Daily Republican., 1880-01-09
A DEFAULrIss TREASURER.

]
Lawrence j. Rigney, Ofiicer Of tn,
shields Library Association, o
this UiIy. i'm TrOuble-He Ensbs z
xiss over $500. and is Closed III
ny ahe SeriG-Those Individual
ly Interested I'm tns Matter.
| Lawrence J. Rigney, the Superinten
dent of the "Great Hong Kong Tea Com
pany," No. 2l8 W. Second street, has
gotten into trouble. Being In business
times being dull, and being Treasurer
Of the Shields Library Association, thf
temptation TO borrow mouey, without
the consent of the Association, was toe
much for him. On the 23d Of December,
just previous to the opening Of the
Catholic fair, the Association passed al
order of $50 to be paid to Bishop Beck
er, Of this diocese, for the benefit Of the
Orphan Asylum. The Bishop received
a check on the Wilmington and Bran
dywine Bank, and deposited it in the
Bank Of Delaware to his credit. II be.
ing sent to the Brandywine Bank to be
oashsd, 1t was discovered that there
was no money to the Society's order.
The amount Of money thought to be in
bank by the members, was about $500.
When the Bishop was informed that
there was no money to the credit of the
Association, he Withdrew the check
and returned 1t to the President and
Secretary Of the Association, so that the
suspicious circumstance could be looked
into. The officers called upon Mr.. Rig
ney at his store and asked him II there
was any money in bank. The reply
was Eyes" The gentlemen then in
formed him of their suspicious, where
upon Mr.. Rigney admitted that he had
embezzled the funds, but would return
the money In few days, at the same
tims assuring the members by ex.
hibiting several notes signed by promi-
nent citizens, which would more than
cover the loss. The Association officers
left with favorable impression, deter.
mining to keep the matter from the
public as we'll as from the members OF
the Association.
~ soeno that sno peouiation has ueen
carried on BY MIR. Rigney since and in
Guiding the day upon which the Asso-
citation gave their excursion to Cape
May. These misappropriations consist
mainly Of dues and fees placed in his
hands by the officers OF the Society to
be by him placed In bank. Instead OF
placing these amounts to the Associa'
tion's credit, he has put them to his
own individual use. He has been q
member OF the Association about seven
years, and was elected Treasurer about
two years ago. The popularity Of the
Society Is to place such implicit faith
in their officers as not to bind them or
ask for security; this, 1t seems, has
given the temptation, and the result
has been as above stated. About a-year
previous to his election he started in
the tea business at his present stand,
being aided in his enterprise by q
prominent butcher in the Second street
market and fellow member OF the As
ISOLATION, who advanced him money
amounting to between one and two
hundred dollars, aud also upon subse.
quent occasions loaned him various
sums, amounting In the aggregate to
1887, which amount is still outstand.
ing. The sum embezzled from the So
ciety is 1886. In addition to this there
ars various other sums ranging from
$50 to 800 borrowed from members in
dividually. On Wednesday the butcher
above referred to had tae Sheriff placed
upon Rigney, and that officer immedi-
ately closed the store and began his ar
rangements to sell the stock. There
are also claims against part of the
goods, which, together with $S5 which
he owes Barclay & Bro. and other es
tablishments, will run his deficiency
up to about $4,000.
1t being understood that Mr.. Rigney
hadn't given any evidence of desire
to straighten the accounts the matter
was brought up before the Shields Lii
brary Association, at a regular meeting
held Monday evening. There was much
indignation manifested against the
course Of Mr.. Rigney, when the matter
became generally known. The report
of the committee appointed to investi-
gate the matter was handed in last
evening at another meeting. 1t was to
the effect that they endeavored to have
the matter amicably settled. and upon
failing had secured the legal services Of
Levi c. Bird, ESQ.
Mr.. Rigney, having just married,
~, u'oH"oo" nv" nouso VA one
in order to save himself the property
has been turned over to another indi.
vidual.
The embezzlement was detected lust
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