Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-27
STATEMENTS
WERE SOLE TOPIC OF CONVERSE.
TON TODAY.
Gossip at District Building in Regard
to the Matter-Watson May
Be Released Soon.


report was given out late last evening by
Auditor Petty.
It was the purpose of the Commissioners
to give out the report and their official
action concerning it at the same time
The understanding was that action was to
be taken Immediately upon Mr.. Macfar-
lands return.
Mr.. Petty's report, addressed to the Com
missioners of the District of Columbia. was
handed to DR.. William Tindall. secretary
to the board, late yesterday afternoon by
one of the auditors messengers
1t was long past office hours. but DR..
Tindall had remained as usual, clearing up
the routine work on his desk. Commits
sioner West was just about to leave the
building when Dr. Tindall brought IN the
report. Commissioner West did not know
until last evening that the report had been
given out to the press from the auditors
office, when he was called up over the
phone and told that telegram from Mr..
Mcfarland stated he had no objection to
the publication of the statement.
Mr.. West said If such was the case he
too would consent to its use. The report
is printed elsewhere in The Star In full.
Commissioner West has had no talk with
Mr.. Petty since receiving the report The
auditor was at his Office this morning at
work as usual. He was closeted all Of yes
terday with three typewrtters preparing
his statement, which covered thirty-eight
clOsely-written pages.
Mr.. West had no comment to offer this
morning nor did Col. Biddle, the Engineer
Commissioner. There was board session
at II o'clock, but it was for the purpose of
considering a detail Of the lease of wharf
property to the Alexandria Ferry Company,
and the Petty-Watson affair was not dis
cuSSed.
Report Sole Topic of Conversation.
The report is the sole topic Of talk
Tn }d
plantations Mr.. Petty has commented freely
upon the statements of the Commissioners.
He blames Commissioner West for not in
forming him of Watson's record as for
mer inmate of the reform school on a
charge of forgery. He says Mr. West de-
clares he spoke to Mr.. Petty about it.
II told the Commissioner then" says Mr..
Petty, land l repeat the denial now, that
l never received, either from him or from
the ma jor of police, the slightest informa-
ton to the effect that Watson was, or ever
had been. a criminal.
Mr.. Petty quotes an alleged statement
from Mr. Macfarland in a morning newspa-
per to the effect that he had long thought
the system under which the assessment
fund was handled was not right
MIR. Petty declares 1t will be lifelong
regret with him that Mr.. Mcfarland did
not express the anxiety which it now
seems has burdened his thought respecting
the system which has obtained in the re-
ceipt and disbursement of moneys belonging
to the deposit and assessment fund"
Mr.. Petty criticises DIR. A. +. Pardon
quite bitterly for his failure to inform the
auditor Of Watsons record. 1t was while
in DR.. Fardons employ that Watson COM
mitted the forgery which sent him to the
reform school
Mr. Petty says DIR. Pardon was a visitor
to his office on many occasions and saw
Watson working there. Yet he remained
silent.
Mr.. Petty. Ito make this reference to my
valued but indiscreet friend were it not
that his public repetitions of these belated
disclosures have been exploited in the
newspapers to my disadvantage. leaving
me no alternative but this reply, which I
make with profound regret"
Explains Concealment of Defalcation.
Mr.. Petty explains his alleged conceal
ment of the Watson defalcation by re-
counting his efforts to secure restitution
from Watsons father-in-law. On the sub
ject of his not reporting the affair to the
Commissioners, he declares that he visited
Commissioner Macfarland's Office the morn
ing of June to acquaint him with the
facts. He was told the Commissioner was
busy. With ill-concealed Impotence he
awaited his turn to enter Finally he turn
ed to the Commissioners secretary and told
him his business was so urgent the Com
missioner should be interrupted.
Before this message could be delivered
Mr.. Petty was summoned before Commits
siOner West, who asked him as to the truth
of the report that had been brought to the
Commissioner by reporter for The Star.
Mr.. Petty explained to Commissioner West
that he was about to report the matter
when sent for.
There has been much discussion at the
building this morning on the course follow
ed by Mr. Petty in going to Mr. Macfar-
q n frSfc tha
news. Mr.. Petty's office is under the i'm
mediate supervision of Commissioner West,
and the auditor must consult with him first
concerning the details of affairs there
1t may have been that the auditor
thought the matter of such Importance he
would first acquaint the president of the
board. AS all the Commissioners are in
vested with equal authority, and as Mr.
West has charge Of the auditors office, 1t is
generally regarded that there was a viola
ton of Office practice and ethics in going to
Mr.. mcfarland first with a matter that
was under the supervision of colleague
Mr.. Pettys report is regarded at the
building in the nature of an address to the
public The auditor stated while the report
was in course of preparation that it would
be his defense. He has written along this
line entirely. The verbiage is quite fluent
and the rhetoric quite high-fown. The re-
port is out of the run of official commune
cations and is interesting from first to last.
In conclusion. the auditor says:
THE consciousness that for thirty-two
years, in season and out of season, 1 have
faithfully Striven with all the strength
and earnestness of my nature to serve the
best and highest interests of my fellow
citizens, with record upon which the
sunlight of heaven casts no shadow, is all
that has saved me from despair. and by
this record l am willing to stand or fall"
Light on Watson's Transactions
Mr.. Petty throws some very interesting
light upon Watson's transactions that has
not heretofore been made public.
He describes in interesting detail and
telling language the methods employed by
Watson to secure the checks which he
cashed at the various banks. Mr.. Petty
adds to the list of enterprises in which
Watson was interested number of new
ones. The list as outlined by Mr. Petty
follows:
Watson. 1t now seems. held an interest
in the News. played the races ran bar
Der shop. conducted lunch room. sold
patent medicines. owned an automobile
storage establishment, and dealt in gum
coats for street car motormen and con-
ductOrs. besides organizing a cooperative
cfof Ofu no