New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1914-04-29
Expert" Given
Sudden Release
Hebron DiScredited and
His Work Will Be Of
No Value.
Wicherski Demands Full
RetractiOn From Journal
and Volksblatt.

At the special meeting Of the city coun-
Gil called to receive final report from
the finance committee, the much agitated
tangle in the auditing Of the citiy's ac-
counts came to an anti-climactic crisis.
The report was not forthcoming w. G.
Hebron & Co. refused to continue the
auditing of the books under their present
contract and were ordered to turn over
all work thus far accomplished to the
finance committee This move COM
pletely sewers Mr.. Heilbron's connection
with the city, Ernst Wicherski, the
former city clerk, was present at the
meeting and was given an opportunity to
speak. He made very favorable i'm
preston upon the council when he gave
a detailed statement of all his actions
during the investigation and squarely
met all the questions which were put to
him.
The meeting was called to order at $50
and the city fathers promptly settled
!. down to work. F. H. Retzlaff, chairman
= of the finance committee, read commu-
nication from Mr.. Hebron in which he
stated, in substance, that owing to the
unpleasantness which has arisen it would
be impossible for him to continue to
audit the books OF: the city under his
present contract. He therefore asked
for new contract under which he might
carry the work thru to completion. In
case the city should not agree to give him
a new contract he expressed his readiness
to deliver all data thus far collected to
any reputable accountants that they
might continue with the work.
Mr.. Hebron was then asked for his
final report but declared that he had none
to make at the present time and reiterat-
ed what had just been presented in his
letter.
Alderman Ruemke then asked why, il
Hebron had no report to make, a pre-
liminary report had been given to the
public Mr.. Hebron declined to ex-
= plain this as he declared it would involve
unnecessary personalities.
He was then requested to produce the
preliminary reports but said he was un-
able to do so as they were not in bis
possession. When asked where they were
his only reply was that they would be
produced at the proper time. This
emulation of President Wilson's policy
of watchful waiting on the part of the
accountant seemed to produce consider.
able wrath among the city fathers anc
many opinions, none of them favorable
were expressed as to his business methods
As Attorney Somsen tersely expressed
himself. ''That report is the property Of
the City of New Ulm and no man has any
more right to take it away than he has te
60 to the city vault and steal any othel
city paper. And the same methods may
be used to recover the citys property ii
either CASE Finally after good Bit
Of desultory recrimination the following
resolution was drawn up and passed:
Whereas, w. C. Hebron and Co
have in writing cancelled their present
! contract to audit the books, records anc
vouchers of the City of New Ulm anc
have declined to continue the audit Of
said books and records under their present
contract: g..
Now, therefore, Be It Resolved by the
City Council of New Ulm that the en-
ployment OF said w. C. Hebron & Co
to audit said records and vouchers be
terminated at once and that they be
directed, to forthwith deliver and turr
over to the City of New Ulm the pre-
liminary report of their said audit here
tofore submitted by them to the finance
committee, together with any and al
other data and records and reports
covering their audit of said books, records
and vouchers to this date, anC
in the event that said data be not sc
turned aver and delivered to the city or
or before P. M. Of April Is, 1914, the
finance committee and the City Attorney
be instructed to employ all legal means
to compel the delivery of said documents
and data to the City of New Ulm'
:. Mr.. Dougherty of the accounting firm
Of Trane, Dougherty & Co. then ex
planned his firms connection with tn,
Hebron Company. He said Heilbro,
had employed the firm he represented
in an advisory way but that he had nj
connection with the firm beyond thi
and could not have as they employ onl,
chartered accountants. He then showed