The New York herald., 1875-08-31
SOOT, THE DEEAULTER.
Latest Developments Of the New Jersey State
TreaSurerS EmbezzIement.
PERPLEMTY OF THE EXECUTIVE.
The Story OF the Arrest as Told
by the Detectives.

belonging TO the State OF New Jersey by State Treasurer
Ioscphus Sooy, Jr continues to be the all absorbing
shemo of conversation gossip and discussion through
put that Commonwealth To say that a wild whrIwind
has shaken the republican politicians Of tho State by
The developments tho is but faint expression
Of the condition OF things in every pub
city was first given to the matter. Mr. Sooy pre-
yious to his misfortune held in high esteem
Three or four years ago before he appointed State
treasurer he hel positions of honor and trust in his
native county Of Burlington For many years he filed
hc position OF County Collector, during which timo
arge amounts Of money passed through his hands.
then he was never under even shadow of suspicion
70 his honesty integrity. And during his terms as
State Treasurer tho fullest confidence was placed In him
until short time before the present exposure. His
absence from his post of duty various times recently
ave rise to comment Besides he seemed to be rather
melancholy and downcast Sometimes when his friends
wanted TO see him on important business in connection
with his Office his whereabouts could be ascertained
Consequently many of his bosom friends thought there
something wrong This state of affairs brought
about the developments which have cast a
blight his family circle and irretrievably
ruined the character of the unfortunate
He is the father of an estmable family, one of
ais sons being exemplary clergyman who is located
Princeton. Mrs. Sooy is lady represented TO be
possessed OF many fine traits OF character and belongs
respectable family
THE POLITICAL POSITION
Last winter the democrats in the Legislature who
had control of the lower house. and in the ma
jority in both houses werc according TO CUSTOM
titled the patronage of many State Offices including
lhat of the State Treasurership The republican min
ity refused to consent any change accordingly they
you'd assemble in joint meeting with the democrats
o appoint new officials and thus Mr. Sooy held over
State Treasurer. When the democrats saw that
he republicans would not yield they had to
Farous cxpedicns in order to attain their ends all
bf which they focd At the time the republicans
after many overtures made and rejected by both
parties, agreed to compromise the terms OF which
we're that Mr. Sooy should retire give way demo
cratic successor, the republicans to hold to the
,ther Offices. To this the democrats demurred They
wanted all They got none and the Legislature
adjourned with that result. week before ADJOURN
ment Mr. Fitzgerald offered the following resolution
in the House, which adopted by vote of "a to 13
after opposition to it by the republicans
Resolved That the bond presented by Josphus sooy Jr
mttee Of ve to be appointed by speaer with to
examine under oath the parties signing said bond and with
snce February is73 and make ali necessary examnS
Resolved That the committee proceed Immediately under
the resolution and thereon possible and
said committee is hereby authorized to sit during the session
by the House.
The Speaker appointed Messrs McGil Dodd Hen
Erickson, French and Toney the committee. Three
four meetings were held, when nearly all Of the
sondsmen appeared and were examined to the
mount OF wealth each possessed Of 1t
tanned that they worth $500 OOo This satisfied
Tho committee that the bondsmen good for at
least the ssOooo fixed Mr.. sooys security. re-
port was accordingly, made to the House setting forth
hat fact. But there nothing done In the way of
examining into the condition of the State Treasury
called for by the resolutions. The committee thought
The labor which that task would involve too
onerous, and gave another for not
proceeding with the work that the session
Of the Legislature was near its close According to
lhe developments brought TO light by the dcfalcation
Mr. Sooy has been defaulter since February last.
gow he query put Who is TO blame for this state Of
ihngsy Had the committee done the work assigned,
would it not be likely that Mr. Sooys operations could
have been discovered before this times
sooY DELIRI0Us
Yesterday at the time fixed for Mr. Sooy TO
have hearing before Justice Mills. In consequence OF
the alleged cmbczzer not being ready the hearing
adjourned until to-day Mr. Sooy when he was visited
yesterday morning by HERALD reporter was in de-
rous state OF mind He wandered in his conversation
md nothing ineligible could be CLEANED from him.
The effects OIL his recent dissipation IN Philadelphia have
caused sad havoc on his mental faculties He is i'm
likely that he will be able to obtain bail, as the
arge amount 1915 00O) fixed for that purpose is risk
which his friends II hc has any now are not willing to
ssumc.
THE STATE IN A DILEMMA.
Unless Mr. Sooy resigns his position as Treasurer
Governor Bede will be constrained to call special
lession of the Legislature in order to have him i'm
pcached The constitution provides that he shall hold
until his successor shall appointed This cannot
be done unless the incumbent dies leaves the State,
resigns be impeached. Governor Bedle President of
Ihc Senate John W. Taylor, Comptroller Runyon,
Secretary of State Kelsey and other officials held pro-
tractcd conferences yestcrdayas to which is the most
legal and wiscs step be taken in the emergency The
result of their conferences they decline TO disclose The
general opinion Is that special session OF the Lcgsa
iurc will be called. Mr.. Sooy's friends have retained
Messrs John q. Ten Eyck and W. H. Barton their
counsel He will bo tried at the next term of the Mer-
GER county Court OF Oyer and Tcrmncr, which con-
venes in October
AMOUNT DEFALcArIoS.
The amount of his defacaton has been asccrtaned to
be in the ncigborhood of $780, 0O0 One OF his bonds
men, General Trick, yesterday discovered balance of
about $l4 in South Jersey bank which had not beeu
found out at the time the exposure was first made.
HERALD reporter yesterday interviewed Charles Thorn,
tho constable who was mainly instrumental in arrest
ing Mr.. Sooy Mr.. Thorn's description OF the advcn
tures incidents, &C. of his chase alter the alleged de-
faultcr is rather romantic. The following is tho
STORY OF MS CAPTURE
was detailed on Friday morning, at two O'Clock, to
hunt up Mr Sooy, and started to Philadelphia armed
with warrant Tor his When arrived at Phila
Jones asked him To send detective with me to
search for Mr.. Sooy At first he refused
on the ground tha. the warrant was not
he consented to ndorso the warrant as
foows:-'O0ccrs will assist bearer with the within
warrant - found could not do much without a de-
tcctivc, so went to Wilmington after Mr. Mercer
Beascy Jr, in order to have him his influence to
grt me ono When we cot back to Phlladcipha /
stopped at the Continental Hotel while Mr. Bcasey
hunting after Que. While was at the hotel ex.Mayor
Brcst of Trenton, In company with detective named
Brown, came looking for Inc. In tho meantime OBJ
tanned ciew 10 the whereabouts OF Mr. SOoy. IL
Nos l, 100 and /, ll3 Wood street. We started
for there and found there houses there at all
We came back to the Continental and stopped there
until noon on sunday Brown and Brcst went away.
Mr. Wells ofTrcntun in the meantime came and stopped
with the hotel In n short time aitcrward Brown
and Bricst returned and told me they had Glow of
SOoys whcreabOuts that he was down ut the "NecV'
in house kept by man named Ryall. proposc,
should go there Bricst sad that hc dd not
care Or going that he had to home to attend To his
newspaper I insisted We should 60 told them
would so alone II they wouldn't go. After some hcsita
tion on their part concluded TO go. We saw Ryal
and told him we Sooy's friends and were hunting
after him. and would like to see him 10 get him home.
Rya said Sooy there yesterday Saturday lu com
pany with man aud woman ANA that his ttyarsl boy
shot six rccdbrds for him (Sooyl, and he said
hc was coming down again to-day Sunday.