The New York herald., 1877-10-27
oR. LAMBERT's EooENTRICITIEs.
HIS MAN FRIDAY REVEALS SOME METHODS
| PECULIAR TO THE AMERICAN POPULAR

HIS MAN FRIDAY REVEALS SOME METHODS
PECULIAR TO THE AMERICAN POPULAR
BOOKKEEPING As A FINE ART.
The American Popular reference before Mr. Ira D.
Warren was yesterday beref Of the chief contributor
ex-Prssident Lambert but was favored for the frst
time with something in the way OF revelation. Mr. A
j. Reid, the assistant secretary, working actuary,
supervising bookkeeper cashier and general amanuen.
sis 70 Mr.. Lambert the butt of inquiry, and his
replies to Mr. wingats were pointed but At times IN.
definite. This mAn-of-awork began by making an
explanation" after the sample OF his tlusrious pre-
decessor in the witness chair He wanted It UNDER
stood that did not consider himself an oncer OF the
company though he did most OF the actuarial labor.
He said Dr. Lambert had the general supervision and
direction OF everything; In fact he was Of the opinion
that Dr. Lambert was moro essential TO the American
Popular than that Individual was willing 10 admit.
DEcHPrIvs ENrRIns
Witness then testified about reported purchase Of
$50 600 Now York county bonds on December 1S 1875
and acknowledged that he did not think 1t was genu
Inc business transaction being satisfied that NO money
Was paid for tho bonds HIS attention was called to
counter entry on the a1s OF January following, ses
ting forth the salo Of those same bonds. which he
said he made in the books, but could not remember
At whose direction. In his judgment this was also
bogus transaction On December 81, 1874, another
entry WAS made OF the purchase Of $1,000 New York
county bonds which, with Others aggregated $33 GAS
This entry was made by the direction OF Or. Lambert
He did not think this was genuine transaction. The
was credited against cash. but 80 far ss wit
ness knowledge went NO check Was drawn to pay for
them. Witness had the keeping OF the check
book counter entry was found, April 70, 1876,
setting forth the sale OF the Oonds but witness did not
know who ordered tne entry. The attention Of the
witness Was then called 70 the same kind of pur.
chase ON December 81 1875, Of $1,000 Ninth National
Bank stock. Al tho bottom OF the page on winch thia
ia tha
Committee OF the Board Of Directors, consisting OF
Aessrs. Trow and Keyes certifying the correctness Of
the preceding accounts. Witness was not willing TO
swear IT, but thought this entry was placed there by
Dr. Lambcrt's droction alter the certificate had been
entries on the books when he considered nctious.
Three subscription papers were shown, signed by df-
ierent stockholders purporng 70 oe o CON
checks were given IN some Instances and which were
carried as cash.
Witness then gave some refreshing evidence con-
cerning the ation rather cooking" OF tho
wSsn ~sf. ~ sausa ., .ns
generally prepared by De- Lambert witness duty
being merely 10 carry the balances forward on the
books. Thes former, no said, would enter those ball
snces and thsn make additions 70 them, which would
necessisate the alteration Of wtness books Witness
said ne would take memoranoums OF what no vaguely
termed ''neccseary entries"
Mr. Wingate-What do you mean BY necessary en-
tries?
Mr. Wingato-Then the books were made TO corrc-
spopd with the statement, instead OF the nn-
nusl statement with the DooksY
Witness did answer directly TO this question.
but stated substantially that such the case, the
entries sometimes not being made Tor two or three
days after the statement completed. He was then
requested to give example OF this from the books
and cited an entry OF purchased conditional certih'
Gates oil $l3 800 which transaction had existence
outside OF the books, far as he knew In expana-
ton the stated that the holders OF these con-
dlt,onai certificates would surrender them, but the
company paid out no money Tor them that he was
awar. Of Witness said there was no record kept OF
doath losses excepting payments which wcrc entered
IN the cash BOOK; q number OF them compro.
missed, and latterly them woro charged to pur
chased policy account for tho purpose OF apparently
depicting the mortality rate The rcference Then ad
journed to meet again on Monday