Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-12-10
THAI LITTLE SHORTAGE
Di.covered IN the tIty Treasury =
PaTkersburg.

Uncovered In tho tIty Treasury ~
PaykersDurg.
The REGIsTRR contsiDsi. on Friday, an
sccount of a shortage in the city treasury
e, Parkersburg, and the investigation now
in progress. City Clerk Toothsker was
Suspended and wanted 10 resign, but the
Council would not accept for the present.
The Parkersburg papers are very chsry
stOut handling the matter ana CREAMY
de precate II. The sentinel says:
An accidental discovery OF some crooked
matters in our city finances hiss led TO an
Investigation reaching back over the last
four years.
Msyor. nearly four hundred dollars OF the
city's money was gotten away with. Dur
ing the yesr 1883, DR.. Scott, Mayor, about
tire hundred and thirty dollars has mys-
;,riously disappeared. The money OF the
CITY was all collected and duly deposited
in the treasury, from which II could oe
drawn only on q check signed by the
Msyor. Under the law he is the only
i,rtv WHO cSu draw out the city's money.
rierc IS a disposition 10 locate the dis
rrcra cy on the City Clerk. and charge
~. with The defslcation, and the tesu-
u.cr,y is strongly to the effect thai he re-
e.. ;,rd the money snd missppropristed 1t.
i,t The elaring feet still remains that If be
ID get the money II was paid to him on
checks issued by the Mayors.
The mode of operation appears to have
getn 20 enlarge the amount of the bills Al
loved, draw the money for the increased
-amcur', pay the actus. account and pocket
he difference. When all the accounts
presented at n meeting were allowed the
:ntsl amount would be footed up and q
ho Irau m clark
the Mayor, when the former would draw
the money and pay the creditors in cash,
they receIpting for the money on a pay
roll. When the total footings were made,
however, they would be increased any
where from ten to fifty dollars more than
tney really amounted to, and the amount
in the bills allowed would be altered to
sgree with the footings.
An investigating committee has been al
work for over a week, meeting every night
and examining the books and accounts.
They keep their proceedings quiet and re-
fuse admission TO reporters. We have
learned, however, that 1927 Is the shortage
for 1888, and 1878 fer 1881. How long the
REGULATION has been going on cannot be
told until the books are thoroughly over
hauled and accurately examined. In sew
eral instances bills have been found where
the amount has been increased SlO after
they were allowed and ordered paid, the
extra $40 dollars stopping in somebody's
hands between the treasury and the credl-
tors.
one Of s. / Adlson's bills was allowed
f,rII -, and The books show that Sli.32
Vas u!swn 10 pay il, although Addison
received but the amour, Of his bill, Sij2.
As nUch as $50 was overcharged at one
meeting OF the council.
The committee investigating the matter
p:cl ose when their labors are completed
to make 4 iull report OF their investigation
cove rirg the amounts taken, when taken
and ~ whom appropriated.
II is generally regretted that The matter
Should ever Lave occurred, as many limo
cent parties Will he involved, and much
improper and upjustiiisble criticism will
ae INDUCED in; but tie main facts are as
we have stated them, though We have been
more moderate even than the facts would
Justify, if We cared to enlarge on the sub
juct. Last Monday the Council suspended
The clerk from his duties pending the in
vestigation, and the LATTER rendered his
resignation, which the Council declined to
accept at this time.