The daily monitor. (Mount Clemens, Mich.) 1940-1942, 1941-09-03

Probe


(Continued From Page ~
bers in the audience.
Approaching the Commission
table at the call for q hearing
OF the public, Allard asked
President Adrian Lingemann:
"What Is the truth in the
persistent rumor that IN en-
ploye Of the Water Department
stole $500 of Village funds, and
why was this theft never prose-
cuted?"
Lingemann, admitting the ac-
curacy Of the report, stated that
the Commission had not taken
steps to prosecute the embezzle-
ment in order to arrange for
a repayment of the stolen
money.
$500 REPAID
Checking with Clerk Walter
Pratt, Lingemann said that more
than $400 of the shortage had
been repaid to date in monthly
installments taken from the
salary Of the employee. The
man, although still employed by
the Village, has been denote, he
said, and admitted that the
shortage occurred more than a
year ago.
Vt was also brought out in
the discussion that a new build
ing system had been installed
by the Village to prevent a re-
currence of the theft. The en-
ploye involved had accepted
unauthorized payments on wat
er bills from residents and did
not turn over the money to the
department.
Admitting that there might
have been circumstances which
would indicate the Commission
had acted in the best interests of
the Village, Allard maintained
that the shortage should have
been made public information
and charged that the Commits
sion had constituted itself as
Judge and jury in the matter. 4"
DICKMAN QUIZZED
Dickman, a veteran employe
of the Fire Department, was
called before the Commission on
Allard's demand that his side
Of the story be heard by the
public. A threat to "blow the
lid off things" if any attempt
were made to jail him after his
recent conviction which was at
tributed to Dickman was the
principal issue in the hearing.
In a lengthy questioning
marked by flurries Of temper,
Dickman declared he had been
framed" in the charge of
plumbing without a license for
which he was convicted by JUS
tice John Fistler and insisted he
would continue to aid his friends
in the same manner.
Persistent questioning by Al
lard brought out the fact that
previous to his arrest, Dickman
had done similar plumbing work
for Lingemann and Police Chief
Harold Lanstra.
No charges were made against
him at that time and his arrest
was made whens he was working
on plumbing for a close friend
who is doing his own plumbing
work.
REFUSED TO SIGN
Dickman also said that follow
ing the publication of the af.
fair he had been handed q pre-.
pared letter Of retraction and
told to sign it. II wouldn't sign
that for my own father" he de.
clared.
In answer to q question from
Allard, Lingemann admitted hi
had drawn up the letter and sent
it to Dickman through Chiel
Lanstra.
Dickman next tangled with
Attorney George Francis wher
he stated that his own attorney
had advised him he would be
fired if he did not pay his fine
The threat was attributed tC
Francis and Judge Fistler.
FRANCIS REPLIES
Francis, however, said that ne
had stated Dickman's job would
be in jeopardy and interpreted
this to mean that Dickman hac
no claim on it because he wa:
not a resident of the Village
Dickman responded by giving
him his address in the Village
and stating his wife and family
lived there in the house which