Source:Padded-the-pay-rolls/content
Director Bigelow sprung a surprise in City Hall this afternoon by preferring charges against Samuel T. Paisley, Supt. of bureau of highways and sewers.
He accuses the superintendent of carrying fictitious names on the pay rolls and collecting the money from the city treasury. He says the information came to him from outside sources, but that the fact was known to the attaches of the bureau.
Mr. Bigelow further says the matter was investigated, and confessions were made. Mr. Parsley [sic] is reported ill at home from congestion of the lungs. The letter sent to Controller Lewis is as follows:
Pittsburg, March 6, 1900.
Mr. Joseph E. Lewis, City Controller:
Dear Sir—It becomes my duty to report to you as the city controller the fact which has just come to my knowledge, that Samuel T. Paisley, superintendent of the Bureau of Highways and Sewers, has been putting upon the monthly pay-roll of that bureau fictitious names and amounts; that he lifted the warrants, indorsed them and drew the money at the city treasurer's office, appropriating it to his own use. This practice on the part of Mr. Paisley has been going on in a small way for several years.
I will forward to you all the information in my possession and aid you in every way in my power to protect the interests of the city.
Mr. Paisley was one of my trusted assistants, and I am very sorry that it becomes my duty to report him as a delinquent. A hasty examination seems to indicate the amount as about five thousand dollars. His bonds given for the faithful performance of his duties during the years in which the ficticious [sic] names were used more than cover the amount taken.
Very respectfully,
(Signed) Edward M. Bigelow.
Director of Department of Public Works.
