Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-08-08
LOCAL MATTERS.
rur pErALcATI0N OF MAYO, CLERK
OF P0wHATAN COUNTY.
v.ise Returns Made To the Auditor at
acknowledgements Against
the Fugitive. &C., &C.

~
ferred to the case Of DR.. A. s. Mayo,
clerk Of the County and Circuit Courts
Of Powhatan, who is charged with
making false returns to the Auditor OF
Public Accounts and with embezzling
moneys belonging to the Commonwealth
OF Virginia, and who is now q fugitive
from justice-suppossbly in Canada.
There had beon numerous complaints
made to Commonwealth's Attorney
Flanagan as to illegal or extortive fees
charged by Mayo. Flanagan moved
the Court to appoint an investigating
committee, which was done. Flanagan
in the mean time wrote to Auditor Ma
rye for copies Of Mayo's reports for five
years back. The reports, being re-
ceiyed and compared with Mayo's &C
counts, showed that in 1925 Mayo
only reported one hundred and six
deeds, when in matter of fact there
were one hundred and twenty recorded.
This made shortage Of sl4. Tax on
consideration Of deeds was reported
at sl3, while, in matter of fact, the
true tax was s46.30. Number of wills
reported, one /; tax, 81. True number,
five; tax, %.
In 1s8C-'8l four wills were reported
with tax of "a, while the true tax was
AIS.
In 1854 the amount reported on
consideration Of taxes was s45 30 while
the real amount was s85. 10, showing 8
shortage Of $3.50.
In lSS4-'85 the amount reported was
s47.l0. or s40.G5 less than the true
amount.
The total amount Of fines paid in
court since 1880 was not over 5000,
which was $3.50 short.
Finding from these and like items,
on partial examination in the accounts
of less than five years, shortage
Of more than $3.50, a warrant for
Mayo's arrest was issued on Fri
day, July Both. lie was arrested
that night and placed under
$500 bond, which he forfeite he next
day. These facts were reported to the
Court and the Commonwealth attorney
prepared bills Of indictment against
Mayo containing the following charges ;
Having in hand not reported October
l6, 1888, sIl writtaxes on common
law and chancery suits October lG,
1884, sl00 collected for year ending
August 3lst as taxes on common Law
and chancery suits, and $50 tax on
wills and administrations, deeds. suits,
and on seals October 10, 1885, s33
short for year ending August 81, 1888,
and for not rendering accounts OF all
taxes for years ending August 81,
1885 and 1894.
There were also two indictments pre-
pared against the accused charging him
with committing perjuryin not making
correct returns to the Auditor. The
grand jury brought in true bills IN all
the cases except the first named and
the two for perjury.
The amount Of defalcation, it is esti-
mated, will approximate Sl,OOO, but
will not largely exceed that amount,
discarding the liabilities for the present
year, which will amount to, say $3.50.
The Judge has issued rule for
Mayo, which in his absence was served
on his wife, returnable Monday week,
to show cause, if any he can, why he
should not be removed for misfeasance
and negligence Of duty.
Nothing has been heard from Mayo
since he left, and, while it is believed
that he is in Canada, this is only sur
mise.
Mayo's friends claim that consid-
cradle amount for which he is consld-
cred defaulter hss never been paid him,
but is still credited out.
1t is due Mayo to state that, while in
most cases his returns made to the Au-
ditor were not as large a. they should
have been, in several others they ex-
ceeded what was really due. 1t was
upon this ground that the grand jury
failed to bring in indictments for per-
jury.