New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-12-24
FINANCES IN NEWARK.
HOW ACCOUNTS WERE MIsMANAGED.

|
| PLICATIONs WITH OTHER CITY OFFICIALS
The investigation of the accounts of the Auditor
and Treasurer of Newark has not yet disclosed the
full amount Of Auditor F. A. PalmeTs embezze-
ment, but it is made certain that the bulk of the
money was obtained by him through forgery of city
warrants and possibly by raising the amounts on
genuine warrants. The only confederate in the
frauds thus far shown is William A. Hall, the chief
clerk Of the Controller, who is a fugitive 1t
was expected on Thursday night after the meeting
OF the Common Council that a warrant would be Is
sued FOR the arrest of Francis B. Allen, the lawyer
who acknowledged having signed receipt for
S5,l44 - representing warrant to the Protestant
Foster Home for award of assessment for opening
and grading Mount Prospect-avc. The warrant
was found to be fraudulent no such award having
been made. Allen declined to make any expana-
tion when asked concerning it, and yesterday morn
ing aitdayits charging conspiracy were drawn up
by police justice against Allen but were not sworn
! to, Alderman Theberath, chairman of the Finance
Committee, who intended to make the charge
against Allen, defcrring action until a statement
could be made by Auditor Palmer. showing how
Aliens signature came to be on the receipt for tho
warrant.
This statement was procured from Palmer at the
jail by William b. Guild, his counsel. 1t Is as
! follows:
! hereby solennly declare that occasion-the
exact date Of which recall-upon Mr.. Frank
warrant OF damages secured his signature 20 the war
rant book IN fonr places in blank upon the plea mat
upon my return and that in this case -, /
clsc, whereas usually but two required &r. Allen
lett with his warrant 10 the Trcasurer office 10 draw the
money. then filed NJ tie two remaining spaces with
the particulars Of another warrant irauduicnty pro
cured upon which drew the money and applied IL to
NV own uses. The warrant ana check will bear out my
assertion. desire further that Mt. Alcn had
10 sort OF connection with me in any Of my wrong
explanation does entirely satisfy yOu Of Mr. Aliens
| satisfy you oft. FREDERICK 4. PALMER.
Dee %, 1881.
WORDS WITH THE MAYOR
When this statement was submitted to Alderman
Thcberath he remarked that ne would take no fur
ther steps in the matter. An exciting interview Is
| said to have occurred between Allen and the Mayor
in relation to the forged warrant. The Mayor pro-
ducng the warrant showed Allen his signature
upon il. and asked him if ho didn't know it was
forgeI. Allen took tho warrant, turned it over to
show the Mayors signature, and asked the Mayor
his own question regarding his own signature. The
| Mayor said he had been deccivcd when Allen re-
torted that he was quite as likely TO be deceived In
! the matter as the Mayor himself. McNair the clerk
OF the Treasurer said yesterday in relation to the
| forged warrant, that Palmer had presented 1t and
asked for % check. The clerk filed out one of the
blank checks iudorsed it 10 Palmer, and that was
the last ne had SO II of it.
Expert Galdcn has discovered another forged
warrant. II purported 10 be- a warrant for 800 40
priucipll and interest of award for damages for
y street impIovcWcnt drawn t1 the order OF Johh
| A Miller. The signature of Mr. Miller was pro-
u1Hnced forgery by him.
CItc Treasury was 10y procuring certain money on
account. IN fact "a check for -, 6'9 80 was drawn
on tbe National state Bank of Newark filled up by
Palmer to the order Of William III. Winans the CITY
! Treasurer. and subsequently TINS chrck louud us
20. IA tr credit Of the Treasurer of the city. I'm the
] MERCHANTS Bank of Newark IN tine shape OF dr-
p,sit to"cthcr with another check, Inc TWO making
n total # - 600. How the money found lts way
into SIR Prlncr, hands has not fully been discoV-
cred but u - thought that NJ was drawn out IN IN
/ -tllurut- and that the check IN question was
drawn to adjust the matter between MN ana the
hi. learned through admissions made 10y Palmer
fo his counsel aud communicated hy hm 10 Alder
man Th.bcrath, that Palmer was dela9.t'r wnen %
In. was chief clerk o. the Controllers Office The
rmhcIllc.u.ut occurred between the years lN'3 aid
| 1876. aud amounted 20 between - 900 ana N7,oOo.
Nth tine desire OF securing t"utroh'r BAKER rom
los Palmer ht- turned over '' i"n Iho, ,I'S' ,i
~ 600 nn ni- property at Ocean Beach ana a dr'd
of p 1000 "n property n Nr"A'n' Il' O"!lIolLa O"! ~.
could give no pluu1tluu yesterday rtghFults 'n'
Way in which Palmer had been enabled IN CIhD'ZIir
the amount stated while clerk IN hl' Once. lie
had bld no suspicion of iru gulanty IN the ac-
| counts of uis former clerk uuril Palmer made his
statement Yesterday, and he could only account ior
a on ihr hypothesis thar Palmer hal r'crIFcd ar
! ~
/ receipt
SurrEErEs FRoM THE SITUATION.
Treasurer Wnaus was asked yesterday IN relation
10 his advance, to city officers. lie said he had adj
yanccd money at different times % the Mayor aS
well as other officials. and taken the amounts out OF
IN, p,y warrants when tue salaries came due. In
ali ct.r, the advances hal been paid back. The
susgcnson of the Treasurer and the vacancy IN the
Auditor-hip make il impossible for tho members "t
a.. 4 tf.trtf. fp Dp "A
m, clerks iu the city liul. Alderman h'bcIath mas
volunteered 10 pay the street lahor'rN, 'SpectlhE TO
be- reimbursed by the city at some iuluS tuho' Lmo
public school teachers pay VIII pe uu'
tho second week IN January, when mat
trry will probably have been aIjudlc"t'd.
Alderman Thrberath. the chairman ot th@ inahco
1ommitfrc who wa. placed in charge Of the Treas
uscr's office p'udiug the ihN','lNtlpnS oi ,I ,,'
book, in this Office, was asker {'''i ~ ny " ,,i' @
! UNE reporter what courlu'loH "' "'' '''''' ' '''
"HI dav Yesterday / sat here questioning Mr..
Whans, aud from his answers ani Iu' & I,o Tn %
myuts ui the clerks, and my own ors'IE aI'oi'' ii
satisfied bcyonI doubt ihat th' ir,aSu,'r nus @ npU
| the rrmotc-t connection WITH ialul'ts uIlS I
I Ilc Il blamed for allowing Palmer tn sign Ihoso
cllrcl,s but Palmer as Auditor had legal rVht 20
examine any book IN the JIty nan whenever nc
chose and the Treasurer had no voice IN the mat
Tturrt Gadcn also stated to the reporter
/ th.a hc lad every reason 10 ouic'" t,,,v @
| Mn Niuaus was entirely innocent OF any
! ,,'.r,r,, I'm d,fraud the Cit, Governments
| Tho following Anonymous lett'f was IcceiFeu yrs
tcrday py Mayor Fielder;
NEN-YoRE, Dee. o., 1881.
, | WILLIAM FIEDlEE, Nuor. , .n ,c,a.,o,,
. | DE,t sm: f. 4 Palmer dcirauded the Chatnil
ua,L Of s city ont oi several Thousand dollrA rev
! yrtrs ugo before lie Auditor lie professor con
ririon and paid something back For tha reasqn the
matter was krpt secret. You otH S't ~ tho
! bv an interview with the prcsdenI oi uhe DahA
Inquiry was made last evening at tne OhaIitail
information could be obtained in regard to Palmer
bu,.., re atoms with the bank rs al the olhccIa
live out of town. -. . .,,..,,
! Maror Fielder was questioned about advances
made to him by the City Treasurer. the Mayor
sad thai Inc had never received loan OF any KIND
! from thc treasurer and never had any advance on
salary. Sometimes il was necessary for the Treas
urcr TO advance him small amounts to meet iclue
tal cxpcuses, such az postage etc Salu Tie mayor