Wilmington daily commercial. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1866-1877, 1874-07-03

The City Treasury DefaIcation.
REPORT OF MIR. wooLIEY TO CoUNCIL-THE TOTAL |
DEFICIT s6,2l0.94-How THE DEFICIENCY WAS
CREATED AND Row MIR. RILLGoRE ATTEMPTED TO
COVER IT u.
Mr.. James Wcolley, who, some months ago,
was EN- loved to make an examination of the
books Of Joseph L. Killgore, late City Treas
urer, with a view to ascertaining their correct
ness, submitted to Council, lastevening, through
the Finance Committee, the result of his exam
ination of the books for the year 1871. Accom-
panying the report is letter to II. f. Pickles,
chairman of the Finance Comittee setting forth
the manner in which the deficiency was made
and how the Treasurer had attempted to cover
up the appropriation to his own uses OF the funds
of the city. The letter is as follows
Wilmington, DEL, July 2, 1874.
Henry F. Piekels, Esq, Chairman of Committee
on Ftpdnce
SIR preliminary to the report to be submit
ted to Council, this evening, with reference to
the second examination of the accounts of the
late Treasurer, j. l.. Kilgore, for the year 1871,
and as a further reason why | am unable to re-
port for the years 1928, have deemed it due
to myself that Council should be fully informed
of all the facts and circumstances connected
with the results of my first examination report
ed by you to Council on May 2Sth, 1874
First, | would say that it was not intended that
l should examine Mr.. killgore's accounts until
they had been reached in regular order of my
work under Mr. Adams resolution of September
last. The fact, however, that the books as pre-
scented by Mr.. kilgore for the auditors exaniin-
alton showed on their face such gross inconsis-
tency, viz a known balance in the bank of over
$4,000, whereas the books showed the. balance
ON the other side, added to the fact that neither
by threats nor entreatles on the part of the au-
ditor, yourself and others could Mr.. Killgore be
induced to give sufficient time and attention to
put his books in proper condition for auditing.
thereby causing a delay unavoidable on the part
of the auditor, all of which made it necessary in
| the opinion of the Finance Committee, that
should proceed at once to proper audit of his
accounts. 1t was under these circumstances that
| received Instructions OF yourself and col
| leagues to proceed with the examination hereto
| fore referred to.
Mr. Kiilgore, on being informed of the above
arrangement, promised you, myself and auditor,
his personal attention and assistance in the
| proposed examination so that the report based
| thereon should be accepted as final. Mr.. Kill
| gore has not gwen collectively three hours per-
sonal attention to AN examination of his books
| from the LIST of January TO the present time.
Not being aware of the fact of there being two
sets Of bondsmen until the LIST examination was
completed, thought that all that was neces-
sary was to see that all the accounts were pro-
perry credited with what was received, aud that
nothing was allowed as expenditures except
| verified payments by the bank, thus taking for
his two TERMS commencing January l, 1871, and
ending December 81 1873 all OF his rcceipt-
and deductng therefrom all of lis expenditures
leaves a balance of 16,33767, which, after de-
Quoting the balance IN the bank of Sl012 10.
leaves balance due the city AZ reported OF
S6,2l0 "a.
rhe errors discovered in Mr.. Killgore's accounts
on the above examination (other than sundry
small clerical enors) are as follows:
1871. July. Charge in account OF OPEN
lug Nendver av., no voucher, 80 500. 0O
" Aug. II. Charge III account of
Opening Streets. no voucher, .... ], 800. 0l
" sept. %. Charge IN account of
Public Buildings no voucher.... 5000 OC
" Dec. 10 Charge in account of
Public Lamps, no voucher. 81. 700 .00
1872. Jauy. Charge in account of
salaries, also charged Dec. 81,
1871 ....... ........ 2,26l. "a
" July 80. Charge in account of
opening streets, 40 voucher ..... 5000. 0t
" July 30 Charge III account of
streets, no voucher .......... $500
" Angus 30. Charge III paving beds
ufsucets, no voucher ....... 3.lll .;
Total i. ..................sl9, lGs. q
OF COR. 'tie status Of the Treasurer account.
wa rtnfee1, from eirne time, by deposits
n.el' II or han fom the resources of the city
pt. pel. SD hr. Kiilgore has himself admitted
and II IL nnOwn from other sources, that he Dc,
, posted about IS, OOl during the last SIX months
i'll 1873, shch, without doubt, went TO make M
ia part what he has failed to deposit OF his re.
ceipts.
have not yet examined in detail Mn. Kill
9 cores receipts and deposits, but did notice at
two different periods that he had withheld de-
, posting portions of his receipts.
The statements rendered herewith for 1871
/ veiyihed in connection with the receipts aus
deposits, show the deficiency for that year tt
{ be sl.663,G0 There beng about $500 check
: Issued i'll 1871, it has been very tedious pro
cess to ascertain correctly how many of agit