Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-07-16

How a Dedication was Made Up.
and How it ResuIted-A Peculiar
Case of Larceny After Trust.

1.-THE Ladies' Union Porter's Branch
Society of Savannah" is the name of a
colored association having for Its object
the "relief of the sick and the burial Of the
dead" The society is composed of num-
Der of the better class of hard working,
industrious colored women, and has been
in operation about seven years. The Treas
urer of the society was Eva sheftall, (the
wife of a man named David Walters), who
was highly esteemed by the society. The
rules require that every three months a
committee shall visit the Treasurer's house
and count the funds of the society, which
are kept in box which the Treasurer has
charge of.
On the 14th of February last the commit
tee visited Eva Sheftall's house to perform
this duty. Eva was very i'll at the time,
and not expected to live. The box was
produced by Susan Sheftall, her sister, how
ever, and the contents were counted and
found to amount to $349 25, which was cor
rect with the vouchers. In view of Eva's
serious sickness, the committee requested
Susan to act as treasurer pro teBl until some
other arrangement could be made by the
society, or until Eva recovered. The box
was accordingly given with the cash into
the possession of Susan. Some time after
wards Eva died, and Susan continued to
retain the funds until recently,
when the society concluded to make other
arrangements, and previous to making a
demand upon Susan for the strong box, a
committee was appointed to call on her
and examine the funds. On discharging
this duty the committee were surprised to
find that the treasury fund was $2l5 IS
short, there only being $lS3 40 on hand.
The committee were astonished and desired
TO be informed what disposition had been
made Of this amount, whereupon Susan
made the following explanation:
She stated that previous to the visit OF
the committee on the 18th Of February, her
sister Eva had acknowledged to having
used the $2l5 85 for her own purposes, with
the intention of refunding it before the
time arrived when it was to be counted,
but she was taken sick and was unable to
do so. She was greatly grieved about It.,
and in order to make her feel easy Susan
promised to borrow some money from few
friends to help make up the deficiency,
and her husband, David Walters, who had
some cash on hand, offered to put 1t In the
box to complete the amount, promising that
he would sell some land belonging to Eva
and restore the whole sum
before the society demanded the
be protected. At present it was only neces-
sary to have the money in the box, so that
the committee would find 1t all right. This
was satisfactory to Eva, and the money thus
obtained was placed in the box, and when
the committee came and counted it, they
found the sum correct as above stated.
Susan retained possession Of the box as al
ready mentioned, being left in charge as
temporary treasurer. Walters then took out
IA fhot hod 1nonaH
to make up the deficiency, and Susan
was compelled to return the amount she
had borrowed from friends, consequently
when the next call for the funds was made
the deficiency of $2l5 IS was discovered
This was Susan 8 explanation, and the ma
Jority of the members of the society, we IN
derstand, believe 1t. At the came time they
contend that she did wrong, and that she
alone is responsible, the money having
been left in her possession after the death
of her sister. The society cannot afford to
lose the money, and are compelled
to take legal action. The committee
accordingly appeared before Magistrate
Waring Russell, Jr., and had a warrant is-
sued against Susan Sheftall, charging her
with larceny after trust. Mr.. Isaac Russell
has been employed by the society to prose-
cute the case. Susan yesterday gave bonds
for her appearance to answer the charge,
and colOred man named j. B. Lewis, who
stated that he was possessed of certain real
estate, became her security. 1t has since
been learned that Lewis is worth nothing,
and his affidavit was false, and
this may possibly eomplicate mat
tiers. The conduct of Walters is de-
nounced by the colored people. as it would
appear from Susan's statement that he had
acted in bad faith to both her and his wife,
her dead sister Eva, in not disposing of the
DroDartu and mo EfnU nOOd tho dafo ton
thus avoiding the discovery and pr venting
scandal. The sffair has created nsidera-
BILE sensation among the members of the
society and their friends, aud the prelimi-
nary examination will attract large and in
terested crowd.