Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-03-11
STILL GETTING At THE IA CTS.
Further Revelations in the Office OF the
Auditor OF Public Accounts.


Auditor OF Public Accounts.
Nessrs. John Il. Moon and NJ. W.
Lakewood. Of the House committee
charged with the investigation of affairs
in the Office of the Auditor of Public
Accounts, were in session yesterday;
heard several witnesses, and adjourned
to meet again on the 18th instant.
Mr.. George n. Palmer, formerly
clerk Of the courts Of Portsmouth, who
had no credits for about six years of his
term Of office, testified that he had paid.
but hadn't the receipts. Paid in money,
and to Mr.. Smith. Mr.. Palmer has
since he went out Of office been moving
about good deal, and he gave reasons
why he had been unable to find his re-
ceipts.
Mr.. VI. A. Cogbill, clerk of the Ches-
terfield courts, and administrator Of the
estate Of John r. Cogbill, late clerk of
the Marc sster court, was examined.
IL appeared from the Auditors books
that the deceased clerk was delinquent
for two years. but the witness testified
that deceased's check book showed that
deceased had drawn check for 1890 in
payment Of his dues to the State for one
Of these two years.
THE CALDWELL CASE.
Mr.. John Morton, assistant cashier
Of the Merchants National Bank. was
examined in the Caldwell case.
Mr.. Caldwell was clerk of the Su-
preme Court at Wytheyille. He was
entitled to draw a salary of $500 per
annum. For nine years it is alleged
that he did not draw it. He left it in
the Treasury to offset what he owed
the State. In 1850 Mr. Smith issued
warrant for this pay for six
years and eight months-S3, 1888.
No voucher can be found. At the
Treasury Mr.. Smith receipted for the
check. About the same time Mr.
Smith gave Caldwell credit on the books
for s3,33l.S0. which sum now proves
to have been made up of eight checks
sent to the Auditor by clerks of courts
and others. In 1888 Mr.. Smith issued
another warrant for Sl.400 more Of
Caldwell's pay. For this check he also
receipted at the Treasurer office. Both
checks were payable to bearer and were
drawn upon the Merchants National
Bank here. II was a 10 these checks
that Mr.. Morton was examined. They
were paid over the counter. but to
whom does not appear. The day that
the 1888. .33-check was cashed Mr..
Smith bought at that bank a $4,000
draft on the Third National Bank of
New York. payable to his order, for
which he paid 81. 1t is not shown that
Mr. Smith presented at the bank either
check. Who got the money on them
does not appear, there being no record
kept of such transactions. as each was
payable to bearer.
This is about the substance of the
information before the committee in this
case. They can do nothing now until
they examine Mr.. Caldwell. and he has
been summoned to be present at the
next meeting Of the committee. which
is on the 18th. From the fact that in
answer to the interrOgatories Mr.. Cald-
well claimed his salary as oitSettlng
State dues, it is conjectured that he did
not authorize Mr.. Smith TO draw it. or
if he dH. had forgotten IT, However,
that is what he is wanted here TO
prove.
WORK DONE.
The Investigations Of the committee
will result in the State recovering large
sums Of money due her. One Norfolk
bank will pay, if it has not already done
so, over $4,000. 1t did not pay before
because the State never asked for the
money. Mr.. Caldwell has paid in over
sS,00G-in money. a number of
checks fourteen years old have been
found and forwarded for collection.
The State has been very lucky with these
old checks. Few of them have been
returned unpaid.
Mr.. Smith is still in jail has been
now over three months. His trial IN
the matter of the account of the
Weighmaster of the Public Scales (Mr.
Alexander NJ. BrownelD is fixed for
trial in the Hastings Court for March