The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1915-07-02


neys for the city to attorneys for
Burns late this afternoon. 1t will
be presented in Chancery Court Mon
day morning.
The answer fairly sizzles in
charges against Burns and denials
pf the salient features of his bills,
Ideclaring that they are a tissue of
STUDIED, misleading and deliberate
falsehoods. The answer makes a
statement of facts and developments
leading up to and eliminating in
the attempted suspension of Burns
and declares it was not dreamed by
any of the defendants that the City
of Nashville had been robbed and
looted, as revealed for the first time
to their knowledge by the amended
bill and confession of Burns to that
effect filed on June IA, 1915, in
which it is said Burns admits that
he had this knowledge that the city
had been robbed about IS months
and had covered up such knowledge
until suspended. 1t declares that
Burns had known of the theft of
books but had kept quiet about it
until the audit was made an assured
fact and then merely gave partial
and misleading information to the
Mayor and City Attorney.
5,1 90 Lo
missing books, the answer states, is
a thing that speaks for itself, and is
sufficient rebuke for the vague in
situations contained in his bill to
the effect that the defendants had
known for a long time that the
city's books were gone and that just
as soon as it was learned by Burns
and his associates that the books
would be audited came the fight of
one of Burns alleged co-criminals,
Assistant City Treasurer Johnson
West Another significant develop
ment, the defendants say, was that
when the audit contract was award
ed complainant, Burns for the first
time undertook to report that GER
tain Of the city's books were perma
nently stolen. The answer sets forth
that Burns had at no time revealed
his knowledge that the city had
been looted and robbed until 18I
months after he had become pos
sessed of such guilty knowledge,
"and admits, and even insists, that
he allowed the confessed theft to
take those books which would reveal
the evidence of guilt and theft out
of Burns Office and in the custody |
of the confessed thief and default
err"
In regard to Burns continuing as
comptroller, the answer says that de-
PENDANTS are at a loss to understand
the self-assurance of Burns in seek
ing to continue to hold the Office of
city comptroller latter he stands,
by his own admission, stripped nak-
ed before the court and the public,
and actually admitting that for / s
months he knew that the City of
Nashville, of which he was acting
had been looted and !
robbed"
Defendants aver that they have
the right to remove Burns from his
office and it is also their purpose to ,
remove Lyle Andrews from his posi-
ion of city commissioner as soon
is it can be done and that all legal 1
light and remedies will be exhaust
I'd in removing both Burns and An I
lrews. The defendants are advised I
hat it is not proper and right for c
he hands of the main government !
BOARD to be tied in an effort to c
purge itself and the city govern i
nent of individuals who have been C
lrrested and are under bond for the h
elonious taking and destruction of I
he city's books and records.
INSPECTION is CHALLENGED.
The answer undertakes to show :
hat Burns and Andrews are closely =,
elated by marriage and bound to- .
;ether by the closest ties of conf
ence and friendship and political :,
ortunes and that Burns admits that
Ie protected Andrews and concealed
or him guilty knowledge of his :.
hefts and corruption up until Burns :,
vas attempted to be suspended from =,
flee and that when the city audit :,
vas assured then Burns began mis-
eading and adroit conduct for the
of trying to save himself at u
he sacrifice of his co-criminal, when
eretofore he was in complete sym 8
athy and accord with Andrews anu u
yas covering up and concealing the II
alters guilt. y
The defendants themselves, in an
wer, challenge inspection and criti- tc
isim of their official conduct from h
IL honest and disinterested sources, If
nd declare that they have been true 81
} their respective trusts and they pl
yer that the city government of