Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-04-09
THE MONEY MUDDLE.
EyIDENcEIN THE SMITH CASE

INC teifoNbb tcosiohJ e.
PIP. Winston, swsrn and examined
By Mr.. Moon Question. Are yor
administrator Of John W. Wright, lat,
sheriff of Richmond city,
Answer. am.
.. Were you one Of his deputisss
A. l was.
Q. State If you know whether any
payments we're made ints the Auditor,
ofics in April and May, 1880, BY said
Wright, or by you as deputy, on &C.
count Of collections on judgment in
favor Of the Commonwealth against r.
N. Ellis, late treasurer Of Amherst
county, and bis sursties; If so, stats
what payments were made and what
vouchers you have? so
A. Mr.. Wright gave nae two checks
of $1,000 sach-one in April and one
in May--to pay on account Of execution
against Ellis, etc. In paying in the two
aneunts at different times / gave my
check as dsputy-sherif-ons on April
18th and one on May l3th-for $500
each, with the 10 per cent. added on,
making sl,000 in each case paid into
the Treasury, for which Mr.. Smith gave
me two receipts for 81 900 each, being
the amount Of said checks, which re-
ceipts | here exhibit to the committee.
COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, !
OFFICE AUDITOR PUBLIC ACCT's, :
RICHMOND, Va, April 10, 1880. J
sl,000.-Recsivsd of John W. Wright,
Treasurer u Of Richmond city, Va, the
receipt OF the Treasurer of the Common
wealth for one thousand dollars and
- cents on account Of judgment
against r. N. Ellis, late sheriff of Am
herst county, and sureties, for revenue
Of 1868.
WILLIAM Z. SMITH, Clerk.
CoNNoNwHALTH OF VIRGINIA, }
OFFICE AUDITOR PUBLIC AcC'Ts,
RICHMOND, VA, May l3, 1880. }
$1,000. Received Of John W.
Wright, Treasurer t) Of Richmond city,
the receipt of the Treasurer of the Com
for one thousand dollars
and --- cents, On account Of judgment
against R. n. Hills, late sheriff Of Am
herst county, and sursties, for revenue
Of 1868.
WILLIAM R. SMITH, Clerk.
Q. These receipts appear to be
signed by William r. Smith, clerk t;
state if you know in whose hasdwrit-
ing they are Gllsd in and signed!
A. | a. well acquainted with Mr..
Smiths handwriting, and both appear
to be filled in and signed by him to the
best Of my belief.
Q. One Of these receipts bears date
April 10, 1880; the check which hr.
Wright gave you in April bears date
April 18th how is that discrepancy?
A. 1t must be clerical error at this
office. 1t is for the same matter, and
that is the Only way ca, account for
it, as a clerical error.
q. understand, then, that ysu paid
in 5000 ON April 10Th and $500 On
May I3, 1880. on account Of this exc
cution against Ellis, etc. How were
these payments made-if by check,
upon what bank and to whom payable,
and to whom were the checks de-
livsred:
A. This has been ssme time age, and
the only way / can refresh my msmsry
about it is by reference to my check
book. One check is entered ~ the
check book April l2th-chsck to Com
Ellis, sheriff another check
is entered May 13th--check to State
Of Virginia. think the dates Of my
checks correspond to the dates Of Mr..
Wrisbt's checks.
Q. The checks Mr.. Wright gave
you?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. On what bank were your checks
A. Richmond Banking and Insurance
Company. Ny checks were each on
The Richmond Banking and Insurance
Company.
Q. To whom were these checks de-
ivered?
4. cannot say positively. emily
presume they were given to Mr.. Smith.
Q. Why do you presume ysu gave
hem to Mr.. SMITH
A. Because had paid money in the
same way.
=. Were ysu in the habit Of payin.
'ues due by you to Dir. Smith?
A. Yes, sir | had paid him msney
,n various accounts in the same way.
Q. What has becsme Of these tive
,hecks Of 5000 each drawn by ysu On
he Richmond Banking and Insurance
company
A. | keep my checks a short time
Ifter my account is written up at the
oank, and then | destroy them. Ny
,ank account is written up and my
agrees with their account.
z. Have you any stub-book:
A. This is a regular chsck-book,
although it is not printed. Book shown
o csmmittee). This is the stub, ysu
inow, the very same way a check-book
rould be. = use loose checks and enter
hem On large book such as this before
he committee now. This is the way
Keep my bank account aow. One book
las lasted ne the whole time have
been sheriff.
Q. Why was it that Mr.. Wright gave
Tou two checks of 81, 200 each instead
If paying them in himself what was the
,abit Of the sfice of sheriff of the city
# Richmond in reference to payments
made from that Office?
A. l was indoor deputy all Mr..
Tright's life, and attended to the books
md papers Of the Office. Sometimes he
ssuld pay in this money, but generally
le wsuld give me the checks 10 pay in.
nd after commissions were taken Of |
vsuld give my checks in place Of the
hecks he gave me.
Q. You seem in this case to have
AIKEN Mr.. Wright's checks for ~, 900
md deducted 10 per cent. commission
md paid in only 81, 800, and to have
often receipts for $1,000; state by
What authority or under what arrange
nent the 10 per cent. commission was
Ieducted on this collection in behalf Of
he State.