New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-02-01
THE STORY OF THE CRIME.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE

the city on Monday night out MS aosenoo
did not arouse any suspicion that his accounts were
short The first intimation of the trouble was
received late yesterday afternoon by letter
fro,, Mr Vincent 10 his chief cle'k. A. d.
Crawford In this letter, which was laid before the
Governor. Mr. Vincent simply st ated that MS ac-
commits were short and that he was gong 10 Ne"-
YORK to raise money to make up the deficiency.
The COMMITTEES appointed to examine
the books and accounts OF the oIato
Treasurer intended TO begin the work yesterday
hasty examination of the books of the cashler
and others late last night shows that Vincent spec
ulated largely cotton futures" Inc COM
mittee counted the money In the Treasury Vau'o
and found 1852 600. The deficit is 227OOO, ana
is amply secured by good bondsmen. 1t is devel-
oDed that the money was taken in the last TWO
vears and nearly all before November
last Vincent. according to state
ment bv a witness made before the committee. lost
nver S1 90 600 in cotton through Frederick Wolne'
Of New-York and some through others III Is sur
missed that he may have loaned some, although ho
evidence to that effect has been shown Inc UoV-
enor mas taken charge of the keys of the treasury
for the present The default will not interfere WIN
the States business in The least, nor cause any ln
terruption in the payment of warrants. lhe Janu-
ary interest is all paid
The facts as gathered from official and most
cent was first elected Treasurer in August 1878 and
entered upon his duties on November % OF that
year. He was reelected in 1880 and chosen ior 'he
third time IN 1882 his bond for second term was
not approved until January Is, 1881. His BOND for
third term had not been presented for approval ana
N the early part of this month his attention was
called to it by the Governor Shortly aIter"aro
he presented his bond with the names as suretes OF
MANY prominent planters and merchants OF Cham-
oh
bond was not thought sufficient and was not ap-
proved. On Saturday this bond, strengthened by
additional names was presented and ou Monday III
was still determined insufficient.
Tn the meantime the Legislative Committee was
about entering upon an investigation OF the Treas
ury when the following message from Governor
O'Neal gave official information OF the defalcauoh'
"It becomes my painful and notifying duty to
inform you that Isaac H. Vincent, the treasurer Oh
the State is short his accounts and mas lelt the
c;tv This fact was made known by Mr.. Vincent
in the following note to A. ID. Crawford clerk ih
his Office dated the Goth inst, which was received
nv Mr. Crawford the afternoon of the 3Oth inst,
ond was communicated to me at $50 p. m. OF that
day:
DEAR CRAWFORD: find this evening that my money
is not here neither has been paid over 70 tne t t
porters and Traders Bank as promised leaVe ioi
Sew York to straighten the whole mstter, rod
have perhaps waited too long and VIII os isS yo
,t sst tbe comm,ttee and after balance is
aPTa ask tRS Wa 70 If anything happens
me- wish state emphateally and postvey @ 1nae & ne
ing behind in my cash If my own Iau, anu 'nal ~"
have bad nothing to do with IL.
1.-THE amount of Mr. Viucent's defalcatlon can only
be ascertained after a careful examination OF the
Treasurer's books and careful count of the money
in the Treasury but hurried and partial lnvestga-
ton indicates that it is more than $2O0,OOO. III Is
not known by what tram or in what direction MI
Vincent left Montgomery Means have been adopted
10 intercept and detaln him If possible. IL Is be-
lieved that the State is largely secured against
ultimate loss. The two Houses Will have commune
cations delivered to them from time to time OF any
further information that comes into my hands"
Committees of the two Houses have been at
work all day investigating the condition of
the Treasury, and it Is ascertained that
there is in cash hand over $15O,OOO
The receipts of revenue from now
until the beginning Of the next fiscal
wear will undoubtedly exceed the expenditures, IN
cIuding the July interest 1t is also ascertaincd that
all of the defalcaton except about $1,000 occurred
previous TO October 1. The TreasnreTs bondsmen
are regarded as entirely good TO the extent OF their
bond which is $3.50, 900, and the state will not
experence the slightest embarrassment IN
meeting it's obligations. Mr.. Vincent called upon
a clerk at the Secretary of States Office, and
borrowed a book in which record Of
the bonds of State officers are Kept
and he never returned it. His bond has also been
stolen or carried away from the au9ltoI oinGe.
This, however, will not ahect security uIuTt 'ne
eIeTk of Mr. Wolfe stated last night that Mr. YIN NIn-
esnt had lost on one speculation last fall %l2O,Ooo
Ms Vincent dSye up TO M 'apG pcawfoTd for
pae kaQe which contained $4,000. Vincents letter
10 Crawford was with this package. aalts VovelnSs
ONeal was sworn in last December ana Ilncent :
new bonds should have been made and
approved by Governor Cobb AS -, soon
AZ ,;oyeruor ONeal ascertained that Vincent
had NOT a new bond, he called upon him and de-
Inanled that he make his bond al once 10 u9y-
enor O'Neaps persistence IN demanding ponu .in -
in o,eat measure due the fact of the defaicati0n
becoming known so soon. The committee who pave
been at work investigating the condition oi the
Treasury have completed their report
La,er.-The committee find tonight that the ac-
tnal cash IN the vault is $17O,341 9s. and the
actual deficit $217, ,6S7 o. The commltee Is
inyestieating Vincents specuatiOns III ORDER 10
ascertain the men with whom the trahSactionS "eio
b made.
NAsHvufr Ian. 31.-The news of vincent's
defalcation was communicated to ex-Ireasurer
Polk. who ia now confined in jail here, through
an evening paper. He sighed. and saving tsoi sci
loves company" hobbled TO far corner OF MS &c
Vincent was we'll known here, and mas many
friends and relatives in Tennessee
INFORMATION LEARNED IN THIS CITY.
The Importers! and Traders Bank has Deeh ioi
several years the fiscal agent of the State III ths cy
Tor the payment Of the interest on the state deo'
ihe coupons last due we're PAYABLE on January Il
and the bank received from the Treasurer the neces
sary fluids with which to pay them. Il. II. Perkins
r., President OF the bank said yesterday: Tire pup,
hsnsd report undoubtedly correct. knew the iac'
SSfly this morning and at once teIegraphed to my
ssus Is,nus IN Alabama for particulars. but nave re-
seiSeo no reply. The banks connection with tDe