The New York herald., 1874-03-29
VIRGINIA DEEAULTERs,

Disastrous Consequences or Playing
Fsr"-The Secretary OF the Board OF
commissioners Sentenced co ImpHison-
ment FOR Four years-The state Treas
urer RnGfcted-He L. ProGouncsd In
smne--rrouble Among the T.. u. VS..
RICHMOND, March 2s 1874.
The recently discovered delaicat.on in the
Sinking Fund OF the state OF Virginia has been
attended 10y deplorable consequences and has
caused the most profound establishment IN the
minds ol the conn ling puslc. The first suspicion
chat there was somsthng wrong was created by
uten 1ers OF the Legislature seeing Colonel ". d.
Coleman, secretary o tne Board u commissioners
at faro bank betting heavily, ana losing In
night sum equal to his whole years salary. He
was arrested. and. in the presence OF policeman,
While yet III his own room, drew pocket KNIFE
and
ATTEuPTED 40 CUT HIS THROAT
but missed the juguar vein and made an unim-
poriant nesn wound IN hls neck. This week he
was Tried, iound guilty and sentenced TO our years.
imprisonment IN the Penitentary for having
forged an entry to cover up $4,000 OF bis deialca-
t'ons- one OF the cniel witnesses against him
was Colonel sOseph Mayo, State Treasurer and eC
ogiaSo mem0er OF the Board OF Commissioners OF
the sinking Fund. In giving his testimony against
Coleman Le unwillingIy disclosed some very dam
aging facts concerning himself 1t appeared from
his own admission and the testimony OF two
brokers OF TINS city that Colonel Mayo mad, with
cut tne consent OF MS associate members OF the
Board, exchanged 'Ionsol" bonds belonging to the
SinAing FUND lor the tower class known as ''Pee-
erso and lau received ron the brokers at various
tlmes, JusG as tne sales we're made, about 5000
IN currency, as the dl1erence Ia tne values TINS
currency Colonel tlayo mas never been able to ATS
Eictoriiy account tor but gave to the Court con-
iused account OF what lie did with it. Before
CUleulan n's trial cuued the Judge o. the Court mad
lui!V ue crmlucu tU nave Mayo arrested, out
Wednesday, Mayo icit the city. Ever since the
discovery OF COemans delacation and the reye-
THE EXTRAORDINARY LoosFNEss
with whlcl toe aifairs OF the Sinking Fund were
Conducted MAYO mas been exhibiting signs OF ab-
erratlol or nind and has been drnkng cry freely.
His departure was looked upon rather as the enect
Gi wandering OF his minu man an attempt to elude
luslce His orother-in-aw member OF the House or
Representatives rom NestmOI eand county, started
,urth IN search oI hiuI, ana went AS lar north
Baitln ore, but hearing nothing OF nm returned To
To the city Ou the very tram which brought him
here was colonel Mayo, but neither was aware or
tue presence o the other unll they stepped on the
PLATFORM at the depot. There Coionel Mayo was
arrested upon oencn warrant issued ny The Judge
o. the Hustlnps Court OF kchmOnd, charging him
with ieonlousiy emDeZzling ana lrduduently
CONVERTING TO HIS OWN USE
$4,000, The properly OF the State OF Virginia. He
was taken before tue Police Justice aud upon the
evidence Oi the phy slcans and Others showing
tAat he had not or weeks past been in ms rgnG
mind, was admitted To bail IN tue snm OF $4,000.
HIS condition Tonight leads all who Know ol it to
believe ne Is hopelessly insane. The probability Of
Relatives are ssuiariy afflicted.
A e2Isatve committee mas been investigating
the deiacatiou in the Sinking Fund, and Will report
DiUnday or TOcsday
Hall dozen Candidates for the Office or Treas
urer uf the iSOard, expected TO be made vacant,
including MI X. M. Hunter, are already in the
II I'D.
by appointment of the Governor. the Chief Clerk
o. the 1reasurer's of1ice Is acting as Treasurer.
the conduct OF Coleman and Mayo has struck
HEAVY inOW 10 TIE CONSERVATIVE PAETY
in this state, ana brings humiliation and shame
upon Commonwealth that has always claimed
SUI error virtue lor ner public servants. While
Coleman was wen known IN the State, and had
heiu some pubic positions and been editor OF
the Richmond Enquirer, he was not, ike MAYO, an
'f +. "" Mayos family have been prominent
IN Virginia ior nearly 200 years. lis ancestors
were
AMONG THE FOUNDERS or RICHMOND
while he has been Il laWi er OF hign reputation at
tine editeu Gnc South, III connection with
RoQer a. Pryor, ana during tue war was "a colonel
III Kcmpet's htgade OF Pckett's DIVISION.
TuE LOSS TO THE STATE
! by the deiacatiqns OF Mayo and coleman as far
NJ Known, amounts to more than SZ5. 900, but the
bonds ahd papers are IN such coniuson As to make
~ Impossible TO tell whether or not $500, coo has
/ not been taaen. General i. william Malone, the
railroad king OF Virginia, Is one OF the suretieS
! On hayO's md.
Governor kempcr to-day Communicated to the
! Gen crai Assembly lnrelii ence OF tue absence of
the Treasurer from hls ONCE without giving noicc
OF such absence or lis probable Duration ana that
! BODY III once appointed JOINT comnttee TO whom
! the matter was referred or consideration as to
! what action is necessary to hc taken. This Will
doubtless neceSSl ate a full investigation into the
anairs Vi tue ircaSurcf's Oillce.