Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1884-12-02
The Troubles in the Auditors Office.

The irregularities in the Office of the Au-
ditor of Public Accounts developed by the
report of the legislative committee on Sat
urday, has created quite sensation. The
loss the State will sustain cannot as yet be
estimated. Developments show that some
of the court clerks, whose accounts on the
Auditors books showed them delinquen!s,
communicated the fact that they held re-
ceipts from Mr.. Smith, first clerk of that of
flee, for amounts charged against them.
The grand jury of the Hastings Court Of
Richmond yesterday commenced an inves-
LEGATION of the affair. This will no doubt
result in bringing TO light the whole system
by which the irregularities in the office
occurred. Some of the discrepancies
which have been discovered by the par
tal investigation of the Legislative
committee arc traceable beyord the period
at which the administration of the office
passed into the hands of the Mahoneites.
Mr.. Smith, the first clerk in the Auditors
office, whose duty it was to audit and at.
tend to the class of accounts in which the
irregularities have occurred, yesterday made
deed conveying all of his property in trust
for the benefit of Auditor Marye. This
consists of land in West Virginia, and fur
niture, brio .brac and other personal estate
roughly estimated at $4,000. In event any
loss is proved to have been sustained by the
Commonwealth through Smiths conduct
this is to be sold to meet the same. His
connection with the office was yesterday
formally severed. Mr.. Smiths numerous
friends are perfectly confident that a tho
f,,1l L..
any sort of criminality in the matter
The following is the deed made by Mr..
Smith which was admitted to record yes
terday:
This deed, made this 20th day of November in
the year 1881, between William K. Smith, of the
city of Richmond State of Virginia. of the first
part A. Z. Alcocke, now residing in sail city, of
the second part, aud Morton Maryc, of the third
TART
Whereas the said William R. Smith has been
clerk in the office of said Morton Nsrye, Auditor
of Public Accounts Of the State of Virginia. since
about the second day of January, 1884, and the
said William K. Smith is willing to secure the
said Morton Marye against all loss by the acts
and doings Of the said William Smith since lac has
been clerk aforesaid now, therefore, this deed
that the said William Z. Smith, in
Of the premises and of one dollar to
him paid before the signing and sealing of this
ieed the receipt whereofIs hereby cknowl lodged,
10th grant unto the said A. +. Alcocke, with gen
ersl warranty, all the books, pictures, mantcl
and household furniture of him
the said Smith, including pIauo-forte. now
N the house of Mrs. M. F. Spotswood, on
franklin street. between Seventh and Eighth
streets, Richmond, Va, in which house the said
smith also resides 81 a boarder. Also two tracts
If land situate in Calhoun county, w. Va, owned
~ the said Smith, for more particular desc-ip-
ion of which land reference is made to the deeds
the same to him. now on record in said |
Calhoun County. In trust to secure aud save
harmless the said Morton Msrye from all loss,
wing to the conduct, acts, and doings of the said
it'll clerk as aforesaid, should the said Mayrc
ufer less by occasion Of the acts and doings |
# the said Smith, then the said Alcocke will sell
he said property, aud from the proceeds of said |
ale reimburse the said Marye the said loss, and |!
he remainder of the proceeds of said sale he will |
Jay over to the said Smith after pay ing ,sts OF
ale and reserving commission OF 5 per centnm
or his services in this beh,f. But should the
aid Marye suffer no such loss, then the said