The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1914-03-26


for laying the tile in the town of
Pleasant Prairie, but diselaimed any
dishonesty, wrong motives or misap-
preparation of funds.
In regard to the laying of the tile,
Mr.. Mcclellan says:
First, that he permitted the con-
tract for laying the tile to be changed
after consulting Mr.. Parsons, division
engineer of the Wisconsin Highway
Commission in 1918, and the city en-
gineer of Kenosha, but that he unin-
tentionally failed to obtain consent of
the Wisconsin Highway Commission to
the modifction of the contract.
Second, that he permitted inspectors
to serve upon the job without being in
possession at all times of plans and
specifications for the work.
Third, that he or his inspectors per
mitted Us to be put in the line of tile
so AUDITING owners could connect up
and allow sewerage or overflow water
to run in the tile.
Fourth, that he inadvertently made
final payment to the contractor for lay
ing the tile before asking the state
highway commission to ascertain wheth-
er or not it was laid to grade, or to
pass upon the work DONE
There could not very well have been
personal gains to Mr. Mcclellan on ac-
count of the careless and neglectful
manner in which the work was handled
in the laying of the tile in the town
Of Pleasant Prairie, unless there was
collision between Mcclellan and the
contractor, which was not proven. Mr.
Tobin, town chairman of the town,
could only show carelesness on the
part of Mr. Mcclellan. Mr.. Melee
han admits his manner of handling the
matter was loose and neglectful, but
disclaimed any personal profit
Discrepancies in time slips and pay
rolls were explained by Mr.. Mcclellan,
Frank Harmon, foreman, and Henry
Naurer, foreman, in only a partly sat
isfactory manner. All three said they
could obtain afidavits from the men
who had received county highway or
ders covering ten to twenty hours in
addition to those shown on their time
slips to the effect that the hours shown
on the pay roll were the hours that the
men and teams really worked. Mr..
Mcclellan and his foremen claimed
that it was through their carelessness
and oversight that the time slips did
not show hours employed to correspond
with the pay roll.
Mr.. Mcclellan, in explanation of the
Irregularities appearing regarding 33
county orders, admitted his careless
ness in the matter. He stated he was
obliged to employ drifters' and foreig-
ners as they appeared about the county
in order to keep his crews working eff
fciently and when they were dismissed
or when they quit, he paid them in
cash and took their receipts, and that
when pay. rolls were made out he, or
his foremen, added the names of the
discharged employees. In most cases
Mr.. Mcclellan was able to show time
slips made out by the foremen. He
stated that on receipt of pay rolls
from the foremen, a county order was
made out for all names, including the
employees that had been paid by him
self in cash. The face of the order
gave the names Of the discharged EN-
ployee. Only one Of the 80 orders was
endorsed on the back properly. Tween
ty seven of the said SO orders passed
through Mr.. McGeehan's hands through
different companies with whom Mr..
Mcclellan traded without being en-
dorsed on their backs by Mr.. Niece
han. A few of the said orders were
passed through bank at KenOsha and
the Chicago and North Western Rail
way Company, but not before being
signed by Mr.. Mcclellan. Mr.. McGee-
han presented what purported to be
receipts from practically all of these
employees to the effect that they had
received the money called for by the
80 orders. Most Of the signatures on
the receipts do not appear to be in the
handwriting Of the usual laboring men.
Most of the receipts failed to state the
amount received.
The question as to whether or not
Mr.. Mcclellan was the owner of GER
tain team used on the county work in
1913 was raised, but no person yoIun-
teered definite information to clear up
the question. Mr.. Mcclellan detained
ownership Of the team.
The chairman of the Wisconsin