East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1906-12-14

]. r. Hinkle. councilman from the
Fourth ward. has fallen into trouble
with other members OF the city Off
cial family and as a result OF the jar
the West Court street alderman has
parted with his position as head OF
the levee committee. THIS fact has
become known, and coupled with
other things in connection Herewith
the affair makes a story that Is de-
cidedly sensational.
At the star chamber" session of
the council held after the regular
meeting Wednesday night. the i'm
portant subject for consideration was
not the financial affairs OF the city
as declared after the adjournment.
Instead OF that the theme was the
councilman from the Fourth ward,
and his conduct as chairman Of the
levee committee. Regarding the de-
tails OF what took place at the secret
session there is much mystery for the
reason that those present were
pledged to secrecy. But the. maxim
that murder will out has ever APP
piled to secret council meetings, and
Il did so this time, for the mystery
has leaked forth from numerous
places.
As told by one councilman and cor
roborated by admissions from others
the story is as follows:
Murphy the Accuscr.
At the after-meeting Wednesday
night Hinkle was directly accused by
Councilman Murphy. another member
OF the levee committee and chairman
OF the council, of improper conduc'
while serving as chairman OF the i'm
portant levee committee and his res
ignation was demanded.
The most definite point upor
which the levee chairman was CEN
sured was in connection with the pur'
chase by the city of the w. F. MAT
lock barn on West Court street. Ih'
barn was upon land needed by th'
city for levee purposes when th'
course OF the wall was changed. "
order to secure a right of way through
the property the city, presumani'
through the levee committee chalr
man. paid Mr.. Matlock 1915 Tor MI
barn. The building was then SOLD D!
the city for SIS. that being the high
cot nrice the lumber would bring.
The objectionable feature of tn
deal In the eyes of Mr.. Murphy wa
the fact that after the city mad pai'
S375 for the barn II did not secur'
title to the hand other than that por
tion actually occupied by the levee
The remainder of the lot was secured
nv Mr.. ,Hinkle himself through pri
yate deal with Mr.. Matlock, the price
OF 500 being paid for the property
Since securing the lot the west en'
councilman has improved the same D!
crect,ng n wall on the side agains
the levee. A.
That the complaint made by Mr
,,,,rnbv whatever It may have been
had effect, is indicated by the rae
that Mr.. Hinkle rendered MS resigha
tion as chairman of the levee com
mittee.
sxvearirrcn Now Chairman.
When seen this morning Councii
man Murphy was found very re'icen
ohout the affair. However. he ad
nitted that he was engaged In figh
,,,,tr the former levee chairman, tina
NJ Jin,tIe had ceased TO be the com
mittee chairman and that the mono
was now held by Councilman swear
ingen. Furthermore he declared Una
there were "other things charged Vi
against Councilman Hinhe, but re
pard,ng these he declined Go go int
particulars.
The "Other Charges
As to lust what the other charge
o,a,nst Mr., Hinkle consist of tn
councilmen are reticent regardin
them: but It is presumed that the
are in connection with the fourt