Evening star., 1939-05-01

KANSAS CITY, kanS., May
R.-A suicide note was foune
today in the automobile OF
Edward L. Schneider, secretary
treasurer of seven corporations
headed by Boss T. j. Pendergast.
The car was parked on the Fair
fax Bridge over the Missouri
River, near here.
By the;Associated Press.
KANSAS CITY, May 1-Tom j.
Pendergast, Kansas City's Demo-
cratic political dictator, pleaded in
nocent today to a Federal income
tax evasion indictment when ar
raigned before Judge Merrill E. Otis
He pleaded innocent to both counts
OF the indictment, charging he
evaded the tax on $443,550 in 1885
and 1886. The first count concerns
his income for 1885 and the second
his income for 1886.
On the 1886 count he pleaded in
nocent with leave to withdraw the
plea within two weeks if he should
decide to attack the Indictment
WlllCll was lSluIl liNb ooSuA eoy
taking the place of previous bill.
R. E. OMalley, former State in
surance superintendent and Pen
dergast lieutenant, also pleaded in
nocent, with the reservation he could
withdraw his plea within two weeks.
He was charged with evading in
come taxes on $62,500 in 1885 and
1896.
The $4,000 bonds Of both were
continued and their trial was set
for June IL before Judge Otis.
Pendergast stood before the bench
with his attorneys, R. R. Brewster,
John G. Madden and Terence
OBrien. Mr.. Madden entered the
formal plea. Pendergast made no
statement in the courtroom.
Another Pendergast lieutenant in
court was Charles V. Carollo, de-
scribed by Federal Judge Albert
Reeves as the big man" in gam
bling in Kansas City. The north
side leader pleaded innocent to an
indictment charging him with using
the mails to defraud in connection
with lottery.
A State indictment also is pend
ing against Carollo in connection
with his operation of resort at
Thirty-ninth and Main streets.
Angelo Donnici, saloon keeper,
who the Government charges headed
a narcotic ring here which did an
annual business of $4,000, 900,
pleaded innocent to five counts OF
an indictment for possession, pur-
chase and sale of narcotics.
James Abbot, who weighs more
than 400 pounds, pleaded guilty on
an indictment of three counts
charging purchase, possession and
sale of narcotics. Judge Otis SEN
fenced him to five years in the
penitentiary on each count, but
ordered the sentences to run con-
currently and fined him $4,000.
The Government had charged
Abbott was a key man" in the
narcotic ring.
Kansas City, meanwhile, began a
new fiscal year with the promise no
padded pay rolls; no deficit"
IlS plOlItlSC was llldoC Wy tiiS
Little Mayor Bryce B, Smith, who
on April IA seized control of the
city government and forced the
resignation of the veteran city man
ager, Henry F. McElroy.
Mayor Smith begins the new year
with an estimated deficit of $780,
900, including S650,000 in back SAL
aries to city employees.
He said an investigation showed
Shocking conditions in some de-
partments. ordered $50 employees
stricken from the pay roll, effective
today, and threatened to extend the
purge if he discovers additional
drones." From General Hospital,
which has ITO patients, were ousted
116 employees.
He ordered an audit of the city's
books. He replaced Mr.. McElroy's
self-styled country bookkeeping"
with strict system of checks and
counter-checks.
Mr.. McElroy, an Iowa farm boy
of Scotch descent, never had ad-
mitted a deficit until this year. The
city is prohibited by law from ex-
ceeding it's fiscal budget, based on
anticipated revenue Throughout
his 13 years as city manager, he
had met all queries for financial
records with the same reply: mo
one but me could understand my
country bookkeeping