The New York herald., 1879-03-08
ANOTHER GOOD MAN GONE WRONG.

the case Tor wednesday next.
| ANOTHER GOOD MAN GONE WRONG.
A PHILADELPHIA TAX RECEIVER RUNS AWAY
''HE Bore GOOD REPUTATION AND WAS
HIGHLY RESPECTED" OF COURSE.
PHILADELPHIA. March 7. 1879.
Another trusted ocial is to be added to the list of
good "gone wrong" This time 1t is Mr.. Ben
jamin Shallcross Receiver Of Taxes for tho Twenty
third ward of Philadelphia. Like all his lustrious
predecessors Mr. Shalcross widely known and
respected. He of good family. had always borne
excellent reputation and in fact in the good old
times would have been the last man suspected Of
being deliberate thief. In the light Of recent
experience his respectable antccedcnts should not
have shielded him from scrutiny in his financial
dealings with the city; but they did. nevertheless
so that now the community is suddenly shocked
with the intelligence that Mr.. Shallcross is de-
faulter in large amount. There circumstances
which make 1t appear that the stealing has been
going for years and that Shallcross has enjoyed
very comfortable and cosey little STEAL owing to the
immunity from investigation which this public
official. fortunately for him. has always enjoyed.
UNTO HIMSELF.
The Twenty-third ward Of Philadelphia is a sub.
urban village called Frankford. When tho Philsdel-
towns in Philadelphia county Frankford became a
part of the incorporated city. like many other out
lying towns and villages. Mr. Albert G. Roberts is
the Receiver of Taxes for Philadelphia but it appears
that under stupid act Of the Legislature his juris-
diction does not include the Twenty third ward and
entirely independent Receiver of Taxes is pro-
vided for that district.
SHIFTING THE RESPONSIBILITY.
Said Mr. Roberts, in explaining his ignorance and
innocence of any completely with the accused OFF,
cial:-"Although 1 appointed this man am in no
way responsible for his Official conduct. The law
takes away al his ace accountabiiity to me- suggested
under my control, and then 1t would cost less
money and there would be more thorough
members Of the Legislature well as Councils, but
nothing has been done" Under the law Mr.. Shall
latureof May g. $780, authorizes the Tax Receiver to
nominate receiver for the Twenty third ward Coun
ellis are required to confirm the appointment and the
official is responsible only to the city. He simply
sends the Tax Receiver his accounts, which no one
audts and the delinquent list goes into the proper
NOBODY TO BLAME.
II have not the power even to remove. which can
only be done by due process Of law. His securities
do not come here. They entered in the City
Solicitors Office and the city holds the official
Cross deficences. did not reappoint him in con-
sequence of the rumors which were in circulation
affecting his integrity"
-NEGLIGENr CITY GOVERNMENT
On the 1st OF March the term OF Mr.. Shallcross
Receiver of Taxes for the Twenty third ward ex-
Receiver Smith. Mr.. Roberts predecessor six years
ago. and his term expired the LIST inst For long
time past rumors have been current in Frankford
that something wrong with Shallcross accounts,
and two weeks ago he disappeared. having gone it Is
ssid to Virginia. The full history OF the shows
| most astonishing careessness the part Of
tention was called to shalicross irregularities
Mr.. Frederick X. womrath. himself Common
Councilman from the Twenty third ward. called off,
cal attention to the need of investigating the re-
| q ex
perience of red tape, and being referred from to
the other officer o. the city government. he gave up
| rath says that on the 18th OF December, 1876, he
paid to shallcross. si.5S2 10 for his taxes.
| to learn that he had been returned as
delinquent. He followed the matter up. and Mr.
him, and assured him that it was ali mistake and
he was sorry for it,. asking him at the same time to
cause. he said. he had paid the taxes by check and
the check had been paid into the bank the 18th
Goth of December by Mr.. Shallcross. Hearing from
| time to time complaints from his neighbors and
| others. he says that he decided that tho entire
matter should be thoroughly investigated by City
Councils. and to that end he called Mr.. Albert c.
Roberts Receiver Taxes for the city, and acquainted
him with the state Of affairs. As Mr. Roberts did not
disposed to take any steps in that direction he
told Mr.. Joseph L. Caven the President OF the Com
mon Council that he intended calling for . commit
tee OF investigation. Mr.. Caven acqniesced in his
the proper evidence to be laid before the committee
when 1t should be appointed. He was. however. met
| the property owners to appear rs witnesses; and
being unable ut the time to gain the of more
| than two of them to testify before tho COM
mittce, he compelled to let the matter drop
| while.
| Not long since paragraph appeared in the Frank
ford Dispatch referring to the public dissatisfaction
regarding Receiver Shslcross, and since that time
| Mr.. Shalcross has not been seen.
| THE AMOUNT STOLEN.
The full amount of money involved cannot be
known until all tho tax payers who gavo money to
Shallcross have presented their receipts. Shall
| cross successor will at once begin examination
| since 1873. gentleman who has means of know.
ing ixes the amount stolen $25.OOO. lie is
also prepared to prove that where tho prop
erty owners unable to compute properly
the percentage which they should pay, that Shall
charged them great deal than the legal
rate aud pocketed the difference. He also knows in
stances. when Official valuation had been made Of
properties, that Shacross valued them himself and
put the valuation aud interest into his own pocket
In he did In the presence of a second
party, remarking he slapped his packet, That's all
In conclusion, Mr.. Albert c. Roberts, the Receiver
| of Taxes for the city. and Mr. Thomas J. Smith,
| whom he succeeded in that Office, both knew ali
about this thing for years. for called upon them
| and told them all about it,
According to the oct OF Assembly the Receiver of
the Twenty third ward Is required to enter security
| In tho sum of $4,000. ShAllcross' bondsrnen are
James Walters aud George Shallcross q relative of
the missing official. These gentlemen are good for
the amount of their bonds but tho city will lose all
beyond the $4,000 probably
|
ROWING.