The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1880-01-10

| AA0AuNAAlON OE THE TOWN ~ AE6oO
RER.-The matter of the alleged defalca
ton Of Frank Martinez, Treasurer of tn,
town Of Donaldsonville, has assumed .
new phase. Martinez has receded from
his position of defiance towards the au
thorities Of the town to whom he is off
cially amenable under the ordinances
and by seeking compromise Of the pro
ceedings against him-based upon hi
surrender of all his property, the fur
nishing of security for any balance tina,
may still. be due after the sale of his
effects, and his resignation of the Office
of IfeasnFep-has virtually confessed
himself guilty Of the grave offrnse Of EN-.
bezzling some $1,000 Of public funds en-.
trusted to his keeping. Such an adnis.
! sion was not required to acquaint oh
servant citizens with the true state OF
the depleted town treasury, as that had
been sufficiently indicated by former de-
| velopments. 1t has been for several
months q matter Of notoriety and public
comment that Martinez was spending
money with q lavishness totally incon-
s'stent with his former habits and posi-
ton, and this was especially noticeable
during the last political campaign. Mar
tinez was warm supporter of Mr.. Chez
vers for District Judge, and is said to
have frequently declared that he OK.
pended several hundred dollars ii That
candidates interest. Even after the an
pointment Of the Councils committee to
! investigate his office, Martinez is re-
ported to have continued his newly &C.
quired expensive habits, and the expla-
nation applied to this circumstance was
that, foreseeing an exposure, he became
! reckless of consequences. When the
committee presented its report, there
| should have been 1854 in the municipal
treasury, but the deficiency has grown
| still larger, amounts paid in since that
date having contributed to swell the
shortage to something over $1,000.
The minutes of last Tuesdays session
! Of the Common Council show that Mar.
tinez has sought a compromise with the
town, and that Mayor Israel and the
Councils attorney, f. N. Pugh, Esq,
have been authorized to effect such set
Element with him as they may deem con-
| ducive to the interests of the corpora.
ton. Negotiations looking to an adjust
ment Of the matter have been almost con-
cluded, the terms being substantially as
follows: Martinez surrenders all his
property, excepting household effects,
consisting of a new house and other i'm
provemcnts OH rented lot in Donald
sonville and several horses, mules and
drays, the whole estimated to DC worth
about $1,000; he has also delivered his
books and vouchers to the Councils rep
resentatives and rendered his resignation
Us Treasurer, which has already been
forwarded to the Governor: and he as
sumes the expense of the proceedings
against him, ag5ggregating something like
5000. The town is to sell the property
surrendered, and security will be fur
nished by Martinez for the excess of his
defalcation over tho amount realized
from the sale. Finally, both the civil
and criminal proceedings instituted
against the Treasurer are to be discon-
.tinued, upon the foregoing conditions be-
ing fulfilled according to stipulation.
just after the municipal election Of
last May, the CHIEF, referring to the cleo
ton of a Treasurer, declared the defeat
of the late H. S. Boudreaux by Martinez
to be an unfortunate event. Very many
Of the best citizens of Donaldsonville
agreed with us then, aud very few of any
class will take exception to our opinion
now.