The Oskaloosa herald., 1905-02-16
SERIOUS CHARGES
FILED WITH CITY
SOLICITOR oRvlS ACCUSES AL
DERMAN kENWoRTHY.
SAYS HE TRIED TO MULCH CITY
Mr.. kenworthy Denies the ACCUSE.
ton in Ringing Terms and
Courts Complete investigation
will Probe Matter.

Charges of a sensational nature
were lodged at last nights city coun,
Gil meeting by City Solicitor oryrs
against Alderman Kenworthy Of the
Second ward. Mr.. Orvis GUS Mr.,
Kenworthy of attempting to "mulct
he city and taxpayers" to use ene
words of the written charge filed
with the city clerk, by bringing claim
against the city, which was barred
by the statute Of limitations.
The claim alleged to have been
brought by the councilman was that
OF Mrs. Miriam ]. Wheeler, a widow
having nine children, who, according
to Mr.. Orvis, believed that she had a
claim for damage gainst the city.
The city solicitor charges that as at
torney acting for the woman the
councilman took care of the claim.
In the report made to the city coun.
Gil Mr.. Orvis declares that he has
the contract made between Mr.. Ken.
worthy and the lady. This contract
he says was bound by $500 as a re-
tainer fee.
According to the contract, says
Mr.. Orvis, Kenworthy was to receive
thirty per cent of the amount recelv.
ed by the woman from the city.
The matter was brought before the
council, it is said, and was referred
to the city solicitor for his opinion.
The report was adverse and the mat
ter was dropped by the council.
ne report also asks that the
council investigate Mr.. Kenworthy's
actions as committeeman in the mat
ter Of the ownership of that part OF
West Fifth Avenue between the 20"
tracks and the right of way of the
Central. Mr.. Kenworthy was ap'
pointed to investigate the matter for
the city and Mr.. Orvjs asks that the
council investigate. the report that
he also charged or attempted to
charge, Tom Long, the party whose
claim was adverse to the city, for
his services in the matter.
Mr.. Kenworthy Makes Denial.
Mr.. Kenworthy Immediately after
the presentation of the report to the
city council denied the charges In
full, and charged that they were ar
attempt to maliciously hurt nim il
the city. Turn the glare Of the
light on all the facts" said Mr.. Ken
worthy. zone story is good until
another is told. l brand the charg
es in that report as absolutely and
unqualifedly false. Under my oath
l deny all the allegations Of the city
solicitor and brand all the charges as
an attempt to willfully and malic
iously hurt me with the people oil
the city of Oskaloosa. They are
made by my personal enemy, by a
man who has stated that this coun'
Gil was a boodling body, and since
he had not long to stay as a city OF
ficer ne proposes to clean the rotten
ness out of it. l am an attorney.
accepted the woman's case as a mat
ter of business. The worst thai
may be said is that l acted in bad
taste. I took no part in the action Of
the council on the petition. The
money paid to me was paid to cover
costs, in filing papers and for oficia,
service, and has since been return
ed to the lady in question. l tool
that Isl in good faith. The charg
es in regard to Fifth Avenue / branc
as false. This is the cowardly worl
of a personal enemy"
Committee Will Investigate.
Following Mr.. Kenworthy's heated
denial and denunciation Of the charg
es, the mayor, upon motion Of Coun
Gilman Mccall, appointed a commit
tee to investigate the same. The
committee is composed of Council
men Augustine, chairman, Christ!
and Turner.