New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-09-28
MORE CITY BUREAU FRAUDS.
FALSE ENTRIES MADE IN THE TAx-BooKs.

far, although the books of the Bureau of Arrears
in which the forgcries were committed. have
bcen in experts hands only three days,
DISCREPANCIES amounting TO $4,000 have been
dIscoyeretbx On Saturday Controller Grant
had occasi6b TO examine tho accounts
of the bureau in Older to place some payments OF
taxes which, through some error, had never been
pos ed. Among the debtors of the Tax Department
is a brother of ex-Mayor Ely. who has not paid
taxes Tor q number of years. 10 the Controilers
surprise, he found that Mr. Ely had beon credited
with considerable SUMS of money. which appeared
on the books to be- payments for taxes. This dis
covery called tine Controllers attention 10 several
other names aud he soon found that the the city
had again been robbed by dishonest empioye.
The books of the bureau aeed IN the hands II
expcrt accountants and the Controller called tie
attention of District Attorney McKeon TO the case.
Before Saturday evening Inspector Byrnes had de-
tailed three of his detectives on the track OF the
dishonest clerk The clew which led to his dis-
coyery was vague Last March an under
clerk named John b. Carroll whose age was
twenty-five and whose salary amounted to about
81 800 a wear, was discharged because of his mat
tenion to the duties OF his position. He had been
in the employ of the ciIy for three years, and had
been faith nj clerk to all appearance until Octo-
ber l;.s2, when several occasions he remained
away from the office a week at time. At the office
eff The Ciiy accord Carrcs address was found 10 be
No. IS East Forty-seventh-st. Inspector Byrnes
sent Detectives OCOnnor and Severn to the house,
hut they We're informed that Carroll han not lodged
there Tor several mon rs, and had not been per-
manent boarder at any time Following the sug-
gestion thai was made to them, the officers then
went to Buffalo with the hope tnat the man might
have gone there to attend the Democratic State
Convention, but their trip resulted in nothing that
was satisfactory.
FOUND IN CONNECTICUT
Subsequent inquiry made by Inspector
Bymes himself elected the information that
Carrolps mother was spending the sum-
mer season at the Hamilton House, in
Stamford, Conn. On Tuesday morning Detectives
Severn OConnor and Reilly took a train for Stam-
ford and there were informed that Mrs Carroll had
been boarding AT the hotel since early spring, and
that she had two sous. John and Charles. who
visited her at short intervals. The officers remained
in stamford. They watched the hotel all day We'd
Desday and the following night, but no Carroll was
seen Yesterday morning. however. they saw
Carroll come out of the hotel and walk toward
the railway depot. They followed him.
At the depot Severn called Carroll aside and told
him directly what he was charged with. lie made
no reply. but turned pale aud asked to be allowed
TO see nis mother. HIS wish was refu,ed HIM. He
city without extradition papers. and he assented.
constable accompanied the detectives and their
prisoner az far as the State line and then returned
TO Stamford. Carroll taken TO Police Head
quarters. where he remained all night Ihls
morning he Will be arragned IN court.
CARRoILis METHODS.
The Bureau OF Arrears, IN which Carroll was
clerk Is IN reality portion of the Tax Department.
WHINE 1t is under the cement OF the Contro Her.
It was organized tor the purpose of enabling those
PERSONS who had allowed their taxes TO fall into
arrears to pay directly into the Finance Depart
ment of the city the sum of their Indebtedness
CAROLS method OF swindling the city was sub
stan,ially the same as that of Aiken in the Water
Registers Bureau. He would single out the per-
SONS who were debtors to the city in a large
amount 90 to them and propose COM
promise of half or quarter the entire
sum- The money he collected he would
appropriate and then make false entries IN books
over which he had control, thus making himself
guilty of forgery. The system of defraudlng the
city was carried on for long tlme 1t Is supposed
during the continuance of his office, and the known
defalcatIon will in all probability be many times
multiplied before the investigation is concluded.
between MIR. Ely and Carroll, Inspector Byrnes
SAWS. there was q weIl-uDderstood arrangement,
Carroll consenting to see that Mr. Ely should not
of taxes If certain part of the amount he already
owed was forthcoming. Mr.. Ely consenting to the
agreement, Carroll thereupon entered the suppose
titous payment on the books.
WHAT TIE CITY WILL LOSE
1t is possible that Carroll Will be found TO be one
of the gang of consprators who were concerned IN
the water meter frauds. The unpaid Croton water
rents in time were turned into the Bureau for the
Collection of Assessments and Arrears of the Finance
Department for collection. Carroll was employed TO
make out the bills for taxes due and it is natural
to suppose that he would have had an understand
ing with the dishonest employees in the Bureau OF
Water Rents in the Department of Public Works.
BY crediting certain persons with having PAID their
overdue taxes or Croton water rents 1t would Shut
off further action against them. 1t is not by any
means certain that the city will loss any more
in proportion than by the water meter frauds.
Carroll was not the cashier of the Bureau for Col
lection of Assessments and Arrears, and
could not give a receipt for the taxes due. 1t is
probablo therefore, that the p,rsous who have en-
deayored to evade payment of their taxes CrotOn
water rates will find tnat the sums they have 81 ven
Carroll were money thrown away.
CARROLL INDICTED.
The papers in the case presented to the
Grand Jury yesterday morning, and an indictment
WAS found against Carroll for forgery in the third
degree OF the prisoners habits or past life little
is known. lie was appointed to a clerkshp in 1850
and gained the goodwill of his fellow-clerks
by his generosity. but as his family
was known to be i'll good circumstances, moth
ing was thought of his extravagance What be-
came of the money which was the result OF Gar
rolls forgeries is still matter of conjecture for he
was never known to refer 10 any speculatOns while
he was employed in the bureau. lie Is unmarried and
has bsen passing the summer partly with his mother
in Stamford and partly in this city. Since his
discharge from the Bureau last March nothing IS
living.
The head of the Bureau for Collection of Assess.
ments and Arrears A. ). Cady who has held that
position for many years. A large amount OF money
passes through his hands every year. lie has
borne the reputation OF being careful, cOnsclen-