The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-09-29


when he did this he wanted to pay for
flour.
When the appropriation ordinance
was passed by councils in March, 1899,
Mr.. Mckinney called at his office sew
eral times and asked him to sign IT,
There was no mention made of money.
This ordinance. it might be mentioned
appropriated S17 800 to pay for the first
years work under the provisions of
the repair contract.
on Monday, April 6, the mayors
term would expire and on Sunday,
April 5, Mr. Finn made an en-
gagement by telephone for the
mayor to meet Mr.. Finn and
Mckinney at Alr. Bailey's store
that afternoon. The ordinance had
then been in the mayors hands since
March %. The two men came to the
store together and Mr.. Mckinney said
he would pay $3.50 if he would sign
the ordinance.
Mr. Finn said that was not enough,
that the mayor ought to have $1,000,
and MIR. Bailey insisted that he would
not sign it for less than $1,000. Mr..
Mckinney said the company could not
pay that amount. but finally agreed
to give $500. This was rejected by the
mayor. and Mr. Finn and Mr.. McKin-
ney left the store, the latter stating
he would see Mr.. Bailey at his Office
the following morning.
Soon after 9 o'clock on Monday
morning. Mr.. Mckinney appeared in
the mayors private office and laying
$3.50 i'm bills on his desk told him to
sign the ordinance and the money was
his. The mayor refused to do ii for
less than $1,000 and Mr. Mckinney left
the office, taking his money with him.
The mayor then went over to the city
'Teasurer's ofiic" to settle some matters
there before retiring from office. He
talked over the appropriation ordi-
nance matter with City Treasurer G..
G. BOland, City Controller f.. j. Rob-
inson and Mr.. Finn, all of whom We're
in the office at the time and they ad
vised him to veto the item of S17,500
for the repair of asphalt paved streets.
He could not understand Mr.. Finns
change of front. The day before he
was in favor of having the ordinance
signed if Mr. Mckinney would give
| 81, 900. Now he wanted the material
| item vetoed.
While the mayor was falling with
these men messenger summoned him
| to his office where he again found Mr..
Mckinney. The latter laid $1,000 in
| bills on his desk and told him to sign
the ordinance. He refused the money
telling Mr.. Mckinney he had decided
to veto the Barber item and he walked
out of his private Office He vetoed the
| item as he said he would.
MADE DENIALS.
The witness denied that Mr.. McI[in-
ney threatened to have the measure
| passed over his veto and he also denied
| that anything connected with his set
| tlement of the matter Of police fines
! with the city treasurer had anything
| to do with causing him to refuse at the
last minute to accept Mr.. Mckinney $
81 900.
Under cross examination Mr.. Bailey
was asked if he did not testify at a
previous hearing that he did not receive
| any money in connection with the as
| phalt contract ordinance and admitted
that he did.
Did you perjure yourself then ol
now?" Mr. OBrien asked.
The former mayor lowered his head
blushed scarlet and then said in a low
but distinct voice:
"I perjured myself at the former
hearing"
Mr.. O'Brien wanted to know why he
Swore falsely at the former hearing and
Mr. Bailey replied that he was taker
off his guard and did what he supposed
any man would do under the Clrcum'
stances, try to cover up his misdeeds
Since then by the advice of friends ant
through the dictates of his conscience
he decided to tell the truth. He de-
MED that promises of any kind Were
made to him. 1t was his own vOlun'
tary act, he said.
He admitted having been in the of
flee of f. c. Newcomb, one of the at
torneys fol the Mems union bur de
MED that he signed statement there.
Mr.. Bailey said in the most positive
way that the only time Mr.. Finn eVel
gave him money for signing an ordi
nance was when he signed the asphal
contract ordinance. He would not ad
nit thar he was altogether induced Il
sign that measure by the 81 900 paid t
him. He might have signed it anyway
for good many people We're in favo
Of 1t.
WANT THE BOOKS.
Attorney James II. lblltN announced
at the close of Mr.. Bailey's eXamina
tion that they We're not prepared to 81
any further with the hearing at tina
time. They had subpoenaed the books
of the company but owing to the man
ager being absent from the city at thi
time did not press the bookkeeper t.
produce them He has been with tn
company only since last July and salt
he would go to Jail for contempt rathe
than produce the books desired in tn
absence of his superiOrs. They har
no desire to be harsh with the youn!
man who was trying to do his duty T.
his employers as he saw it, Mr., Tore,
said. and would wait Tor the return O
Manager GrlfHths. The hearing wa
. accordingly adjourned until next Tues
day evening.
After the hearing +. b. Sturges, O
the Mems union, when asked by
: Tribune man whether or not the unio
; would proceed against Mr.. Bailey said
ITS "A little early for us TO say wha
we will do in that case. 7 can say this
l however. that the men who come fol
. ward and tell the truth even at thi
late day will fare better than the me
who go on the stand and deliberatel
perjure themselves
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