The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-02-21
DEFALCATI0N In RAILWAY.
Ex- CITY TREAsURER CROWELL SAID TO
HiyE TIKEN $4,000.
The Accountants Report TO the Common
Councii-Twenty-nve thousand Charged In
n Single Year-Mr. Croweirs Admissions

The Accountants Report TO the Common
Councii-Twcnty- Ave Thousand Charged In
Single Year-Mr. Croweirs Admissions.
Joseph r. Crowcll was appointed City
Treasurer OF Railway eight years ago. at n NOM
inal salary. He was at that time. and had been
for years. conspicuous In State and national
politics. and when the war began he owned one
third OF the Congressional printing office. He
was afterward for three years n member of tho
State Senate and served one session as Presi-
dent. Two years afterward he was returned to
the Assembly. and elected Speaker. He went to
Trenton and secured the passage of laws re-
tanning him in Office. and subsequently other
laws enabling him to collect commissions on
the purchase and sale Of bonds and on all
moneys received and disbursed as Treasurer,
his once. covering tho period for Which he had had
received nominal salary. Rumors that his
accounts were not correct became current two
his books was made. but il was not
satisfactory either to Crowcl or the Common
MIR CrQwcii resigned the office. and his sue sue.
ing at Crowcll's accounts. which. he said were
un intelligible and he refused to take any oftho
opened by entering the amount of cash left on
hand by Mr.. Crowcll, and the contents OF tho
Office turned over TO tho Common. Council CONF
mittee and the experts employed by them. The
result of the nvcstigations has proved the truth
of the rumors in relation to the deficiency in the
city cash account. Garrett Berry. Corporation
Counsel. said Yesterday that the tota amount
taken by Crowell as commission on the business
Of his office was $4,000, ~ which he had ques-
tionablc right of one-half only. and he was
short absolutely in his accounts $4,000. He
also said that Crowell clenrcd $4,000 last year
in the face Of a law prohibiting him from taking
any money without having his bill first passed
by the Common Council.
Mr. Charles T.. Pratt chairman Of the Com
mit,er on Laws Of thu Common Council. said
yesterday that Crowcll took i25 600 out Of the
city funds without warrant in direct viola
ton of the law. and also took $4,000 as commis-
sion ON warrants paid direct 10 contractors and
nearly 10000 ~ lack pay before the enaction
dchtelncss to the city over 10000 This charge
he cmhodi,d in a report from his committee to
the city hnsn'es. The following Is the account
ants reports:
~ JotDi f'ro'grt-g mi Aari.ory c'rmis,
GrNtlfNtN ~ CusNrrrr | hand YOU herewith a
s & s 5o% I ~ soosi Of i9c co@aon az
Tie most froniinen, mel. aic tc counucd mercase q
sST 6o S 9 tS n T. s 10 o. SS In the In
crsass I. 49, ~ sauns Al round numbers the items
Iayueni innt,st Observation-Disclosures. sil3GOp 10
Chanesble to Joseph crcwcl ........... 2S,r,5 Il
Total .............. silp3s3 II
the .''"'.....,'. i27oo II
Tho total amount charged 10y Mr. crowclla a.
t. wlneh aid unsettled balance. g.. ........ s7ss 10
Maxim. total charscore to Mr. crowell . sioiooJ 50
Il the law of the year l-72 dates a. the be.
ass H. c ss SIn sn Gf S'n "r ,s" van, l
i'-a'a -7o To a -aarV Of 49,. si.slo %
And tn a tuuptusatiln ui ~ percent ON all
receipts ifuu MAY l. le1l, AudIin I. lS7s
IN leu "i what hc has CHARGED The Ac
tui r.eept- ACCORDING 10 the cash book
wtic 81 ilo~3iI- pen cent Is 5i.liA ~
Total ............ s5.,3jg ~
lie j. i6'r,'sre nanl, 70 'hs gy
amount amt s'3.ii'-s. which
Ana a,v ior The un-ct,.d balance s7yJs To- tsoe7 10
Sind ions W rSpimiili, A,'oa ii1p 50
The report of the investigating committee
followed the reading Of the foregoing reports,
RAqw,Y Feb 20 1877.
L. ~, Nm csqBor C4rcG
Gt>trSrN hes to report 20 your honorable holy the
following resolution. at0viyJ unanimously by your i,cs
traune committee oi the whole Council and the advisor,
cVlutnittc ct ciuzensi
R,1t~l That this committee advise the Common cuun
ell TO take pcrentorS tsues ~ compel Mr. CrVre
20 refund ~ amount u motley .aii he due the city
from him, per report OF Mr. IND, rln already sub
mittsd
This was signed by John l.. Truman. chair
man u tho committee. ana was adopted.
Mr. CrOwe has made IN assignment of his
PR perry 70 meet the demands OF the city. He
e,ni"~sr- that there has hrrn some irrrgulurity.
hui sav- that IN" amount il not 80 great NJ $50
900. H. Was Interested in several mauuiu,tur-
INK firms. and II is believed that they were run
ON the city capital.