The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-08-18
DIR. SITTERLEY
HAS THE FLOOR
City Veterinarian Tells About His
Part in the Horse Deal-$25
Joke on Finn.

At least one OF the six horses be-
longing to the city and recently sold
under peculiar circumstances, will be
returned to the city If desired. That
is the horse purchased by DR.. Sitterly,
the veterinary surgeon, for $50. The
doctor said to a Tribune man yester-
day that he'd be very glad to get his
$50 back as he now realizes that the
horse wasn't worth that amount at ALL
so he says.
The veterinarian says that he is not
prepared to make a statement just
yet as TO his connection with the deal
but states that when he does make
one he will be able to satisfactorily
clear himself of all charges, and also
at the same time let out a few things
not yet mentioned. II wish that
could have had the floor and the free
use of my voice for about fifteen
minutes on Thursday night" said he,
'and I'd have told them a few things
that they couldn't answer.
MORE TO FOLLOW.
There's no man owns a hair Of my
whiskerg. and want that understood.
My connection with this deal as they
call 1t, was a perfectly honorable one,
as will be explained later on at the
proper time. l bought the horse for
$50, paid the money to Cobb, and am
sore of my bargain now. I'd willingly
give the horse back if l could get my
money. The man who could take
those six horses out and get $3.50 for
them would have to be pretty good
dealer"
OF course, as is usual in such cases,
Mr.. Vaughans motives are already
beginning to be questioned. The
stories include everything from an al
legged motive of securing DR.. Sitterly's
place for a friend, to an allegation
that he started the investigation to
get even with Wade Finn for the lat
| tcr's refusal on several occasions to
report on the reorganization ordinance
drawn up by Mr.. Vaughan and Mr..
| Chittenden, and for his (Finns) all
around opposition to the plan of re-
organizing the fire department. Mr.,
! Vaughan laughs these charges off
| however, and says that he was
prompted solely because he thinks 1t
| time for the city to get the best end
of the bargain when a horse deal is
on. "They can't scare us off by any
such charges as those" said ihe yes
! terday.
POOR EXCUSE.
The fact that it has been always
| the custom in the past for the pur-
chasing committee of the fire depart
ment, which consists of the chair
man of both fire committees and the
chief, to sell the old horses in the
department, is no argument, Mr. Vau-
oh fn n NIrh hy
this should be continued indefinitely.
He believes that every time a new
horse or horses are purchased that the
old ones should be sold at auction to
the highest bidder by a person duly
authorized by councils.
1t is now contended by some that
not only the sale but also the pur-
chase of the horses was illegal, as
their purchase was ordered by resolu-
| tion and not by ordinance. The reso-
luton read pending the passage of
an ordinance" but no such ordinance
| has as yet been introduced, let alone
| passed.
The reason advanced by those who
| sold the horses for their turning the
money over to Cobb, instead of to the
| city treasurer, is that this was done
so that the city might be saved the
payment of six per cent. interest on
| this $3.50.
! A few who are trying to make a
| joke out of the case say it is whis-
pered on the side that Mr., Finn didn't
know until Thursday night that Nor,
ris V. Morris sold himself a horse foi
S25 and charged Finn $50 for another
and there are those who say that
| diplomatic relations between the two
councilmen from the Second are likely
to be broken off as a result.