The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-01-03
The Alleged Shortage of Mr.. Weir.

Louisville Courier journal.
Sensational rumors of a shortage in the ac-
counts of Samuel NJ. Weir, city treasurer Of
New Albany have been plentiful in ths~past
few days. The residents of New Albany have
talked of it until the opinion that there was
something wrong seems to have gained ground
and to hare taken firm .oot in the minds of
many.
In spite of all this, Mr. Weir is serenely in
different, and the only statement he has made
concerning the charges is that he is guiltless in
every respect
Yesterday the statement was made that ex-
pert accountant. who has been employed in
Investigation of the books in the city treasurer's
Office, had discovered a discrepancy of 500. coo.
1t was repeated everywhere, and added fresh
fuel to the burning curiosity OF suspicious tax
payers. but another denial has been made, and
this time by Col. w. W. Granger, the expert
who has been at work.
Colonel Granger returned yesterday from
Covineton, KY, where he has been visiting dur
ing the past few days. Regarding the statement
in which he is quoted as saying that Mr. Weir
was short in his accounts Colonel Granger said
that he had made no such report to any one. and
most emphatically denounced it as false. He
said that he had told nothing regarding the
suit of his investigation and that he did not in
tend to until the Investigation has been COM
pleted. When that is done he proposes to make
a report to the finance committee of the City
Council. which report will be submitted to the
Council.
Inc TRENDS or Mr.. Welr city treasurer are
very indignant over the numerous rumors and
claim that there will not be any shortage in his
accounts. They state that there may have been
some misapplication of the various funds. but
these Interpretations were always made by or
der of the Council, and that in no case was Mr.
Weir considered responsible for such action.
As far as the city funds are concerned as a
whole the general i'm preston seems to be that
Mr. Weir is entirely guiltless OF any wrong: that
his acco nnts with the city will balance to cent.
His bondsmen, who are collectively worth many
hundreds of thousands of dollars, have said
peatedly that they had no fears but that the
most rigid investigation would prove Mr.. Weir
to be entirely blameless.
The fact that the investigation is being held
probably gave the impression that something
was wrong. this is the first time that such
thing has ever been done. The Council,
however, has the wright to order an investiga-
adopted a resolution authorizing the employ
ment of an expert accountant to make an exam
inaton of the citys books. The order was not
made because of any suspicion of the integrity
OF the city officials, but because it was thought
best to introduce some new and more correct
system of keeping the citys books, and an in
vestigation was necessary to satisfy the city Of
fcers as to the proper course to follow
Colonel Granger went to work the accounts,
but has not finished half of his investigation. 1t
will be impossible to tell what the condition of
affairs is until he has completed his task. The
statement that the deficiency would reach $780,
it is false the annual revenue of New Albany
from all sources will not exceed 1925, 000 ~ -
- Mr. Weir ia compensated for hfs Servings -
the fees OF his Office. which amount so between
81, 600 and 81 500 year. He has held Office in
New Albany for tweuty-seven years, and has
been twenty-five years in the city treasurer's
department. For nearly thirteen years he has
been city treasurer, and his reputation until the
present time has been unimpeachable. Mr..
Weir has very little to say, but deies airy one
to find shortage OF irregularty in his accounts.