Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-07-15
THE MCLEAN pEFALCATIoN.

The late report of the Grand Jury on
the Tax Collectors Office furnished a
startling disclosure, savoring of heavy
defalcation and the most reckless man
ner of doing business on the part of the
State and County Tax Collector. The
former Grand Jury made charges against
Mr.. Mclean, but furnished no facts or
figures. These charges were squarely
met and the thrusts well parried by him,
but the late report of the present Grand
Jury, it seems, cannot so easily be re-
futed. In that report Mr.. Mclean is
charged with being defaulter in the
following pointed manner:
Therefore we charge him first, de-
faulter TO Shelby county on the tax col
lected for 1869 to the amount of
$5O45 e.; second, we charge him de-
faulter to Shelby county on the tax col
lected for 1870, TO the amoHnt OF S2O,-
l4s IS; third, we charge him defaulter
TO Shelby county on the tax collected for
1871, to June 4, 1872, to the amount OF
S2s.523 80; fourth, We charge him de-
fzulter TO the State of Tennessee on the
tax collected TO the amount OF $l0.-
Az e; fifth, We charge him defanlter
10 the State OF Tennessee on the tax
collected for 1870 TO the amount of
S2299 20. You VIII perceive. according
% CIR statement attached Mr.. Mclean
has oTerp2id the State on the tax OF
ls7l, SG56s 90.
These are grave charges, and cannot
Be met With simple denial. The people
demand 3 most thorough explanation,
and nothing else will be satisfactory.
So long as the charges against Mr.. Nc
Lean were vague and indirect, the
LEDGER, with that spirit Of justice which
should always actuate us in dealing with
political opponents, gave Mr.. Mclean
the benefit Of his published and seem
ingly victorious refutstion, but now that
the charges are backed up by facts and
figures, they must be accepted as true
until the most convincing proof is offered |
to the contrary. The Grand Jury re-
ported another startling fact, as follows:
From a Thorough investigation, we
have been unable to find any bank in |
the city of Memphis where Mr.. Mclean |
keeps an official account. We find he |
keeps a large account at the City Bank,
in his individual name. Also large |
account is kept at the Union and Plant
ers Bank, in the name Of his deputy, |
W. H. Miller, and when checks are |
drawn on these deposits, the names OF |
both parties are signed; we therefore
charge him with diverting the public |
moneys from its proper channel, and |
appropriating 1t to his own use, by plae-
ing it in bank to his individual credit.
From a reported interview with Mr..
Mclean published in the Appeal of this
morning we CLEAN the news that the
Messrs Elliott of this city are on his
bond for $4,000, and they placed Mr.. |
William Miller in his Office as chief
clerk aud business manager. 1t is well
known that Mclean left his business in
Mr.. Miller hands, and now Mr.. Mclean
expresses his astonishment at the alleged
defaleation, and asserts his utter igno-
rance Of the entire affair. Up to this
time all Of these gentlemen have stood
well as men Of integrity in this commu-
nifty. Every county officer must be
above suspicion, and in common with
all good citizens we will be pleased if the
Tax Collector can refute triumphantly
the grave charges made against him.
The following card from Mclean de-
mands the attention ard consideration
of our citizens:
In consequence Of the great number
Of errors in the report of the Grand
Jury relative 10 my Office, / am com
PEELED 70 defer a reply TO said report, as
the errors aud inaccuracies are too nu-
merOus 10 be hastily considered. / am
now engaged in a settlement with the
Chairman Of the County Court, the re-
suit Of which will be duly announced.
have not absconded, but will be on
hand to answer all charges and indict-
ments. VIZ. hCLEAS,
Tax Collector Of Shelby county.
For want Of time and space We find
II impossible to publish the Official re-
port Of the Grand Jury. The lengthy
document fIls Eve solid columns Of the