New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-03-07
i CITY COLLECTOR MISSING.
HoBoKEN.s COMMON COUNCIL ALARMED
JOHN M'MAHoN ABSENT FOR TWELVE DAYS AND
HIS SAFE LOCKED.

JOHN MMAHON ABSENT FOR TWELVE DAYS AND
HIS SAFE LOCKED.
rumor which was circulated in HobOken yes
terday that Collector John Mcmahon had abscond-
ga created excitement. Mcmahon the collec-
tor of taxes and assessments and ne had office IN
the City Hall He has not been in his Office and his
wife and family have not seen him for twelve days
Opinion is divided as TO whether he IS deaulter'
and il was impossible last night to deter
mine that question. All his books and
papers are locked in the safe in his
office, and except himself and
his son William, who is his only as
sistant, has the combination of the lock.
Young Mcmahon also disappeared yesterday.
Mayor Timken has known of the collectors alb
sence for some days but he took no action until
yesterday. when he placed Assistant City Clerk
Phillip Kirschner in charge of the Office and sum-
moned the Common Council to special meet
ing last night When the Council met
a communication was received from Mayor Timkon
announcing the collectors unexplained absence,
and suggesting the propriety of appointing com
mittee and an expert TO examine his books and
accounts. Tho Council acted on the Mayors sug-
gestlon and Councilmen Crane. Kenny, Grassman,
Winges and Lee were appointed with power TO
employ an expert. 1t was also determined
that unless William Mcmahon brings
the KEY OF the collector bdle lll5 ioLHils "u "a
pert will be employed to open it, The city officials
were reluctant to express any opinion in the matter
Mayor Timken's suspicious were first excited
by the discovery that the record Of
some sales of property for the non-paynent of taxes
had been crossed out in red ink. He questioned
City Clerk McDermott about it and the latter in
formed him that the sales had been made and he
knew Of no reason why the record Of them should
have been erased. The Mayor then made q cursory
examination and ascertained that the taxes
on the property ii question had been
paid but that the money had not been
turned over to the City Treasurer. some Of them
were paid in 1882 and some II 1NS3. Further
investigation disclosed the fact that Medallion had
not returned any Of his collections to the treasurer
since February H. when he gave that official his
check for 81 900. The only other payments that
have been made to the treasurer since that time
were S2.686 by McMahons son, which made
his fathers balance IN bank 5000, and
81 200 which was deposited by young
Mcmahon after the Mayor questioned him yester-
dsy morning about his fathers a6sence. :,
City Treasurer Bente saws that Collector Nc
Mah1n's returns 10 him this year have about
eGualed those OF last year he tax bills are sent
out in the early part Of November aud the greater
mart of tie taxes are collected before
| nerember 20 when a penalty is added to
those which have not been paid. since November ~
the collector has turned TO the treasurer about
/ S2SO,OOO. MS u ClZD,OOO lcSa IMAM Ut tDtti
amount Of the tax levy which Is about 100000.
City Clerk McDeunott corroborated treasurer
Benre's statement that the collectors returns COM
pared favorably with those of last year
but any statement that may be made
about the absent collectors affairs i surmlse'
II Is held 10 be a significant Circumstance that two
OF the collectors bOndslnen, who are his intimate
personal friends. have sold their property WITHIN
few weeks. The amount of the collectors bonds IS
$40 600 and if there should De any deficiency his
bondsmen are entirely responsible.
The Common Council reassembed last night and
adopted a resolution directing Collector hcAlahon
To appear before the Council Tuesday, and show
cause why he should not he removed Tor neglect or
dutv in failing to return his collections 10 the City
Treasurer within twenty lour hours, Us required by
law. -,
McMahon's friends arc confident that ne WI re-
turn and expialn everything lie is OF a couYiyr a.
disposition and they believe that he has gone of
on a spree. At the same time, they admit thai he
has been living at an expensive rate WINE lis
ga AIRY was only 81, 500 year.