The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-03-24
ANOTHER TREASURER ABsConDs.

The Example OF tho Yates County Onl-
cial Followed by . Schuyler County
Omcial-fiis Accounts I'm Arrear q Long
Time-Is There Perjury or Neglect of
Duty Somewhere s-Hc Ruins His FAM
lily and IL Reported to Havo Run or
with . Woman OF Hl-Fame.
WATKINS N. Y, March 81, 1873
II Is only week or 80 since that John N. Burns
the defaulting Treasurer Of Yates county, passed
through this place route for Penn YAM In charge
OF Sheriff Dinturfi. Yates county Is directly north
OF this (Schuyler) county, and Penn Yam Is but
twenty-three miles from here. The throng Of Gu
rious people that crowded about the depot at this
place to see the defauting Treasurer on that occa-
sion did not dream that their own county finances
were In charge OF man then premeditating fol.
lowing the example Of Yates county's Treasurer,
a. he too, was thousands OF dollars in
debt to his county. But such was the
case. Burns was taken to Penn Yam on Saturday,
the LIST inst. On Tuesday the 4th, J. r. Shepherd,
Treasurer OF this county, left his home in Reading
Centre, In the northern part OF the county. He told
his family that he was coming to this place. which
Ia the county seat. On Wednesday following he
was seen at Elmira by an acquaintance. Since
then
HE HAS NOT BEEN HEARD OF.
A few days after his absence IL began to be whis-
POACu Vueo NC uoO noSCVuucus luc BTc6tcbS uucdSt-
ness WAS manifested by his friends and bondsmen.
out they persisted In denying the probability OF
such an event for several days, when it became too
evident that there was good foundation for the sus
picion.
An examination was then made into his books.
The gr0ssest irregularities were discovered 1t
was found that shepherd was defsulter to the
county IN $4,000 rnv ,vv.mu
was originally on the tax collections OF 1872 but he
had taken out Of the funds coming into his hands
counts square. This discovery although it had
been considered q f0regOne conclusion that some
est sensation, and the case Of burns ceased to be
the allabs0rbing topic. Shepherds family, like
sse HSss re- sur Is OF the
among the most prominent and substantial men
In the county, although of late he has
crazed when the certainty of her husbands guilt
was revealed. She had been but Q day or SO be-
IGre an ardent sympatnzer With the wife Of the
survived such
DISGRACE AND AFFLICrIoN.
1t was reported also that Shepherd had followed
still more closely the example OF Burns, and taken
with him In his flight notorious female, as she
disappeared on the same day: She has returned
since, however, and denies having been In the
company OF Shepherd.
Besides the $4,000 county defalcation Shepherd
mas liabilities to the amount of seven thousand
or eight thousand dollars in other matters.
HIS individual affairs are In complicated con-
dition on, and cannot be saved from bankruptcy. A
painful incident In the sad case is that Shepherds
iather who Is totally blind. but worth few
thousand dollars is the sons security for as much
as the Old man is worth, and must share in
THE FAMILY RUIN.
since Shepherd absconded 1t comes out that
citizen Of Watkins q bondsman OF the defaulter,
had some business In Albany lew weeks ago.
While there he was informed by the Comptroller
that Shepherd was $4,000 in arrears This natu-
rally startled the surety and he fastened home to
investigate the matter. He called on Shepherd.
who acknowledged that he had delayed having his
accounts arranged, but that he was having the
matter settled, and was then about to send his
check to the Comptroller Tor the amount. This
quoted all fears, and further Investigation was
made At the time.
AS prescribed by law, the bondsmen asking to be
released, the Board of Supervisors have published
notice demanding Shepherd TO appear and renew
within twenty days or his office Will be declared
vacant. Until that time expires an exact examina-
tiOn cannot be made OF
HIS BOOKS AND PAPERS,
IL Is matter OF much speculation how Shepherd
settled with the Supervisors last Fall. His vouch-
ers were either false or the Examining Committee
are guilty OF neglect Of their duties Developments
on this point are awaited with considerable In
terest
1t is not believed that Shepherd took much
money with him, but that he has squandered 1t and
lost 1t In unfortunate specuiat0ns.