Sistersville daily oil review. [volume] (Sistersville, W. Va.) 1902-1905, 1903-03-30
THE CITY
CLERK SCANDAL

the Review appeared on the streets,
a second warrant for Capt. Pine
was issued and he Was again ar
rested and the case continued, the
Captain giving a bond for one
thousand dollars for his appearance
before Justice Of the Peace G L
Lowther This second warrant was
issued because the city authorities
were afraid he would leave and for
felt his bond for FIVE hundred dol
lars We now know that there is
such a man as James A Hart. L
Is In this mans name that SO many
orders have been issued and paid
Mr.. Hart Is the presidedt OF the
Spauldiug Land company, OF chi
cago. 1t will b. recalled that some
time since Capt. Pine was interested
Ia some lots In the city OF
Chicago and we believe he
bought some of the lots. In
looking over the papers 1t ap-
pears that one draft for consider
able sum was issued In the name of
James A. Hart. In the course of
business this draft has been re-
turned. 1t Is properly endorsed
James A. Hart and the Spaulding
Land company, of chicago. But
the trouble Is the city council did
not buy any lots of Mr. Hart nor
the Spaulding Land company, so
the clerk evidently VS. getting
money for his own use.
Another scheme has been un-
earthed. 1t appears that large
order amounting to something like
$325, was issued to Bentley & Ger
wig, of Parkersburg. The order
was issued for this amount and was
properly sigued by c. W. G:ler,
mayor and J H. Pine, clerk. The
clerk 1t is said, had purchased about
SIS worth of furniture from this
firm at Parkersburg The bill
for SIS was allowed. The
order was changed from $25
to S325, a draft was sent to Bentley
& Gerwig for the full amount and
In time returned properly endorsed
by this firm It's supposed that
Capt Pine bought a small lot of
furniture for the city to get the
order issued, then purchased much
larger bill tor him self, raised the
order to cover both amounts and
paid the account In full. The Draft,
of course, was returned properly
endorsed and nobody had any cause
to be suspicious of anything being
wrong.
A draft for snug sum turns up
In the city papers properly endorsed
Iby a firm in New York City that
deals In china. Evidently 1t paid
for bill of china the Captain had
used in his own private affairs.
Its heart sickeuing to report
these details of the Captains wrong
doing. We hear on all sides, from
all classes ar d conditions of people
the deepest sympathy. All day
yesterday the matter was discussed
and almost everybody WAS hoping
the charges could be cleared up,
but there seems 10 be no hope that
such happy condition of things
will occur. Captain Pine had hun
dreds of warm friends. To all ap-
pearence he was the very soul of
honor. Hd paid his debts prompt
ly, he was apparently a model
clerk, he was always at his desk,
kind and courteous to everybody,
fue penman. an officer who
seemed to have no equal, citizen
that was always to the front taking
an active part In everything that
would improve the city, he was
kind to his family, diligent and
active in church work and appar.
antly 10 deep earnestness in all he
did. His department was exem
plary. This IS all true and more
too. He does not enjoy good health
and his illness created much
sympathy for him. He was neat in
his dress, molest, an active party
man and everybody thought he
was perfectly honest and nobody
high or low questioned but what he
was honest to the very penny. Why
did he do as he has no doubt done?
Why would he take the citY's
money In such a bold way and In
such sums? Why should he risk
what he knew would end in detec-
tion and DISGRACE and punishment