New-York tribune., 1901-03-20
WORK HALTED FOR INQUIRY
NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM TRUSTEES
INVESTIGATING BILLS.
MOTION TO SET ASIDE DEFAULT JUDGMENT
AGAINST WILLIAM WALLACE. WHO RE
GENTLY RESIGNED AS MUSEUM
BUILDING SUPERINTENDENT.

BUILDING SUPERINTENDENT
Before Justice Marean, in the Supreme Court,
to-day there will be argued a motion to set
aside judgment by default of 81, 16S 20 against
William Wallace, formerly the superintendent
of buildings of the American Museum of Natu-
raj History, in favor Of George w Chesley a
contractor, and reopen the case. Chesley, who
has for several years been doing work for the
museum, principally building cases alleges in
his original complaint that Wallace borrowed
from him between August l, 1896. and January
l. 1901, $9,96I. of which he paid back $6995,
This money, Chesley saws. Wallace borrowed on
the pretext that it was to be used to carry on
the business and work of the museum.
When Wallace resigned his position as super
intendent of buildings at the Museum there
was still, says Chesley. $297O due him. and for
this he sued, At the time of Wallace's
resignation the officers Of tie Museum began
an Investigation of the books TO ascertain if
there had been any rregularty. They at the
same time sent letters to the various contractors
doing work the Museum, informing them
that any work done pending the conclusion OF
the investigation would be done at the con-
tractors risk The investigation was because OF
allegations that some of the bills presented
for work done and material furnished were ex-
orbitant 1t has also been said that large
OF contracts have been awarded which
never contemplated by the officers Of the rnu-
scum.
Edward NJ. Shepard. OF Parsons Shepard &
Ogden, the counsel fer the museum said yes
terday:
~. ! DO not know how the difficulty between Mr.
tention OF the museum but l suppose upon some
bills which he supposed the city owed him I prefer
TO say nothing as to whether Mr.. Wallace resigned
10 whether Mr. Wallace did or did not borrow Nv
money from contractors. but can say that neither
he, he nor any other employe OF the museum
had any right TO borrow money from anv
cy work Tms and "I5s fba RSn the museum Is
The museum has suspended approval OF certain
3iis m & gnt i can satisfy itself Of the propriey of
they were OF fun value and the like. The museum
Is examining al OF the accounts. am not aware
examination made by the museum will deal with
given by proper authority whother iss,ei eTo h
MT Wallace or anybody else; The museum has
any work would be done at their risk.
Wallace, in his application TO have the case
reopened. denies that he represented himself as
borrowing money from Chesley for the use of
will show that the money has all been repaid.
Henry Smith counsel for Wallace said yester-
day that Wallace had told him that Ches-
ley and he Old friends and had been
accustomed for years to exchange notes and
checks. The money lent by Chesley TO Wallace
between 1896 and 1901 had been lent In this
way, and had been repaid as accurate ac-
counting would show. Wallace. said Mr. Smith
had n milk station at Cobleskin SChOhare
County and he supposed that the money had
been used there. Wallace had told him that
the museum had investigated his accounts and
found that there was no irregularity.