Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-01-07


OFFICE AUDITOR PUBLIC AcCT's. :
RICHMOND, VA, June IA, 1882.
Received Of the Merchants National
Bank Of Richmond, Va, the receipt Of
the Treasurer of the Commonwealth for
eight hundred and ninety-six dollars
and - cents, on account of the tax
for 1882.
WILLIAM r. SMITH, Clerk.
F. F. Irby sworn and examined.
By Mr.. Moon: Q. What is your oc-
cupation?
A. Runner at the Merchants Ma
tional Bank, Richmond.
Q. Did you pay any taxes for the
year 1882 for that bank into the Audi
tors office?
A. / could not say that / did.
Q. just state what your custom is in
reference to itY
A. Well, am in the habit Of paying
taxes for that bank.
Q. For how long have you been in
the habit of paying taxes for the bank:
A. For the last four years.
Q. How did you pay then as a gen.
eral thing?
A. Well, | think, as general thing,
| paid them in money; know have
paid them in money, but | cannot say
that have paid them by check.
Q. r. Hume sworn and examined.
BY Mr.. Moon: @. You have hereto
fore stated that you are clerk in the
Treasurer's office have you examined
the books Of that Office to see if any
thing is credited on account of taxes
paid into the Treasury by the Mer-
chants National Bank for the year
1882?
A. ] have, and do not find any such
credit for the year 1889.
q. Examine the paper here shown
you, purporting to be areceipt for such
taxes, amounting to 1896, dated June
IA. 1882, and signed by VIM. X. Smith,
and state if you know in whose hand
writing this receipt is filled and signed !?
A. William r. Smith, late clerk in
the Auditors Office.
Q. Are you acquainted with Mr..
Smiths handwriting?
A. | am; have frequently seen him
write his name and handled a good
many papers coming directly from him
with his signature.
Q. If the amount for which this re-
ceipt is given had been paid into the
Treasury, on what books ought the re-
cord of it to have been kept?
A. 1t ought to have been found upon
three books--first, the blotter kept by
the first clerk second, the cash-book
and journal kept by the second clerk
in the Treasurer's office, and would
have been shown by the same books in
the Auditors Office.
Q. Did you examine the books of
your office-not only for the whole
year 1882. but specially for the month
of June, 1SS2-to see if any taxes were
credited as having been paid by the
Merchants National Bank Of Rich
mond, Va.f
A. | examined specially as to the
month of June, 1882, and have looked
the entire year from January
to January, and do not find any such
credit as 1896, for which the receipt
handed me this morning shows.
Colonel Morton Marye sworn and
examined.
BY Mr.. Moon: Q. Have you made
or caused to be made an examination Of
your books to see if the amount of
1896 is credited as having been paid in
by the Merchants National Bank on or
about June IA, 1882, for taxes for that
year?
A. have caused such an examina-
ton to be made, and am informed by
Mr.. Waddill, clerk of accounts, that
no credit appears to the Merchants Ma
tional Bank # payment of taxes for
the year 1882. Mr.. Waddill is present
lnd can be examined by the commit
tee.
Q. Have you found any paper IN your
office bearing upon this question as to
the payment Of this tax?
A. found on yesterday among pa
pers in the desk in which Mr.. William
r. Smith, late clerk in this Office, keeps
papers which were in his official custo-
iy, warrant to pay into the Treasury
1896, dated June ii, 1882, for the ere
lit on the Merchants National Bank,
being amount Of taxes for 1882, which
warrant was signed by William X.
smith. and was in his handwriting. |
iand you the warrant.
q. Does this warrant show or not
whether this money was ever paid into
he Treasury or any State depository?
A. Not necessarily but the infer
nee would be the money was not paid
N, although it is possible for him to
laye made duplicate one.
q. Ii the money was paid in ought
lot this warrant to bear the warrant of
he Treasurer TO some State depository?
A. If this had been paid in it would
lot have been in my office. 1t would
ave been properly endorsed on the back
" the Treasurer TO some State deposi-
DRY to receive this money; also the re-
eipt from such bank OF the receipt Of
uch money, neither Of which appears
pon the back Of this. This receipt,
hen, would have been in the possession
{ the Treasurer.
@. Have you found, among the papers
|, the desk above referred to, any other |
ay in warrants in Mr.. Smiths hand
'ritingy
A. Yes, sir; avery large number of
iem.
Q. IL the money called for by these
ay-in warrants had been covered into
10 Treasury, would these pay-in war
.nts have been left in this desk in your
lice
A. Certainly not. il the payments
.d been made upon these warrants. 1t
possible he may have made other
arrants. II the money had been paid
should appear upon the hooks Of this
ice to the credit Of that bank, and IN
is case il does not 50 appear. !