The daily gazette., 1883-02-01
PoLK's IMITAToR.

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POLK'S IMITATOR.
Another State Treasurer Makes Way
with Money Belonging to the People.
MONTGOMERY, Ala, Jan. 31.-It has
just come to light that this State has been
plundered, as was Tennessee, by her State
Treasurer. There is great excitement over
the matter Isaac ii. Vincent, the defaulter,
has made way with S220, 900 not his own,
and left the State. The history of the crime
thus far known Is as follows: The Legisla-
ture appointed committee early in the ses-
sion to investigate the offices and ae-
counts of the Treasurer and Audi
tor. This committee notified Mr.. Vincent
on Monday that they would examine
his office on Tuesday. On receipt of this
information MIR. Vincent left, he said for
New York, on Monday night. His depar-
ture attracted no attention at the time, be-
cause the fact was not known publicly nor
to the other officials until yesterday after
noon, when Mrs. Vincent went to the
Capitol and delivered to Mr.. Duncan
Crawford, the clerk In the Treasurer's Office
a note and $4,000, which Mr.. Vincent had
left with her with instructions that they be
handed to Mr.. Crawford.
The following is copy of the note
STATE OF ALABAMA, TREASURY DEPART-
MENT, MONTGOMERY, Jan, 30, 1SS3.-De0r
Cragford: / find this evening that my
money is not here, neither has It been paid
over TO the Importers and Traders Bank,
as promised. ! leave for New York to
straighten the whole matter. have, per-
haps, waited too long and will be censured,
but have no idea of running away. wish
you would assist the committee, and after a
balance is ascertained ask them TO wait q
day aud telegraph me, care OF Fred Wolfe,
New York. If anything happens to me
wish TO state positively and emphatleally
that being behind in my cash is my own
fault and that you have bad nothing to do
with it, Your friend, ]. Ii. VINCENT.
This was the first known Of MFR. Vineent's
departure. Last night the committee, Gov
ernor and Attorney General proceeded to in-
vestigate the matter Upon their examining
several bank cashiers in the city the fact was
developed that Mr.. Vincent had on his
private account for the last several years
from time to time bought large amounts OF
New York exchange, the drafts being drawn
to a great extent I'm favor of Fred Wolfe.
At Mr.. Wolffe's bank alone he had bought
S119, 900 of exchange. The Governor this
morning sent a message to the Senate and
House of Representatives, enclosing a copy
of Vincent's note TO Crawford and saying
1.-THE amount of Mr. Vinrent's defaleation
can only be ascertained after a careful ex-
animation of the treasurer's books and a
| careful count of the money in the Treasury
but hurried and partial investigation indi-
Gates that 1t Is more than $200,000. 1t Ii
not known by what train or in what direc-
| tion Mr.. Vincent left Montgomery. Means
1 have been adopted TO intercept and detain
/ him, If possible. 1t is believed the State Ii
largely secured against ultimate loss. The
two houses will have communications de-
| Iivered to them from time TO time of any
| further information that comes into my
hands,
From all the facts there is no douhi
nearly the whole amount went to cover real
or supposed losses in cotton futures or was
loaned 10 someone in New York. The new,
| fell upon this community like clap oi
| thunder from clear sky. The public had
not the faintest suspicion that anything was
wrong. The capital has been In a confused
state all day, discussing the situation In the
| lobbies, rotundas and offices. The CON
demnation of the defaulting Treasurer Is un.
stinted in quality and quantity. Mucf
| speculation is INDUCED in as to who Is re
| sponsible for negligence that permitted thit
matter 70 proceed for so long time without
| detection. Some say one and some say
another
The amount Of deposit is estimated at
about $3.50, 900, less outstanding warrants
| About $4,000 would cover the cash In the
Treasury. The January interest is abou
| $40, 900, about S135, 900 Of which has been
| already provided for. This would leay.
| about $500, 600. Further investigation ma,
reduce this, but 1t is hardly probable that il
| will be much lower.
Mr. Vincent took the oath of Office on tbs
Goth day OF November, 1882, ten days be
fore Governor 0'Neal was inaugurated
The Secretary of State, Ellis Phelan, notified
the Governor that Vincent had filed M
bond for his present term. Soon after HI
took charge of his office the Governor called
on him for his bond, and he promised Il
make 1t at once, and did produce one which
the Governor declined to approve, and thu
matters stood at the time of Nincent's dis
appearance The sureties on the bond o
his last term, as far as ascertained up to tn
present writing, are Messrs. NJ. E. Pratt
Daniel Crawford, j. j. Robinson and j. NJ
Driver.
The committee to examine the Treasurer
books TO find tonight the actual cash In tn
vault to be Sl70,341. 30 and the actua
deficit, S217, ,6s7 .02. The committee is in
Vestigating Vincent's speculations to ascef
: tain the parties with whom the transaction
were made.