New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-02-27
THE REPORT.

CURLY, that "Mr. Murphy aDScobN'u DV'cm"o4 --'
1877" The facts are mentioned that no security was
reored NJ the treasurer; that he managed the excise
moneys as lie chose, wihou; the express sahctoh'
though with the knowledge OF the other members OF e
board and that license fees were received WIN INC '
vision that the money should be returned II licenses
were not granted within ten days. Inc report 'heh o
tinues, in substance
The Excise Commissioners had authority to receive
these deposits and from the beginning of their admins
traton they disre garded the condition upon when the
deposit received by them, as expressed IN their re
cept granted therefor. As general thing these app-
cations not acted upon by the board for months
after the application made and fully one-baif 81 The
applications made subsequent to May l, 1877, have not
been acted upon al all The books OF the board show
that during the year ending Nay l, 1871 the amount OF
deposits upon applications for licenses was SZ9oo9l 49,
OF this amount S2S7 1862 % was paid the CITY Chamber
lain and So 23i rs returned, leaving balance OF
$6194 75 which remains TO the cledt OF the oohr " INC
German Exchange Bank. Whether the above sum OF
So09 691 rs the correct aggregate amount OF moneys
received by the board during the it is Impossible 10
say. One of tie BOOKS OF the board license pooA CON
flaming record of licenses issued during portion OF
the year. disappeared from the office of the board the Gay
after the decision of the Court of Appeals was given
which determined tho laws i'll force In rrla-
tion to the granting OF licenses No Commits
siJncr or enplOy6 of the board would, II he cOud,
give any information as TO this record. The minutes
Of the board do not show the licenses when were
number Of liceuses actually granted on applications ac-
compapisd with deposits made during the year ending
NAV l. 1877 II is not possible to state with accuracy
whether the amount OF $2S72G % paid to the Cham
beran as above represents the aggregate OF the license
fees which ought to nave been paid over 10 him.
Apulcat;ons for licenses from May l. 1871 10 May !,
1875 continued TO be made to the board, rs during the
nrecedng year. and deposit at the same time gen
orally made with the board To the transactions OF the
board IN reference these deposit moneys our Inv esga
ton has been principally directed
Investigation has satisfied us that the books OF the Ex
else Board do contain correct or faithful record OF
the money transactions OF the board subsequent to May
] 1s77 All the sums deposited with the board when
the Applications made were not entered IN the
books Moneys were In some instances deposited by ap-
pcants fo licenses and receipts gwen but no entries OF
such deposits be found in the records OF the EXCISE
Board. .cepts were signed IN blank by the chief
clerk Nv Donahue, and such receipts were used and
nopcys obtained thereon by parties connected with the
department. 10 record of which il to be found in
The books of the board. Deposits were made when
no receipts gwen, ard in some cases the receipt
hears different name from that entered in the books,
md in Ohcrs different address or description OF TIE
premises for which the application was made Iu sti'l
other cases entries to be found in the books as o. de-
post, made by persons who did maze any deposit
or apply for any license.
On the rejection OF an application ard the return -
the deposit money the rule was to make The repayment
~ check,
these checks, though purpoTtius 70 bear Mr. Mmphys
sicnatnre do not appear to be IN his handwriting
In some instances the persons whose names appear liz
dorsed upon these checks having received the repay
urnt OF their deposit, state that no such re-
payment was ever made. One clerk OF the board,
Mr. Cnids was in the habit OF rgceiyng sums OF m'nE
Nonr1 is 10 be found in the books OF the board any
horton of these moneys being handed TO the board The
explanaton given as to these payments Is tht thCy
wee taken on account deposits by direction cf M
ur,lly
MI Murphy personally: Almost al tDe cmlloyc7 OF ne
ever they thought they could succeed IN obtaining the
same q Zee varying from 81 10 so upon the apuchIon
papers We Of the opinion nat at least $1,000 was
c"Itccted in this manner duTne the yea ls77
The books sh@W ,9S a ve oned to m
me deposits in the GeFnan Exchange Bunk aInopncd
Of sZ2I27 05 The amount drawn from the bank was
used follows:
fa'i iG 900 m and the other Of 500 CO. each by
Rcp SHSSc i 81 dspGS ap caon *
"VOOU W
,re sS 1 Vas drawn rom the bank by MI 5upny
with tie evident intent Of appropIatng tie same to hi
The ices payable on licenses actually issued from May
J. 10 DcceiDbcr 81, 1877. amounted to Sl2O,O53 III,
Chamberlain, however, had been pad $4,000 out Of
III" dcno so that he received IN If the amount
uropcly payable 10 him, $500 Tn" entire dcposlis
Tne disposition which has been or should have been
Nadc Of this amount, Is as follows:
Returned 10 deposltors 80
rance which shoUi returned dcpositors 1882 Oj
r,c only available funds from which these rcpaynents
can made are the following;
1s H OF 1 PGs sa s 222 0'
Bs siG "a in hands Of Chamberlain, being excess
pad 10 him from deposits for license ices over ~ ~.
amounts due Oh licenses Sranted.. l99i1 %
s82072 %
Deficiency. obZ0o 10
Total 552 %
10 Ufp1f Or 1s
Differences between amount col
lccjcd and amount deposItei III .o.o IN
A nam t' dr rs by Murphy from Ger.
nan h d5a dep5sld fHA IN B %"s4S' Na
dawn dgrsl BY him iof bis own 10000 90
Amount drawn by Murphy from Gci,
pa. Par IdcIosiie,l in Pacific Bsnk.,9s5C0o 20
Remaining ia Pacific Bank...''.''--.. 4o'ooO %
Drawn by Murphy from Pacific Bank,
- December p. lS77---...'~-".-'.'.''. l0oOo U"
This deficiency of $50 60 ia exclusive OF the $3.50
psa Mr.. Chds and the $1,000 collected BY the en-
tanning the facts each OF these special cases,
found 10 be oGectua bar to our prosecuting tue ill.,
Te Commissioners Of Excise received the deposits
tirely their own rcspous Dity ana Without me sane
stances mere voluntary conSIgnments by the app
cants for with the Commissioners OF Excise and
were and held by the latter IN trust Tor the
elusive benefit OF the parties making the deposits For
the application OF this fnd to the purpose OF Whch
was received the Commissioners arc alone responsible
aud the respective depOsOrs all the Commissioners
are equally responsible. -
The books ofthe board show deficiency of S5O2G0
on tic moneys depOsed with The Commissioners. There
IS traced directly To Commissioner Murphy $4,000 and
of ths amount SIR Murphy seems TO have appropriated
$40 600 as lar back as August II, 1877. No conceal
Ineut was attempted TO the transaction IN any way
Wbafrycr The checkbOOk not in the possession Of
Mr. Murphy than IN the possession Of the other
Commit neither was the bank book the cash
book. These books were III daily Use, were handled
y the subord mates OF the COmmissOnefs entries
made by these subOrdnaes IN the checboOk and the
cash book. aud IL IS no answer therefore OF the other
Commissioners to That they were not aware OF Mr.