Wichita eagle., 1888-11-13
AXW0RTHY EXPLAINS.
lie Says lie Was the Victim Of Scheme to
Ruin Him

CLEVELAND, Nov. H. - Thomas Ak
worthy, the defaulting city treasurer OF
Cleveland, vino departed the town $4,000
short, and with $50, 600 of other peoples
money in his carpetsack, has written
Mayor Babcock a letter. 1t was sent from
Montreal on October %, and when the
mayor received it he fastened to Montreal
to have an interview with Axworthy. He
remained week and returned to Cleve-
land without having seen his man. Late
this afternoon the mayor gave the news
papers copy of the letter. 1t is as follows:
MONTREAL October 90, 1855
Hon. B. D. Babcock, Mayor Of the city OF Cleveland
Ohio:
Respected Sir: There has no
doubt been considerable comment
concerning my absence. | arrived
here some time since. [ should
have written before, but could not SUM
mon courage to do SO. | shall have to re
main in some part of the dominion for
perhaps all the time for the following rea-
sons: | went east about October for the
purpose of collecting large sums loaned
by men on call from time to time during
the last four years (at the suggestion OF
prominent Cleveland parties.) l have
been receiving the interest regularly, but
greatly to my surprise and horror when |
demanded the principal L was answered:
eve cannot pay it-in fact it would haye
been impossible for us to have done so
within four months after we had
made the loans, etc, etc" In fact
investigation proved such to be
the case. although | supposed
the parties to be worth millions. l need
not dwell on this matter. In fact cannot.
Il is too terrible to think or write about
You well know from the position | occu-
pied in your community how my situation
must must affect me or any other man
that has always been strictly honest to be
thus overwhelmed by circumstances which,
when too late, he finds he cannot control.
There was combination to ruin me and
it has succeeded. | am properly and de-
servedly, perhaps the sufferer and an eX-
lie. | am not writing you, however. in
extenuation of my criminal carelessness
and consequent misery, but writing
Won as the exc cutive of the city
OF Cleveland TO advise you that as far as in
nv power lies desire to make amends by
turning over my entire property, real or
personal, for the benefit of the city or my
condsmen. An action in the proper court
will think, make this entirely legal. Be
low ! give you i'll full my entire belongings
to which waive all right, title or interest,
ann | viii write my wife asking her TO
quit claim to all real estate belonging to
me or in my name (for nominal consid-
eration) My stocks, deeds, bills of sales,
etc, are in box Ga, National Bank of Com
merce.
He then gives a list of his assets
which include stocks, bonds, notes,
houses, land, and vessel prop
Gritty. Many of the stocks are pro-
nounced by bankers to be worthless AID
others would bring but trifie. He esti-
mated the value of all his assets at 1919, 200.
In concluding his letter he says: The
entire assets are 1919. 1O0, which will pay
all my liabilities, the exact amount of
which the city auditor can alone easily
determine. Could have had four months
after knowing the true situation of affairs
] could have disposed of above so as to
have met my entire obligations, but it is
now too late. | have covered up nothing
and thus do all possible for the present to
make all amends in my power, and
my only aim i'll life will now be
to further make good, il needed by
any snrinkage from above, but |
think it is sufficient to cover all. If it
will be Of any use you are hereby author
lied and empowered by me to yet as my
attorney in fact and sign for me all deeds,
bills of sale, etc, that may be required in
the transfer of any of the above named
property. Good bye. God bless the city
of Cleveland and you all. is the earnest
prayer of THOMAS AXWORTHY.
Mayor Babcock will probably make an
other trip to Montreal in the hope of
having a personal interview with the
defaulter