The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-03-09
Cancelled City Checks Offered In Evidence
Continued from Page D
Entries At End of January

EOSSlDly tOWAIQ ttle etlQ O1 JAuU~ ary-they were copied from the signed sheet-," said Purcell before he was cut of by the attorney.
 But you interrupted him." pro- tested MT. Alcorn.
 T intended to-" returned Craw- ford loudly, as he protested to Judge Inglis that the answer was not responsive. Judge Inglis upheld the objection, and Purcell replied that the items had been put on the sheet sometime toward the end of January, 1930.
 Seven sheets were displayed, un- der dates of 1e3O, as having no sig natures of the board of finance or controller.
 A sheet for February 20, 1930, which meeting of the board of fi- nance Purcell said he attended and signed the sheet James P. Purcell, for the controller" was displayed. Several similar sheets were dis played.
 The sheet for February 20, 1880 contained no amount on the back, in the space left to be filled in with the total expenditures represented in the items approved by the board of finance.
 "Why wasn't that amount filled in?" asked Crawford.
 Never Done"
 That was never done," was the reply.
 Purcell admitted that under the system set up by him in 1880 that amount was never filled in on the back of the warrants payable sheet
 He started to say that an adding machine total of the amounts repre- sented on the sheets was kept, but was interrupted by Crawford.
 He admitted that the February 20, 1930, meeting was about the one occasion on which he attended a meeting of the Board of Finance during his eight years under MT Leary.
 It was reiterated that under tn, practice inaugurated by Purcell there were no totals placed on thu back of the warrants payable sheet! to represent the items on the face
 Crawford asked, if under the cir. cumstances, the finance commis. sioners were not signing the sheet! in blank.
 Signed Upside Down
 q believe that at the meeting attended they signed them upside down." was the reply of the wit. ness.
 He added that by upside down he meant without looking at th' face of the sheet to see what item! were contained.
 Did you call their attention tt it?" asked Crawford.
 "No," was the reply.
 Purcell said that he had nt knowledge that they follow suci procedure throughout the eigh years of the Leary administration That's what they did that day." h. stated.
 Discuss Certificate Lengthy discussion of the certif icate contained on the back of tn warrants payable sheets, signed b. the Board of Finance, followed Purcell stated that the sheets wer' made up originally by Griffenhager auditors, with whom he worked il the setting up of the system.
 Did you approve of the certifi. cate?" asked Crawford.
 When Purcell hedged at the an swer, Crawford asked, Did vol disapprove of the method?" Int answer was no.
 Purcell started to answer, "Bu MT. Leary never liked 1t, though. Crawford's attempts to quiet hin were in vain.
 "You want to make a speech don't you?" asked Crawford. "Tht place for you is down at the state; attorneys table, that's where th' speeches are made. You'll get plen. ty of chance to make speeches." h' continued.
 "I've almost lost hope we evel will get 8 chance" joined in Alcorn with a look of criticism at Craw. ford.
 12 Days With Witness
 "You took 12 days with the wit ness" retorted the burly Crawford
 But I didn't waste any time, replied Alcorn.
 The cross-examination contin. ued, with Purcell referring to war rants payable sheets and stating that no city bills were approved be- tween August 21 and September IS 1880. EN
 However, under date of Septembel 12 on one of the sheets, were refer ences of several payments made t' local concerns and business houses None of the bills was over a couple of dollars.
 'It must have been dollar day, saids dsAlcofn.
 "Or bargain day." smiled Craw ford. Just before the morning re cess it was noted that sheets 27' and 283 of the register were signet by the Board of Finance, but wer' not dated and were not signed b, the controller.
 TWn CIANTc MEET