $50 or SbC
on account in 1892 Whom he was short he
borrowed of Martin. As soon as he had been
reimbursed by County Commissioners Meyers
Martin and Rentz in January, 1897, by an
order on the County Treasurer ho repaid thC
balance that he owed to Martin; he got SlO'
from the county on his personal bill IN Janu'
AIRY aud last year also drew Sl25 for services
John w. Ryon had rendered. 1t had taker
him some time to induce Commissioners
Reutz and Martin to pay the bill. lie dldn
bother with Meyers because he thought II
was none Of his business. Meyers, however
had signed the order. Mr.. Schalck wa
somewhat stirred by this answer and asked
several pointed questions The resolutions
from the minutes dated March ~ ls72, "a'
offered. 1t stated that the Commissioners
had decided to continue the employment o
Messrs Ryon and Wilhelm as counsel in the
Martin confirmation proceedings but no recort
!
or produced. Mr.. Wilhelm said he dldn
think there was any such minute IN existence
and that for this reason the resolution
March ~, 1897, was intended TO be retroactive
Mr. Wilhelm said Martin wanted to with
draw from the fight for Warden and they
had quite a time to stitien up his backbone
He, Wilhelm, had threatened the COmmls
slOners with suit If they dldn pay his Dill
Mr.. Whalen And you got the money ou
Of the county to stitien up his backbone.
Hon. John w. Ryon was sworn and said
in answer to Mr.. Schalck, that he had beel
employed by John L. Martin IN the conilrma
} ton proceedings and that Martin paid hin
SIPS carly in 1892 in full for his fees liz
said the order on the bill paid by the count!
in January, 1897, assigning Sl25 to MT. WI
helm was in his handwriting. Mr. Wilhelm
had told him the County COmmmlsslOner
had decided TO repay Mr.. Martin the Sl2
Mr.. Martin had paid HIM and he gave MI
Wilhelm authority to draw the money an
pay it to whomeyer it belonged, That wa
all he knew about it,. IL was none Q
his business if MIR; Wilhelm got IN
money and handed 1t over to IN
person it belonged to. lie heard nothln
further of the subject until he read about
in the newspapers.
Cross examination by Mr.. Nadllhge
brought out the fact the proceedings went
far that hr, Ryon had notlhed Judge fersh
ing that he would apply to the Suprem
Court for mandamus to compel tins court I
t do their duty and confirm the nomination
Mr. Martin for warden. A week later, an
before an appeal was taken, MarUh al