New-York tribune., 1871-09-12
The Hon. r. B. Connolly, Controller.
THE THEFT OF THE VOUCHERS.

NO REPORT MADE FOR SEVERAL HOURS AFTER
THE DISCOVERY INDIGNATION OF THE
PEOPLE.
William Murphy, the private watchman in
the County Office, in the New Courthouse, where
these vouchers kept says that about O'Clock on
Sunday evening" he left the CourtHous to get his sup
per- When he returned about O'Clock, he discovered
that hole large enough to admit mans arm had been
made in the lower corner Of the west window,
in the door opening from the han into the
Comfy Bureau Office. Although his suspicion
that something wrong aroused by discovering
this hole, Murphy made no examination to see If all
was right Within but when Michael Regan, anitor Of
the New Court House. arrived about o'clock yesterday
morning, Murphy called his attention to
this hole, and told him that he "dd
not like the appearance Of it." Regan imme-
diatey went into the County Bureau Office. where
he discovered that the doors Of the middle under
the long desk on the side Of that Office had been
broken open and that several packages Of documents
had been taken therefrom.
When Controller Connolly and Deputy Controller storrs
arrived, about p Regan informed them Of what had
been DONE They examined the forced ca and found that
all but packages Of tho vouchers for the paid
claims against the city for 1870 gone. These vOuch
ers were In large packages, and were mixed up with
packages Of vouchers for paid claims against the County
for 1862 none OF which missing
Appearances indicate that entrance was gained to
the County Bureau office follows The glass par
TALLY cut with diamond, and then forced out by
sharp quick blow. Through the hole thus made the in
side catch OF lock reached and the door easily
opened The bolt Of the lock to the containing the
vouchers was forced back and the lock wrenched almost
off, Several experts examined the glass and the
aud expressed the opinion that the cutting and forcing
were done by anime xperienced burglar.
Mr. Moves the County Auditor, says that other vouch
ers may have distracted and that an investigation
will be Immediately instituted to find out what vouchers
are gone and, II possible, to discover who took Them
Deputy Collector Storrs clerk says that the records OF
all OF the vouchers for the paid claims against the
County for 1870 are on the books in the Con-
trollers Office and that they are also en-
bodied in the report on the county &C
counts recently submitted the Mayor to the Board OF
Supervisors He says moreover that from these books
and that report 1t be ascertained VINO presented
these claims and what they severally amounted TO-
But only the missing vouchers Will give the accounts In
detail and expose the frauds undoubtedly covered by
them.
Tn reOard 70 who stole these vouchers and what they
were stolen for the officials OF the Controllers Office and
Of the County Bureau express no opinion. But the
crowd which collected in and New Courfouse,
where was rumored that the vouchers had been stolen
volentv expressed variety Of opinions. Several boldly
asserted that the newspapers and the private individuals
who have made charges corruption and fraud against
tbe ctv of3cias had discovered that these vouchers
would disproye the graves OF these charges and that
therefore, they had procured one to steal them.
Others claimed that they had been abstracted by
.ome enemy of the Controllers, merely for the
purpose Of creating the erroneous impression That he
vas pryy To their abstraction 1t was insisted per
fra that the Controller knew who stole the vouchers
that he caused them be stolen TO hide his own guilt
which would be shown by them II placed in the hands
OF tho Joint Committee produced in evidence In the
suit recently begun TO recover the money illegally taken
from tho CITY Treasury. One man said
"Conpoly knows all about those Vouchers and II he
don produoe them In hours will be time for Judge
Ivnoh To held abort session In this CITY,"
Said another:
"H the stolen vouchers don't hide Connoy's guilt he
will have the engines in the cellar Of the Court
House explode and blow the whole concern to frax
ments."
These remarks are fair samples OF frequent utteranees
heard in the Court House yesterday The opinion the
great majority appeared to be that tho breaking into the
County Bursau Office and removing the vouchers was
one OF Tammanys desperate games and that 1t would
be the last one 1t would play.
INACTION OF THE POLICE.
THE pyryCT1yEs LAUGH AT THE ASSERTIONS
OF ROBBERY
Apparently an effort was made to keep the
matter secret for . umes superintendent Kelso,
when aAked BY . reporter Of The TRIBUNE,