The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-03-10

ACob WAAO AAdo ouPPAACA VSobAANtJ concerning payments of thousands of dollars of city money without the approval of the board of finance.
 Sheets Still Kept
 Under cross examination by Crawford, the witness said that reconciliation papers, which figured so prominently in his testimony for the state, were still kept. The reconciliation sheets for years be- tween 1930-1938 are claimed by the state to show payments of which other records have been destroyed
 Purcell said that since 1887 there had been no break in the continuity of the reconciliation sheets. He said that he had one for December, 1887 which was made in the middle of January, 1888.
 Asked about the occupancy of that sheet. he replied to Crawford That was an unusual month be- cause we had so many records miss- ing"
 Crawford asked Purcell if he knew Veronica Phelan, an employe of the tax collectors office in the city hall Purcell said he did, and answered in the affirmative to Crawford's question whether he had on oc- casions taken blank checks to Miss Phelan to be made out, when Miss McFadden was not available.
 In Two Offices
 Purcell said that Miss Phelar worked part time in the controllers office and part time for the tas collector. He added that he did mol recall the specific occasions, but he might have gone to her to have the check made out. They were inter est checks" he replied defensively when Crawford pointed out that they did not contain the pin point markings" but were made out on ar ordinary typewriter.
 Without further consideration oi that subject, the cross-examiner called for the production of the 193C warrants payable sheets, and turn ed Purcell's attention to sheets which were approved at 8 meeting of the board of finance, February 20, 193O-the only meeting of the board attended by Purcell during the Leary regime.
 The sheets signed at that meet ing, II in number, contained 465 items, including large number of payroll items, according to the tes- timony of Purcell. In addition to the signatures of seven members of the finance board, they bore the signature of James P. Purcell, for the controller"
 Purcell testified that the payrolls were met regardless of the meetings of the board of finance. Tn other words," he said, "the approval oi the payroll was given after its pay ment."
 In the belief of Purcell, the Feb. 20, 1930 meeting was fairly long, principally because of discussions of board votes.
 Little Time To Examination
 How much of the time was giv- en to the examination of the bills?' he was asked.
 "Very little," was the reply.
 "It takes some time to pass the sheets to each one of the commis- sioners for his signature" said Pur- cell, in continuation of his testi- mony.
 "All the time given to the con- sideration of the claims on the sheets was the time required to sign the sheets" he said loudly.
 Purcell recalled that the meeting was in progress when he was called and that he took to the meeting material which had been left on Leary's desk. He explained that nc vouchers were called for at the meeting, and none were brought.
 "They hadn't been accustomed tc having them," he said, referring tc the vouchers.
 Attorney Crawford pointed out tc the witness that the meeting was held during the second month o1 his administration. DO you mean it was the custom under the pre- vious administration not to call fol the vouchers?" he demanded.
 Not Familiar Purcell replied, T wasn't familiar with the previous administration"
 Before concluding his testimony for Crawford, Purcell said that while the warrants payable sheets were being passed to the members of the board of finance for theil signatures, they were discussing other matters.
 Yesterday he testified that they signed the sheets Upside down, and without looking on the face Oi the sheets to note the items con- tained.
 At this point, Attorney Crawford stood silently for moment, smiled and said, "Other counsel may in- quire." ,
 Attorney Josiah Peck stood up and walked deliberately toward the witness box, prepared to take uE the cross-examination. He stated yesterday, when it was determined that he would follow Crawford, that he would be very brief, probably confined to a couple of hours.
 Lived Here All His Life
 Purcell's first testimony under ross-examination by Peck was tt the effect that he had resided ir Waterbury his whole life. He saio he did not know Leary during the 1929 election campaign. During that time, he said, he was prac- ticing public accountant, with ar office at Al West Main street. Desk space and use of telephone he said, was rented to him by Dan- iel Harrington, who operates an in- surance and real estate business. He had been located there he said, for more than a year.
 Under questioning by Peck, Pur- cell denied that he went to Leary to make any application for the post as accountant in the control ler's office.
 MT. Harrington" he said. "called my attention to the fact that the position was open and that MT Leary had no one for It." That .Aa ke. alI <S ct SHA al