New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-05-22
MISSION FUNDS .MISUSED.
JOHN r. SMITHS ACCOUNTS SHORT.
ABOUT $25 900 or REFORMED CHURCH MONEY LOST
PRIVATE BJsiN Kiss.


HIs PRIVATE BrsiN ESs
The Board of Domestic Missions of the Re-
formed Church In America. whose Office is at No. "a
Vescy-st. has suffered loss Of upward OF T2o'ooo
through OF funds by its treasurer John
r. Smith Mr. Smith lives on Bergen Heights, Jersey
City. and IA member OF the Bergen Heights Reformed
Church Hs business has been mainly with IN
surance offices. In 1867 tho Boari OF Do
nestle Missions elected him treasurer lie
bore high character and entire cofdence reposed
IN him. lie discharged the duties faithfully The Audit
ing Committee found balances correct and there WAS
suspicion that there anything wrong until aDoht
year ago When the statements were being prepared
for the report OF the Board 10 be presented 10
the Synod OF the Church last year, Mr. Smiths
accounts were found to have a deficit so much conf
dcnce felt in him that his statement that lie could
straighen matters accepted, and the subject
was not brought up in the Synod. committee, how
ever took the matter in hand Their Investigations
showed that tho treasurer's accounts were In q
terrible muddle that he had used the money OF the
Board in his private business that he hal replaced
of It, and had been unable to replace wnal Nv 1s.
deficit large that he could no longer conce IT,
lie signed and John s. Bu'sng ot THIS CITY,
The Rev DR. Jacob West. secretary Of the Board Tor
many years. said to TRIBUNE reporter who saw nm al
his home, No. 80 Nevinsst., Brookyn, last evening
money m belonging ,, to the the ,han"T, BCar@ 5S TO
would be able 20 replace the and do not be-
lieve that he meant act dishonesty. BIT ms his
using the trust funds in his care In that
way all. Then 1t from bad TO worse, until he
unable to replace what he had used up
"W hat funds we're III his hands |"
AS treasurer ho had all the funds contrib
uted for domestic missions and church building
purposes, something like $4,000 or S0O,OOo
year. paid TO him all the money that came In
my hands, and 1t paid out upon vouchers from me-
draw upon the money received from collections directly
but when there "A surplus that not needed Tor
month more he wonld lend it and employ 1t IN MS
private business. TEen he borrowed money on tue
| ~ tha freas n
It," 80 , -,
when did his misappropration OF the funds begin|
He says he began 1t several years
ago and replaced the amounts he took for time. But
don't know whether to bclieve al he
says or not" and DR.. West gave melancholy
shake OF the head. He added: Mr. smith nai
great confidence in his ability to make up the dcnclu
| and the board from any loss He had matters
nearly arranged for "a compromise last week. Dut a
hitch occurred and the arrangemenJ could not De car
| ried lie is dangerously sick at his rome.
the deficit believe he will do 80 he lives. aud in
Of his death his life Insurance policy Will GOV or
| any loss
Mr. smith was at time vIce-preslcnt Of the star
harit Fire Insurance Company. He earned with MS
salary the Board about $1,000 year. ana IL lssd
he lived well within his ucome. lie Is ABOUT Sky
years old. His wife IL an invalid ana tney nave no
children. While looking for fr end upon whom ne reled
| to help him with money TO meet the deficiency MI
Smith expressed himself To the weather last week ,,
made last night to get from ME- smith
regarding his misdpDrOpriatlOn OF inc
funds resulted in a failure After visiting two houses
recently occupied by Mr. Smith. the reporter was met I
the door OF Mr. Smiths present home on Bursundy ave.
Bergen Heights, with the statement that MT smith was
dan gernnsly ILL., HIS illness IL eryspels ana nervous
prOsiratlon. the latter probably caiei by the rouoe
which hnancal Irregularities led him into Ills VIE
| lad nothing to say concerning the matter