New-York tribune., 1881-12-27
NEWAPE'S FINANCIAL AFEAIRS.

PALMER TO MAKE A FORMAL CONFESSION.
Frederick A. Palmer. the embezz'ing Auditor OF
Newark spent Christmas IN quiet way MS Pnv-
sican has succeeded in restoring his system to IT'S
normal condition and his mind is clear ana com
posel. On Sunday he was NIslted ny
his wie and some female TcIatiy9s al ,9':
Yesterday his wife again called and IN the
afternoon his counsel William Is. Guld was
with him about an hour. Palmer occupies Il large
and comfortable apartment; dlreGCIF over @ @lnc
laundry and entirely removed 'Tnm the nam why,
where The other prisoners are confined. From ms
room Franz hammers walked forth TO execution
Palmer is furnished with food and other neCeSsarlcs
from outside. II is a matter OF remark IN Newark
that such consideration should be shown
confessed criminal. Palmer has not yet made any
statement 10 his counsel The latter said last nlght
to a TRIBUNE reporter that be had observed that
Palmer was loath TO enter directly urOn the SUBJECT
of his robbcrics and he had not quesii,0n"f I'm
He is \ gentleman to the bottom, SAID Ny ttmid
"of a modest and sensitive disposition. When he
said he had no confcderatcs ] am satisfied that ne
told the trath. Hall and Palmer operated
in their operations The rcportcr rcmarHed
that there was coincidence in PamcTs confession
and Halls flight, and that the two men were seen
together on the Tuesday evening preceding the dlS-
closure and called MFR Guild's attention 10 the de-
earation of the expert that the r'hbGries cond NOT
have been possible IN either case without couSlnn
Mr. Guild reafirmed his belief in Palmcrs state
ment. .,. j.,
lend his assistance 10 the expert in the eNamnati9n
of the accounts saving that he could SIN liy the
examination and hasten its completion.
Alderman Theherath, chairman OF the common
ConucT Finance Committee. who has personally
supcrintcnded the investigation since Palmer con
frsscd his robhcrioS signhcd his wish that iHllneI
sbouId be allowed 10 visit the City Hall aud assist
the expert. He acccded TO PameTs request thati
In thc performance of the task he should
not be exposed to the pull lic gaze ana ana
sncn should of "U DrivacV cro" was agreed that
Palmer should he taken to the CIV Iail
This morning and an order of the Court was a,keu
for 10 hermit the prisoner to quit the JAIL ~ trans
nired last evening. however. that the visit had
another and more important object namely that
Palmer would make formal confession
today in the presence oi the, flhaICe
Committee ana the Mayor The plan
arranged is for the prisoner 10 be driven To the City
Hall IN close carriage at VSl"'N He n'", g eirs
when a full statement will he taken down by
struocrapher. Expert Walden was IN New-l OK yes
tcrday. having been called a"ay 10 .,nn, m
a friend on an incoming EnI9pe'h steamer
and hc was tcicra' he'd to 20 bc present, i1i-
morning. Alderman Thchcrath. who made we Ar
raugcmeuts, also sent notices 10 the MAYOR hnv lu'
other members of the Finance Committee !! !Was
contemplated 10 keep the matter secret uhIii 'Iit
confession made and any iI'H-,I,li, i,iui
tion. The Finance Committee will hold 'peclal
meeting this evening when the confession OF the
Auditor will be- acted upon. Yesterday lNpit IA
den and his assistants investigated th' Slaki'i (
Fund account and as far "a hey proceeded lg'hn /
correct the Auditors hooks showing no lrT''i y
The Investigation of the arrears OF iaNCs accounts
thr Controllers office. which. in half OF single
word shows already an cmb'zzIcmcnt by William
A. Hall. the chief clerk OF over 3@,ooo VIII b' con-
The public dlstrust awakened 10y tic disclosures
nj the CITY Hall has directed attention 10 'Ncty de-
partmcnt o the city and county YoIeflntn,' & nir'
years ago charges were made ID the Common lpGh-
I'll affecting the management Of the finance, az the
Newark Water Beard, and an investigation by IN
expert was ordered. The father oi Dsc'r L..
Baldwin was treasurer of the Board and Theodore
L. Baldwin teller of the Mechanic Bank, now nm
] yl1.l lao al
| investigation showed scaudaon5 c'reIoS'I
! ness III keeping the accounts, mt no
| actual dishonesty. HE mNcsi{atioh ulu h"i
satisfy many citizens, and recently the Water board
decided to employ an expert TO make new lnyc,t-
! CATION. We want general house cleaning now,
! said prominent citizen Yesterday " and II should
| he thorough The county government has been m
| one set of hands for about twenty years, ana;
! as fraud and cmbczzlemcut have been found
! in other uncX p"ctrd quarters we nave no r-ht 4"
assume that in twenty wears there has been nothing
in our county affairs that needs u De looked INTO
with the eye of criticism. The county cNl cu,rSa!c
absorbed IN many different chaHtla, ah' tHc budi.l
of FrcchOldcrs as public body Is not more lutclll-
| gent and yigilant than the Common Council, which
! has for years provided inadequate checks upon dis
/ honesty at the City Hall"
/ Alderman Theberath who has shown great zeal
| in the investigation, is Republican, and has
served as an Alderman about five years. lie wa. al
| one time Chosen Frcchodcr. HIS business Is thdt
! Of saddlcry hardware. He was q delegate 10 the
Republican National Convention NJ Chicago IN
| 1850 and supported Mr. Blaine. lie IL of Ger
man parcntagc and his father was clergy
man. He has always been independent IN his views
"a affecting questions of local government, and has
| several times declined 10 be bound by the decisions
Of ms party ucus, for which hc has been roundly
! abused on the floor Of the Common Council;
! over a year ago Alderman IhcbcrIth charged
! in the Council that irregularities existed
| in the office Of the Street Comulsslouer,
aud asked for on nycstgation-the result
| showing that Irregular practices existed. change
was made IN the department. More recently he ha-
| laborcd 10 establish better guards and checks M
other departments of the cIty, one of which was the
market, where loose system Of collecting Tees pre-
| vailed Alderman lhcburath has been named sew
! cral times as the Republican candidate for Mayor
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