The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-08-25
COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA,
SECOND AUDITORS OFFICE.
RICHMOND. August "a, 1880.


To the Editors Of the Richmond Whig:
Referring TO the paragraph in your paper
calling upon the committee appointed by
the House OF Delegates to examine into the
affairs OF the Second Auditors office,
especially relating 10 the matter OF bonds
and coupons previous TO the present admin
istrstion OF that Office, which went into
effect 1st OF January last, the committee ac-
cept the suggestion you make, and will con-
fine its reply simply to a statement OF facts
in that particular. We have no opinion TO
express in respect 10 the irregularities dis
covered, and intend no reflection upon the
conduct of any officer connected with that
office. To whom, or TO whose conduct
such irregularities rs have been discovered
are chargeable, whether OF omission or COM
mission, we have no view to express. The
facts are these: Between the oath day
OF March, when we took up the subject, and
the 21st day OF August, the date to which
our examinations have been carried, it APP
pears that S3l 1868 OF coupons received at
that office are now missing and cannot be
accounted for. Coupons, as they are re-
ceiyed from different parties at that office,
are put up into separate packages contain
ing the coupons received from each particu-
lar person. These packages are arbitrarily
numbered; as, for instance, certaln'pack-
age or jacket, so called, is numbered
02i08-$28, ,680-by -------, Treasurer OF the
city Of Richmond, and accordingly the re-
ceipt granted to said Treasurer by this office
is made out, and the number OF this jacket,
amount OF coupons, &c, are noted on stub
from which the receipt is taken. Then the
coupons so received are put into wrapper
package or jacket and the jacket endorsed
- 10 LyaO n
then deposited in boxes provided for the
purpose and the said boxes are then placed
! In insecure wooden presses-therc being no
other provision made for their reception.
Now il appears that between the dates men,
toned that of coupons so received there
are missing S3l 1863, as follows: Jacket No.
| O2406, S2S,6S9, paid by treasurer city OF
Richmond, May 7, 1871; Jacket No. 0245j,
$50, paid by treasurer Elizabeth City coun-
| tv, June 4, 1877; Jacket No. 02456, $50, paid
| by treasurer GraysOn county, June 4, 1877 /;
Jacket No. 02457, $3.50, paid by treasurer
Richmond county, June 4, 1877; Jacket No.
O2476, 800, paid by treasurer Fairfax county,
June II, 1877; jacket No. 0274l, Sl26, paid
by treasurer Giles county, December /,
1871; jacket No. 0275s, $50, paid by Knick-
erbOcker Casualty Insurance Company,
| December 6, 1877; Jacket No. 02762, 2276,
paid by treasurer Lancaster county, Decem-
| Der s, 1877; Jacket No. 02763, S240, paid by
treasurer Scott county, December 8, 1877; !;
Jacket No. O2957, 80, paid by delinquent
lands OF Cumberland county, February 13,
1878; Jacket No. 0357i, 1882, paid by trea-
surer Caroline county, November 10, 1878
making S30,063, TO which must be added
Sl,s0O which is missing from package or
Jacket No. 0242S, which calls for Sll,73O,
paid in by the treasurer of the city OF
Richmond May 81, 1877, now leaving but
so, $50, making the total missing 1853.
The law required the coupons to be stamped
by the city or county treasurer, and can
/ celled when received in the Second Audi.
tors office. We are informed In the Second
Auditors Office that these coupons were al
cancelled by punching holes in each in thai
office. These are the facts.
Respectfully yours,
| w. II. TURNER (Chairman),
WILLIAM LOvENsTEIN,
THOMAS Ii. Cross,
! Committee.