Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1874-02-17
From the Richmond Dispatch.
A PROMINENT STATE OFF,
CIAL CHARGED WITH FOR
gerry.
The Prisoner Attempts TO take
his Life but Faiis-Pariicu-
lars Ofthc Crime

Considerable excitementw was aroused
yesterday evening by intimations re-
Ceived from official sources that heavy
deialcatiOn had been discovered in the
office of one of the commissioners of
the Sinking Fund, and that having
been traced to
WILLIAM. d. COLEMAN, THE sECRE-
TARY
of that Board. his arrest had been or
Ou Thursday last member of the
Legislature called the attention of the
Governor to the fact that Mr.. Cole
man had hypothecated State bond at
a farO-bank in the city. and was being
openly guilty of other imprOprieties of
conduct that threw suspicion upon his
integrity as an officer.
The Governor called at the Office of
the Auditor of Public Accounts and
sent for the members of the Board, and
told them he had received Information
that demanded investigation at once
Mr.. Coleman w9s sent for, and when
he appeard the Governor aold him
what was charged against him. He
denied having appropriated any bonds,
but
ADMITTED THE CHARGE OF GAMBLING
AND DRUNKENNESS,
vet said he had not INDUCED in drink
for more than a week. He was re-
quested to bring the bonds which were
in his charge as secretary of the Board
for safe Keeping. He went into the
Treasurer's office, and from the safe
brought an armful of the bouds, inclu-
ing some that did not belong to the
Sinking fund. The commissioners
then made rough count and state
ment of them, which, when compared
with the books, appeared to Overrun
the amount they called for. The
Board dispersed at late hour some
what relieved, but not without evil
fore5odings.
A DISCREPANCY OF 81, 40 WORTH OF
BONDS WAS FOUND.
The Secretary said he did not under
stand it, and asked that one of the
packages containing the 81 600 bonds
be opened and recOunted. OF course
this request was complied with, but il
did not alter the former result. No deci-
ded steps were taken, however, on
that evening. Mr.. Coleman still said
he could not accout for the discrepan-
cy unless it might be that lie had mis-.
placed some of the coupons, and pro.
ceeding to search in the safe he found
81 900 bond. This seemed to relieve
him very much. though there was sti |
O deficit.
Afterward Col. Joseph Mayo found
~, 70 nj lo of rl al ,
package endorsed sinking FUND.- in
COlenan's handwriting and cOntaing
four 81 900 bonds and four 500 bonds
AS this carried the amount beyond the
former deficit the investigation was
pursued further and more closely
Soon after the package was found Cole
man asked the Board if they needed
him further, and withdrew from the
room, as they supposed, to await theil
call but when sought
COULD NOT BE FOUND.
The record of warrants was com
pared with the rough statement allu
Iied to above, and it was soon found
that on the 11th of November, 1873
there was q discrepancy. Closer in
| vestigation developed the fact that 6
false entry had been made upon the
books on that day. The pretended
transaction of that day indicated the
purchase of So, 100 worth of bonds fol
$3.50. By holding up the book to tht
light Colonel Mayo discovered that &
| figure had been scratched out from
before the g. Comparing this with the
warrant, it seemed that the actual pur'
chase that should have been entered
was SIS, 100. and the account was made
agreed with the Treasurer's warrant
After the adjournment of the Board
that night Colonel Mayo met Mr.. Cole
man or Broad street, and Coleman
said, "Well, Colonel what was the re
sult?" Colonel Mayo told him of the
altered entry and the discrepancy oi
the vouchers. and Coleman said alb
ruptly,
al DID THAT, COLONEL :"
and after q pause added, "What am
to do?" He was advised to replace
the bonds ut once, but said he could
not do it. He then turned back and
walked with Col. Mayo 70 the Rich
mOnd Club House, on Franklin street
where their conversation was contin-
ued a short time, and Col. Mayo was
about to leave, when Fir. Coleman
said:
GOODBYE, COLONEL, DON'T RECKON
IsHALL SEE YOU AGAIN,
know ] shall be disgraced, as an i'll
vestigation must follow, and / fear II
may cause some blame to be thrown
upon you and Gen. Rogers.
Yesterday morning the members oi
the Board called at Governor Kemper'f
Ofice, and there it was decided to
cause the arrest of Coleman and an ex'
animation before a justice.
The ARREST.
In pursuance of this plan warrant
was Issued by Justice White Upon tbs