The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1873-09-06
FRAUDS in BROOKLYN.
The city Treasury Involved by thu
Deficiency i'm the Trust Company.

Deficiency i'm the Trust Company.
1t is now known that the Brooklyn
city treasury is involved in the common
catastrophe with the Brooklyn Trust
Company Late Wednesday night it
was ascertalned the City Treasury had
been robbed of large amount, and
that Rodman, the late assistant cashier
and Secretary eff the Trust Company,
was the guilty party Rodman, acting
in his double capacity, was enabled to
cover up the deficiency by false state
ments concerning the amount of city
money on deposit in the Trust
Company, locking over the accounts
of the Trust Company, ard the
City Treasury. Mr.. Warren, an ex-
them, finds the defalcation of Rodman
to be as follows From the City Trea-
sury, $55, 900; general fund, $9S, 900 !;
Board of Education on deposit with
the Treasurer, $4,000; total, 1908,
900. OF this amount City Treasurer
Sprague made good S55, 900 by the sale
of his stock in the Brooklyn Eagle to
William Vanaken. The bondsmen of
Sprague are Henry Sanger, Robt. L.
Milford, James Olewell, J. Patton and
w. G.. Kingsley. They are fully re-
sponsible, and the city will be no loser.
The bond of Rodman calls for $50, 900,
and is believed to be well secured. 1t
was said at the City Hall that Rodman
would be secured before shutdown and
lodged in Raymond Street Jail. The
arrest, it was understood, was to be
made on the affidavit of Treasurer
| Sprague, but if he failed to do so the
| Comptroller, under the advice of the
corporation counsel, would'get warrant
out for Rodlnan On the other hand,
prominent officials say that they do not
dare to lay finger on Rodman, for he
knows too much for them, and they are
afraid he Will tell all if they threaten
to make him scape goat. 1t is also
alleged that, in order to shield this
alleged ring of spectators, the def
cheney will be quietly met by parties
who are directly responsible for the
safe custody OF the city funds. At an
early hour this morning Mr.. Sprague
denied any defalcation, and Comptrol-
that there had been a defalcation,
would not admit it. Two hours later,
| however, it was admitted by both of
these officials, who stated that it was
necessary for them to keep the matter
quiet, from the fact that they were en-
| gagged raising the amount to make good
the loss, SO that the city will not suffer.
! 1t is now understood that Sprague's
| bOndsmen have pledged themselves to
make good any deficiency, and that
| Sprague has made assignments of all
property to the city, even to his house
hold goods. There are those who
assert that Mills, of the Brooklyn
Trust Company, who was drowned at
Coney Island, was implicated with
Rodman in this deficiency Among
other rumors which were rife was one
that a certain city department was also
involved in the trouble, but the nature
of the trouble was not defined. Inquiry
from officials failed to develop any
thing satisfactory.
| Mr.. Warren has completed his exam
nation of the books of the Trust Co.
and has his report ready. No furt her
| discrepancies than those already known
to the public have been discovered.
The Brooklyn Eagle says 1.-The
sum and substance of all the state
ments made, are that Rodman is to-day
! lefaulter to the extent of $24S, 900;
that nearly three years ago he, with
the assistance of Mr.. Mills, stole $50, :
600, and more recently took sums
brought up against him to-day. The
| $50, 600 first taken were discovered by
the City Treasurer shortly after the
theft, and made good by him without
any publicity He did not, however.
remove ROdman, as he should have
done, but allowed him to continue his
robberies. In other words, for some
mysterious reason, after finding that
this man had robbed the treasury, he
allowed him to remain in control of
the finances. How long it is since the
City Treasurer learned of the theft
which caused the excitement on
Thursday is yet to be learned. AS to
the first operations of Rodman, it is
morally certain that he was seconded
III it by Mills; for besides finding their
| bank accounts increased exactly that
amount, it is already learned that in
three days after that they loaned $780,,
900 to the Central Bank. Mills & Rod
man simply took $4,000 out of the
city treasury and divided it between
them. Whether they divided the sum
deficient yesterday or not remains for
enquiry. The belief is that they did,
and that the city was at their hands
Systematically swindled.
A New York telegram of Thursday
says:
Treasurer Sprague, Of Brooklyn,
made a formal complaint against the
late Deputy City Treasurer, M. j.
Rodman, of embezzling 1903, 900 of
funds of the city treasury. ROdman
was tonight placed under arrest and
| two detectives detailed to watch him at
his residence. Mr.. Sprague will make
complete statement of the amount of
tie defalcation. Mr. Sprague is said
to be completely ruined by the nefa-
rious course of the dishonest deputy"
Small Boy of the Period.
Says the Stockton Gazette Where
the road between MERGED and Smelling
crosses the MERGED River; that stream
is about two hundred yards III width,
and even at this season of the year,
when the water is quite low, it looks
like a dangerous and deep stream to
cross. Last Thursday, patent-medi-
cine agent, travelling on horseback
through that section, came to the river
and hesitated about attempting to ford
it as he saw The wide expause of rush
ing waters. There is no bridge any
wheIe along there, SO after some indie
cision, spying boy, fishing in a small
punt tied to the bank, he said
Hello hub'v