The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-08-07
Further Developments Ex'
pected which will not.
Tighten His Guilt.
Mayor Mott Congratulated on
his Systematic Reform
Movement.
Turn the Rascals Out" is the
Cry, and Put Honest Men
in Their Places.
CRAMER's CASE.

ed, and a city official gone astfay from
the path of honesty Again has a once
respected citizen fallen from the high es-
timation in which he was held, to the
plane OF common culprit, WHO'S looked
upon with disdain and disgust. Again
has the heavy hand of justice fallen on a
guilty head, and made it bow in silence
to the mandate of the law.
When Mayor Mott refused to re -appoint
Fred A. Cramer, superintendent of the
water works of the city of Rock Island.
he evidently had in his mind the rallying
cry of Turn the Rascals out = Although
| desperate effort was made by Cramer
and his friends, to have him re, appointed
last spring, Mayor Mott refused to enter
tain the proposition for a momest, and
said on more than one occasion, mo III
ducement, whatever, will cause me Ia ap-
point Fred Cramer superintendent of the
water works" Many will be surprised to
learn, that even at that early date Mayor
Mott was suspicious that Cramers books
were in bad condition, and that he was
defaulter. OF course these were only
suspicious but they have proved to he sus-
picions grounded on facts, until the awful
truth that Cramer is a drfaulter stares the
citizens of Rock Island in the face. Yes,
a defaulter, purloiner of public money.
man who was once numbered among
our best citizens, and above all, man
who was believed to be honest aud up
right has turned out to be defaulter of
the worst character. Robbed the very
men who were his friends, and who helped
make him what ne was. But such is life.
Fred, A. Cramer has done the same rs
other men, holding similar positions have
done. Men whose lust for gold led them
to sacrifice all honor and principle. and
walk through life with cloud hanging
over their head, and the blush of shame
mantling their checks
Messrs. Koehler and Bnrgh, the gentle
men selected by the mayor and finance
committee to make all investigation of
Cramer's books, have been faithfully at
work for the past few weeks attempting
to get Them in d condition so that a report
could be made. For several weeks the
ARGUS has been co9nizant of the fact that
Cramer was a defaulter, hut patiently
waited until the investigation. in.
the hope that it would soon be
completed Last week the gentlemen
discovered the largest deficiency that had
yet been made 1t was in the account of
the Chicago, Rock Island It Pacific road.
Their bill was $3.50, which had been paid
by the company, and they held a receipt
for the same. When the accountants
came to the stub in the receipt book, 10.
and behold the figures had been erased,
and only $50 was placed down. Also on
the cash book, $50 was the amount plsced
down as paid by them. On the ledger
however, Cramer had given the company
credit with $3.50 This was clever trick,
and well calculated to go undiscovered
unless rigid examination was made.
Having the full credit on their ledger &C
count, the next bill would have been made
out for the regular amount to the Chicago,
Rock Island & Pacific road and the fraud
would never have been unearthed. By
some means the news of this large def
cheney leaked ont, and the mayor thought
it best to place Cramer in custody until
complete investigation could be made.
Accordingly complaint was made out
and signed by Mayor Mott and Alderman
Larkin, of the finance committee The
complaint is as follows;
STATE OF ILLINOIS,
COUNTY OF Rock ISLAND, 3D.
James z. Mott and Charles ]. Larkin,
of the city and county of Rock. Island, in
the state of Illinois, being duly sworn ao-
cording to law, do solemnly make oath,
complain, and state, that Fred A Cramer,
late of the county of Rock Island in the
state of Illinois, heretofore and on the 18th
day of May, in the year of our Lord, one
thousand, eight hundred and eighty
three. al and within the county of Rock
Island, and state of Illinois, did collect,
have, receive and take into his possession
certain MONIES amounting to large sum
of money, to-wit: the sum of two thou
sand dollars, of the properties aud monies
of the city Of Rock Island municipal
corporation organized and existing under
the laws of the state of Illinois, and be-
longing to said city in its corporate
capacity, and which said monies were
then and there the subject of
larceny. And the said Fred A. Cramer,
the said monies then and there unlawfully,
fraudulently and feloniously did embez.
zle, and fraudulently, feloniously and I'M
lawfully convert to his own use, without
the consent of the said city of Rock Isl
and, whereby and by force of the statute
in such case made, and provided the said
Fred A. Cramer is deemed and is guilty
of the crime Of larceny; and so the said
atlantis do, CD oath, severally complain
and say that said Fred A. Cramer, then
and there, within the county aforesaid,
and within three years next before date
of making this complaint, in manner and
form aforesaid, the said monies of the city
of Rock Island aforesaid, feloniously did
Steal take and carry away The said af
fiants therefore pray that the said Fred
A. Cramer may be arrested and dealt with
according to law.
JAMES T. MORT,
CHAs. j. LARKIN,
Subscribed and sworn to BY the said