The New York herald., 1873-11-26
ALLEGED FRAUD In WESTCHESTER.

Serious Charges Against an Ex-Sherin-
Defective Schedule OF Accounts-Has
the County Been Defra udcd.-Work for
the Next Ora nd Jury.
The positive and detailed charges OF mafeasance
in Office recently made and freely circulated by an
ex-Congressman and well known politician in
West Farms, against John Bussing former
Sheriff and lately the democratic candidate for re-
election to that office, have occasioned much serl
GUS comment throughout Westchester county. AS
the time approaches for the meeting OF the Oyer
and Terminer Grand Jury in December, by which
body the author of the allegations alluded
to has openly pledged himself to have
Bussng indicted, public expectation heightens
In view OF the innexible justice which has
Just commenced to be meted out to the ex-munlci-
pal thieves Of the great metropolis. 1t is alleged
that, according TO his own figures, taken from the
published minutes of the Board of Supervisors and
their correctness certified to by the Clerk Of that
body, x-Sheriff Bussng has defrauded the county
OF Westchester in an amount exceeding $40, 900
during his three years OF office, which expired in
January, 1870. While this may possibly be an ex-
aggeratiOn Of the sum which, 1t is charged, mas
been dishonesty taken from the taxpayers, no
ordinarily intelligent observer can fail to perceive
in the attested schedule OF Bussing's accounts
numerous items against the county which, to use
the midest term possible, require, at least an eX-
planatl0n.
OBJECT being to inquire into the causes which led
to the escape OF several cOnvicts. In his account
against the county, Bussing charges over $500 Tor
subpGnang and serving bench warrants on large
number OF jailbirds and Others which, the Agent
represent ative, we're never served on the convicts
some Of the latter. whose names appear on the
schedule, having escaped from the prison pre-
viously, and have never been heard from since. In
short, the schedule of Bussing's accounts
presents very many ambiguous features,
the names OF citizens set forth as having
been served with judicial processes, having appa-
renty been taken up Unfortunately and thrown
in by to swell, as Is alleged, the account OF
rapacous public official. The writer Whose name
is also enormously made to represent debt OF $3
against the county, has, upon inquiry, ascertaned
that not less than 10 persons out OF every 20 whom
he has acc0sted and whose names appear on the
schedule opposite various sums, disclaim all
knowledge Of the services therein set forth, and
pronounce the use Of their names in that connec-
tion fraudulent. When it IS remembered that
Bussing, in accordance with the statute, certified
on oath to the correctness OF his claims, q part
OF the obligation being "that the services
charged therein have been rendered. 1t Will be at
once seen that the charges made against him. II
proved. are not OF a frivolous character. Should
the belief expressed In certain quarters-that
John b. Haskin (the author OF the allegations re-
ferred to) intends now TO drop the matter, hav.
ing successfully used the cry OF "lraudr against
Bussing in the late canvass, the taxpayers OF
Westchester county confidently expect that Dis
trict Attorney Briggs will not fail to lay the whole
matter before the next Grand Jury.