The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-02-01
Sudden and Mysterious Disappearance
of Alabama's Treasurer.
The Worthy Gentleman Specialized in Cot
ton Margins, and the State Is Poorer
by Very Large sum.
The Defalcation Fixed at Nearly a
Quarter of Million.
A Clerk of Canadian Bank Bound, G aged
and Locked In the Vault, While
the Bank Is Plundered.

MONTGOMERY, Ala, Jan 31.-There is great
excitement here. The committee to ex-
anime the books and accounts of State Treas
urer Vincent were to begin the examination
yesterday. Vincent left the city on Monday
night A letter from him to his chief clerk
was delivered to the latter, late yesterday
afternoon. He laid it before the Governor.
Vincent said he was behind, but was going
to New York to get money which the letter
indicated he had loaned. An examination
of the books of the cashier and others, late
last night, shows that Vincent speculated
largely in cotton futures. The deficit as far
as can be gathered, is between $225, 900 and
$500, 900.
Treasurer Vincent left on Monday night,
but by what route is not known. The
Governor will offer a large reward, and
has sent kilograms to the police of all the
large cities. Vincent is five feet ten inches
high, very neat in dress, brown hair, and
beard full and long, with mustache; has
very bad teeth; has scar on his forehead.
The Governor sent to the Legislature
the following message:
ITO the Senate and House of Representatives:
Ut becomes my painful and mOrtltvlng duty
to inform you that Isaac III. Vincent, Treasurer
of State, is short in his and has left the
city. This fact was made known by Vincent
in the following note to A. ID. Crawford, a clerk
i'll his office, dated the 29th inst, which
ceived by Crawford on the afternoon Of the 30th
inst, and was communicated to me at $50 P. NJ
on that dav:
" STATE OF ALABAMA, TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
MONTGOMERY, Jan. %, 1858.
Dear Crawford-I find this evening that my
money is not here; neither has il been paid to
the ImpoEters and Traders, Bank; promised.
perhaps Waited oo ng 'aG 8d % BE-
sured; but have no idea of running
nit tee, and after the balance is learned them
wait one day and telegraph me, care Of Fred Wolfe
EN- phatcally and positively that being behind in my
cash is my own fault and that you have had nothing
Your friend, ]. II. VINCENT"
"The amount of Yincents deralcation can only
| treasurers books and n careful count of the
money in the treasury; but hurried and partial
investigation indicates that it is more than $780,
OOO IL is not known by what train or in what d.
rectiOn Vincent left Montgomery. Means will be
adopted to intercept and detain him, If nossible.
oelleVe the State Is largely secured against III
| innate loss. The two houses will have cOmmu-
ncations delivered them from time to time
| or any further WOrd that comes to my hands.
| "E. A. O'NEAL, Governor"
The large sums OF money sent Fred Wolfe
| are supposed to have been used in dealings
in cotton. He dealt also, it is supposed, with
| other cotton houses,
EXTENT OF TIE DEFICIT.
The committee has counted the money in
the treasury va ult and found 1852, 1000 The
| deficit is 1929, 600 which is amply secured by
good bondsmen. 1t has been developed that
| the money was taken in the last two years,
and nearly all before November last Vim
| cent, by the statement of a witness before
| the committee, lost over 500 900 in cotton
through one house, Fred Wolfe, and some
| through others. 1t is surmised that he may
| have loaned some There has been some talk
since he bought house. with rich furniture,
a carriage and horses.
The Governor has taken charge of the
keys of the treasury. The default will not
| interfere with the business of the State in the
least, or cause any interruption to the regu-
lar payments of warrants The January in
| terest is all paid.
A commission is investigating Vincents
| speculations, to ascertain with whom his
transactions were made.