The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-03-08
LEFFERTs As A FINASCIER.
An Extraordinary System Of Police hook
keepIna-Fnrther Developmenta.

A fact In the recent developments respect
ing the financial management OF the Police Mu.
tual Aid Association. that has not heretofore ap-
peared, throws additional light on the extraor-
binary system OF Sergeant Lcfrerts's bookkcep-
ing. When the Manhattan Bank closed its
doors, after the robbery OF its bonds Last nu-
tunn. the Sergeant had an amount. variously
estimated at from $1,000 to $40 600 belonging to
the widows and orphans OF dead members of
the association, deposited therein in his namc.
He made an excuse OF the banks suspension TO
Withhold payment Of the various sums due tho
different claimants. and this sum went on boar-
ing interest
This $4,000 continued to be deposited in
LefIerts's name until one OF the higher officials
in the Police Department. who was not mem
Der OF the association. called hir to account for
1t. What would become OF this money should
you dep he asked. "Oh. my family Ia hon
est" Lefforts replied. Il do not question your
honesty" was the retort. nor that Of your fam
ily, but it's certainly very loose way Of doing
business for you to have a small fortune be-
ionging TO other people held in bank in your
name. with no evidence showing that IL belongs
To them. and every evidence that II is yours"
=, AS result OF this remonsrance. Leifarts had
| the words in trust for" with tho names of tho
! various owners OF tho money, inserted in his
/ bank book. But h. still made the suspension Of
| the bank an excuse for not paying out any nor
| tion Of the $4,000 although application for
| their share was made 10 him by several owners.
Finally "A Mrs. sutton whose husband mad died
IN August. the amount due her-ti 22S 5g-hav-
| ing been collected the succeeding month np-
| pealed 10 the same official who had rcmon e
strated with Lefferts Tor dcpositng the money in
dispute in his own name. She had 81 $50 TO pay
| on house and lot on Long Island. she said.
| which she would lose II the money were not i'm
| mediately forthcoming. This timo he did not
! yieli SO easily TO tho rcmonStrancc. The bank
| would not advance the money. he claimed.
| GIVE me your bank book and | will
| get 1t advanced said the widows friend. Thus
| pressed. Leilerts finally went to the bank and
/ having set forth Mrs. Sutton's need ensiiy oh
! tanned the tl.1b0. The money duo another
| widow whose husband died six months or
| more ago, and which should have been paid
| over within less than ~ many weeks of his
! death. was only secured by an appeal to the
| same Official The names OF Mrs. Sutton and
| the second widow appeared in Leffrrts's report
| due thcm. The members OF the association
were thus kept In Ignorance Of the delay TO
! which the poor women were subjected. and
! when Leiterts was demonstrated with for
| printing what WAS not true he claimed that as
| he was honest. the money was rs good as paid
| over
Mrs. Sutton. although thus published at the
! beg inning Of the wear ms in receipt of her
| tl,22s go did not receive the sl15O above men
! toned until March l. aud has tho difference
! still owing her. IL was only within the past
! lew weeks that the second widow was paid.
Lcflerts still accounts Tor the delay by his former
! haitian Bank suspendinE. and he cannot be
! made TO see that he printed "A falsehood in his
! January report when he set forth that Mrs.
| Sutton had been paid.