The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-01-10
DEFALCATION In THE BROOKLYN TAX
OFFICE.

tween the CASH BOOKS and the Tax
Kolls-Deputy Collector Gill Removed
from Once.
For some months past the Board OF Audit, which
is composed Of the Mayor, Comptroller and Chair
man of the Board Of Finance OF the Common
Council, have been engaged in examining the az
fairs OF the Office of Tax Collector Burrows, and
their researches have been crowned with success.
Through their experts they have discovered fnan.
cal shortcomings or, In other words, they have
unearthed deficiency amounting to $4,000. The
discrepancy appears to lie between the entries on
the cash books and the credits the tax rolls OF
1871, occasioned by the stamping or o. taxes as
paid for which cash was not received. The
Deputy Collector, Mr. A. w. Fl. gill, in whose &C
count the deficiency is said to exist has been
pended for the present by his superior pending
further examination Of the finances. 1t will be
membered that at the time the defalcatlon Of City
Treasurer c. A. Sprague and M. 7. Rodman, his
deputy, was discovered, rumor was circulated to
the effect that Irregularities had been found to
exist In the Tax Collectors ONCE. Upon question
ing the Collector however, 1t was set forth that
there was no ground Tor the report. Shortly after,
several Old books or assessment rolls were stolen
from tEe-rax Collectors Office which fact was also
published, but the robbery was declared to be OF
little or no consequence, as the rogues were
said to have been boys. Mr.. Seaman. the
expert accountant, who has reported the startling
discovery to the Board OF Audit, is still engaged
upon the work, and 1t is possible that the amount
missing may be greater than the figures above re.
ported.
THE DISCREPANCY WAS DISCOVERED
in the following manner:-When q bill is paid 1t Is
signed by the person receiving the money, and
stamped with the Office stamp, the corresponding
entry n the tax ron being h stamped at the same same
action and securing perfect accuracy. Upon
comparing certain stamped entries upon the
tax roll with the cash book OF correspond.
ing dates the amounts received which should
have been there could not be found. In
other Words various sums OF money, amounting to
about $1,000 1t was discovered had been received
from the taxpayers and, either through negligence
they we're stamped or on the roll. A large MUM
Der OF the bills have been sent for by the &C
countant, some OF which have come to hand.
representative OF the HERALD met Tax Col
lector Burrows last evening at the office OF the
Registrar OF Arrears Court street, in conversa-
Collector OF Arrears. The reporter addressed him.
self to Mr.. Burrows, saying
WHAT COLLECTOR BURROWS SAYS.
'Mr Collector, have understood that there are
some irregularities IN your office which require eX.
PLANTATION, ana would IKE to ascertain the truth
"Yes, sir. When the experts got through with
their examination of accounts Of 1871 they found
there was deficiency OF $4,000 between the tax
roll and cash account They say there is 81 04O 900
stamped as paid on these tax rolls, and there Is
si,037 900 credited on the cash books and paid in
the City Treasury, which leaves a deficiency OF
$4,000. asked my deputy, Captain Gill, II he had
any explanation to make; the Captain replied
"Were you not surprised at such reply ~
81 thought 1t very strange and therefore re-
fdence in him and have always believed him to be
one OF the most faithful men in the office. He was
highly recommended, and when took the Office
q number came to me and said, 'fou are not going
to remove Captain Gill p and SAID, No. He has
now been in office great many years." The Col
merry chief clerk under the Collector and who Is
now Deputy Collector Of arrears, said. "You know
his position 2" Mr. Moscrop replied, Eyes, i do
know him to be a very efficient man."
WHAT CAPTAIN GILL SAYS.
Captain Gill says that he Is innocent OIL any
charge OF peculatiOn, but finds 1t difficult to make
any explanation OF the discrepancy which has
ceVe the money the bills and then
them over to the entry clerks for entry in the cash
books. At the close OF business hours these cle ks
footed up their books: and his receipts should tally
with their footing. The clerks are Matthew fiani-
gan. Christian and John keenan,. 1t may have
happened that those arrear bills for 1871 have been
handed out to the person paying money on them
without being duly entered In the cash books This
might have been done in the hurry OF the moment
and the money removed a1terward from the Ofilce.
He does not know VINO stamped them OF the tax
rolls. Captain Gill said :-'srhey can't charge me
account. nave always attended to my duty since
I gained the Ofilce.n
Deputy Tax Collector A. W. II. Gill served
throughout the late war IN one Of the Brooklyn
militia regiments and has always borne an uhsued
Official reputation heretofore. He was deputy un.
der ex-Collectors Badeau, briggs and Others and
has been In office about 20 years. Before his ap.
pointment by Collector Burrows he gave bonds In
the sum OF $4,000. Messrs. Isaac Badeau and A.
3. Wheeler are his b0ndsmen. Corporation COun-
sci w. G. De Witt had lengthy conference with
Comptroller Schroeder upon the subject. He said
VIII not De advsao,e 20 aisc.0se ,ne names OF
action at present, but that every effort is being
made to further the ends Of justice. The Collector
ment, giving the details OF the deficiency, but the
evidence obtained 10 not sunicient to convict any
particular individual