Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-10
WILL BE PROSECUTED
Alleged Shortage in'Uoal Deliveries
by Local Dealer.
JOHN KENNEDY rs UNDER CHARGES
Enters a Denial to the Accusation
and Courts Inquiry.
PROVISIONS OF THE LAW

PROVE SONS OF THE LAW
AS the result Of an Investigation which
has been in progress since early last Oc-
tober, John Kennedy, a dealer in wood and
coal, will, upon the complaint of the Dis
trict authorities, be prosecuted for an al
legged violation Of act of Congress of
March 2 1895. That act provides. among
other things, that any person who shall
deliver or attempt to deliver coal of less
weight than that set down in the certifi-
| cate accompanying the load. shall be fined
not more than 500 and the costs of the
prosecution the person convicted to be
| imprisoned In default for not more than
| six months in jail.
The District Commissioners early last
| October were informed by Mr.. John T.
| Freeman, supervising principal of the Van
| Buren, public school, that the janitor of
the school. R. A. Estep. had complained to
| him that a consignment of coal appeared
| to be short in weight, as compared with a
| like quantity furnished the previous year
| by Mr.. V. Baldwin Johnson Mr.. Free
| man is said to have investigated the COM
plant, and is reported to have discovered
| that like complaints had been made at the
| Cranch. Tyler and Buchanan schools, and
| also that the coal was of an inferior quail
| lty. The Commissioners directed that the
| complaints be referred to Mr.. John c. How
ard, the fuel inspector of the District, who
| is said to have admitted leaving certificates
signed by him in blank with one firm for
wood, but coal certificates with no one.
Later, the matter was referred to In
| spector Mattirgly of thsp detective corps,
\ who assigned Detective Parham to the
case, Inspector Vermillion of the building
| inspectors office being detailed to assist
| him. A further complaint was made to
the officers to the effect that number of
certificates purpOrting to have been signed
| by Mr.. Howard were forged. The officers
conferred with the janitors at the different
schools, and received statements from them
as to the alleged shortages. Janitor Estep
! is reported to have stated that the quantity
| of coal received this fall not only appeared
| TO be short, but that it did not last as long
| by month.
The Loads Inspected.
Learning that Mr.. kennedy's men were
delivering coal at the Dennison school
building Saturday afternoon, Detective
Parham and Inspector Vermillion went
there and intercepted seven loads of coal
The wagons were driven to the yard of Mr.
w. M. Harper, 14th and r streets, where
upon being weighed, the officers claim, a
material shortage was discovered in each
wagon load. Detective Parham also alleges
that shat h; ne discovered that Ynder the drivers
seat in each wagon was found a box which
contained nut COAL =
The Commissioners this morning held a.
meeting which continuedi.until after noon,
curing which the officers Mr.. Howard, Au-
dltor Petty and Mr.. Kennedy were ex-
amined. Upon the conclusion Of the meet
Ing, Commissioner Ross said that the state
ments of all the par16es had been heard and
tnat lhe Commissioners had determined
that Mr.. Kennedy shall he prosecuted for
the alleged shortage. MEs Ross also stated
that the Commissioners had concluded that
MI. howard should have more assistance,
as 1t appeared to them that he could not
Doth accurately weigh tho coal and watch
the makeup of the loads without assist
ance. In fact, explained Mr. Ross the
commissioners will seer that hereafter
greater precautions are taken to prevent
fraud IN such matters,sI tai - 3"f.l .-.
Inspector Howargi's Statement.
Speaking to Star reporter, Mr.. Howard,
the District fuel inspector. stated that if
any certificates had been forged he was
| unaware of it. He does not believe that
any have been. for, as he explained, he
writes such a peculiar hand that it would
require skilled forger to initiate his hand
writing. Mr.. Howard also explained that
the loads which came back Saturday had
| been weighed by him on their return to
Mr.. kennedy,s yard, and. while he had
then found differences of from fifteen to
| thirty pounds in each load, the differences
We're somewhat under those ordinarily ex-
| pected under such circumstances and rem
resentlns nothing more, in his opinion,
| than the loss in weight of the horses in
pulling the loads, and the loss of coal from
| the wagons occasioned by travelling to and
| from the school. AS to the alleged boxes
urder the drivers seats which are charged
| to have contained from POO to 300 pounds
| OF coal, Mr.. Howard said he knew nothin 2
| OF them, supposing that they merely con-
! tanned the dinner paiis and other like per-
sonal belongings of the drivers
Commissioner Wight, In speaking of the
matter today, said that Immediately upon
| the receipt of the complaints last October.
precautions had been taken to protect the
District, and Auditor Petty had been
directed to hold up enough money due Mr.
Kennedy to more than supply any short
ages, if any should be shown to have oc.
CURED. He also explained that while there
appeared to have been differences between
| the loads as they left Mr. Kennedy's yard
and when they were weighed by the Off
GERS, of nearly three hundred pounds, vet
| the Commissioners refrained from express
| Ing themselves as to the correctness Of
| the charges. They were, however of the
very decided opinion that such a case had
been made out warranted them in bring
ing it to the attention of the court.
MIR. Kennedy Explains.
Mr.. Kennedy said this morning to Star
| reporter at the District building
Il do not see how any fraud or forgery
can be proved against me in this matter
AS pure matter of fact, was we'll aware
that a detective was busily engaged in
| trying to work up ease against me- He
| had been taking the names of the drivers
attached to my teams for some days. On
the day when the teams with the alleged
short-W eight coal III them were held up'
| this detective had teephoned to know
where the coal was beir7g sent, and we had
| answered, feeling perfectly well assured
what was going to be done. do not think
it is likely that under such circumstance
| l would send out wagons with short weight
in them The wagons contained loads
however, which were no heavier nor no
| lighter than usual. q
1.-The coal was being taken to the Dem
| nison scnCol. Seveny loads were weighed
| by the detective, l believe, three of which
were dumped and the other four returned
| 1 was not permitted to have the loads I
employed there by-<tlre District for the
purpose OF weighing, thencoal sent to the
schools. One of the loads returned which