The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1874-04-02
Virginia Treasury Defalcation.


Virginia Treasury Dedication.
The trial Of W. D. Coleman. late clerk o
the commission Of the sinking fund, for for
gerry, iu altering the figures OF the public
record book, which had been progressing Tor
four days, was concluded on the 26'h, The
jury returning a verdict Of guilty, ana as
sessing the term of the prison i ; coat .e-
men l. the penitenti; at four years, TIE
Flu trin {, Court Judge Of The city of Rich
mou], sentenced Coleman. in accordance
with {, 9 verdict Of tn jury, but on motion
Of % lns,l. tn eseclti,n of sentence was
posto 'ued for thirty days.
Following clo's upo this partial Justice
Administered To the culprit for his robbery
of p-ostrats apl i'm povcrlshed Virginia, the
criminal turpituls Of which is wlthou. a
parallel ia the annals Of th4 m onweal ! i,
was the arrest of the S5,te Treasu, err G l..
JOS. Mayo. j., charged with embezzl,ny
tween $1,000 and $1,000 Of currency b.
longing to the State CD Mayo had alb
sentel himself from Richm md FIR several
days previous 60 Sunday last, the day of his
arrest. O, that day h. returned to the city,
aud as he stepped cut If the Car he was la
ken charge of by an officer, ana Conveyed to
a police station. II, WAS lab,rins under
great mental excitement. his conversation
was ineoheeent and wild, and after the .e>ti
many of various gentlemen had been taken
as to his condition. it vas deemed alvisab e
10 allow him his Liberty under a bail bond Of
SO OGJ, un:i his mental STATE was such as
to Justify the examination incident to the
charge upon which lie was arrested.
= g. i'ne barge g.in.t Mayo is based, says
corr .spo d. ut Of she,Petersburg News. upuu
evltenee taken upon the trial Of Coleman
VIII rein it wa. ststed by two witnesses aud
confessed by Gu. Nay, thae ne had. with
out authority OF the board Of commissioner,
Of the sinking fund, EXCHANGED .sconsul'
bonis for ''peelers. and fur the difference
had gotten currency amounting to about
So 600 sConsols' are the bonds lssuei un-
der the original funding hill. The coupon
@bonds have coupons attached ''receivabe tor
taxes" the registered ''couSols" are at any
time convertible icto coupon bonds, with
coupons attached receivable fer tax-s. The
'tpseIsrs" are the bonds issued under the
~smended fuoding bill anu the coupons at
tached are not receivable ,or taxes =, the reg
istered bonds are exchangeab'e, bat only tur
coupan bonds OF this la TER character. Now
it was proved that C,l. Mayo hal on sever
ST occasions carried "consnl,' tn. brokers
and exchanged them for peaers" and WIS
paid the three or four per centun difference,
in cash, which he was unable tn account for
Gen. Rogers and Mr. Taylar, the other
members Of the board. wholly dss"laim~d any
knowledge of these transactions. Col. Mayo
always asserted that he had ap Jlied the cash
thus obtained TO the purchase of additional
''peelers," but in his testimony befpre the
Musings Court he could give no positive
cviden:e that he had dane so. Il way then
thought that he was in his right mind
for he more than onss confradleted himself
and made admissions that were rtaiuly
very amaeing to himself"
IF Col. M.yas read was suGi ,:cotly level
to 90 throu1h tn, operation of IN AZ ing the
calculation between the value Of the two
characters Of bonds could walk drecr to
the brokers aud get the money; could frame
the exclse that it Wa, good Investment IT,
buy "peelers." yet not consult those whom
it was his dlsy TO notify, AL then me shoai-
cally fai. in each instanoe to mike record
Of the transactiol, We are inclined to the
opinion that while this iaanciering was pro-
gres'iog, he was as mach in his right mind.
~ he had ever bsen before When we read
tho evidence Of Mr.. N iyo's on che trial nj
Colemln, We came t, the eoaelusiou thar
there was much determining untold The
! sckiess careiessaess about his off ,e, as de-
I liled by him in answer to questions, seemed
II have an object in it Ths idea Of "a pub
il: officer, e1 ,,tei VITA the sources and
sre lit Of the State, le.vias bis safe Of depos
il for those vast treasures opeu from 8 uclock
III the morniag until in the evening-ab
ssutins himself from his place of business
daring thas time, for several hours, some.
t s,nes, in the day, aud returning to find
ttsangcrs tkefc lookea like framing an ex-
{ sse to c,ver up .o'nsthias aal to shift re-
3 :, Instability.
I'VE have 40 disposition t, pre-jud5e him.
II he is proyes innocent upon Tlai. Nd cit
isen OF Virgins. except those feeling per-
: ,nai interest in The fortunes Of the geutle-
,uan, will be N ire gratti,d than W. viii be.
Is 1t the exp,=ision Of tn. uararaIe fed and
criminal careias: aess which has been mad,
ksace the lapse CT Coleman was ascertained,
IL she af.irs CT the State, oonaee4 ed will
4. base.s,ept off jss Of the Capitol, is so as,
l. 'ubdng, thas in.:i .,na;inh cannot we'll be re-
; .esssd for ofssssss who would so, abuse saci
Important trusts. IF jrst,cawere melted OUT, |
sscry pelsoa connected with hose off ;es |
w"uii be dismissed from service, a.d gen
Al ~ 4 4,