The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1899-03-18
THE TAX
INQUIRY !
Little Progress Made in the Scanlan
Case YeSterd y.
THE HEARING CLOSED SUDDENLY
Nr vhalsn one Of the Counsel Opposing
the Bondsmen's Application. Gives
Notice That he win Urge the
Proceedings to an Early
Conclusion.

The proceedings at Pottsville, before Com
missioner Martin F Moore, on the rule to
open the judgment on the 1896 bond Of Tax
Receiver NJ. J. Scanlsn, of town was closed
temporarily yesterday afternoon after an un-
interesting session. During the morning
session the array Of counsel for the bond1men
prosecuted an inquiry that bid fair 10 keep
witnesses ON the stand until late hour in
the day, but after the noon recess the pro-
ceedings assumed a dilatory, uncertain shape,
and finally several of the witnesses who had
been held in attendance were allowed to de-
part without being called to the stand.
immediately after the recess W. J. Watkins,
former Secretary Of the Borough Council.
was called to the stand but was dismissed
without tcross-examipation after being asked
a few question as to entries in the Council
minute book. He was asked if a tax dupli-
cate was given to Mr. Scaulan by Council at
any time during 1896, or if the minute book
contained an entry showing such a delivery
The witness said he could not say without
reference to the minutes. As this would take
some time the witness was allowed to leave
the stand.
Mr.. Scanlan was then recalled and test fed
that his term as Receiver of Taxes expired on
the first Monday of April, 1897.
Mr.. Reilly: State whether or not up 10 that
time, the first Monday of April 1897, there
was delivered to you, or placed in your hands
by the Town Council, or any Of the officials
a duplicate and warrant authorizing the col.
lection of any borough taxes for 1896?
Mr.. Scanlan answered No" after Mr.
Whalen had objected to the question on the
ground that it was iminaterial and irrelevant
to the issue.
On CrOss-examination by Mr.. Whalen, Mr.
Scanlan testified that he received the 1895
duplicate in December, 1897 but that he had
collected taxes for 1896 before that
Q. How did you collect the borough taxes {?
A. From the last duplicate.
Q. The Borough Council then, had fixed
the rate of taxation for borough purposes2
A. don't know whether they had, or not
| think l spoke to the Finance committee
about it and they told me the tax rate would
be the same as the year previous. collected
at the same rate as 1895.
Mr.. Scanlan closed his testimony by stat
ing, in answer to questions by Mr. Reilly,
that all the 1895 borough taxes he collected
up to the first Monday of April, 1897, he
turned over to the borough treasurer, and
they amounted to about S24, 900.
Counsel for the bondsmen then asked Mr..
Whalen if he desired to introduce any testi-
mony, and the latter replied in the negative,
whereupon MI. Reilly said he was desirous of
having a postpOnement. Mr.. Whalen then
said that the proceedings should be delayed
as little as possible, as delays worked justice
to neither the bondsmen, nor the borough,
nor school district. He added that he had
been prepared for argument in the 1895 case,
but as matter of professional courtesy to
Mr. Wadlinger, who is i'll, he had consented
to postponement. However, ''as some of the
bondsmen are getting away from US through
Sheriff IS sales it will not be policy to delay
the proceedings much longer.
1t was finally agreed that the proceedings
be postponed until next Thursday.