Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-10-24
OFF WITH HALF A MILLION
CIeveland's Popular City Treasure
Mtsstng-Sem0aOY PAYNE ana NJ ma

CIeveiand's Popula, City Treasurer
Misstn8-Senasor Payne one OF HIS
nondsmen-A 0tg Sensation.
weary every man, woman, and child In Cleve-
lano mas heard OF City Treasurer Thomas Ak
worthy, ana thousands Of them are personally &C
Qualnted with him.
he IS perhaps the most popular democratic
PonSc,an In Northern Ohio. SO highly is he re.
garoeo That he could have been Nominated for
congress this year II he had but said the word.
~, IN business circles he has cut a very big figure
touches turns to gold.
ne mas real estate, ships that SAN the lakes,
sb1a unes ana iron ranges and many other valu-
He has not been seen recently at the City Hall.
ms absence has caused some confusion and much
A law which provides that the funds of the city
must De deposited in bank, the municipality To
cea,ted with the interest on the same was 70
Proposals were asked for. but all the
banks save two refused TO make bids. The result
was that the bids received were rejected,
However, Mr.. A1worthy was no1 IN
the city when the proposals were opened and his
urday the mayors clerk, Briggs, submitted to
the city board OF revision partial
report q his 3 INVESTIGATION into the pesi.
Axworthy was out OF town, and Monday morning
bright and early the one inquiry on the streets
the indefinite answer was made To the efYect that
he was In New York
His business and of1cial associates declared that
telegram OF inquiry was sent TO that hotel and
the answer returned that Mr.. Axworthy had ar
rlved there on september 20, in the morning, and
in the evening
HAD DEPARTED FOR MONTREAL
Canada There all trace OF him was lost. Mean
while his bondsmen began to Investigate They
are United States Senator II. B. Payne and j. H.
Wade, Jr., and are pledged for $500. 600. They,
were in consultaioS ali Monday MINT and a.
Journed early Tuesday morning.
THE CITY LOSES HALF A MILLION.
The finance committee OF the cqRmon council,
after hasty examination Of the books, state that
they believe the loss to the city by reason of Mr.
Axworthy's disappearance is $500 OOO
senator Payne and JILL Wade, Jr., the bondsmen
OF the city treasurer, at O'Clock Tuesday morning
court praying an attachment against Mr..
Axworthy' vessels real estate and other property
The schooner Republic and three quarters interest
In the schooner Page were attached, and
HIS MONEY AND STOCKS
In the local banks were garnisheed. The sheriff Is
now attaching the real property OF the missing
treasurer, including his farm on Lorain
street outside the city limits, and
Tor 500, 900 TO recover on q promSSOry note they
HAD discounted II is said MIR. Axworthy has
100000 with him.
and auditor were both out Of the city. The small
reserve In the treasury was soon exhausted, and
at noon yesterday payment on two warrants was
refused. There was no more money and IT was
impossible TO draw on the funds In bank which had
been tied up by order OF the court. The finance
committee OF the common council was hastily
summoned, and an Investigation begun. Late in
the afternoon IL was announced that of the
$S16,SS1 turned over TO the treasurer, and by him
deposited In the bank, only SAT $50 remained on
deposit The shortage, therefore, amounts to
$429. 437. or this sum Treasurer AXworthy Is be-
neved 10 have taken at least 500 900 in cash with
him. The police pension fund and the 1remen's
RELIEF fund, which were unsecured by bond, are
gone, and over sly2 900 OF the board OF education
fund goes into The shortage. The last item Is Sc
cured by separate bond OF $25OOOO with Selah
Chamberlain and II. p. Handy as sureties. 1t Is
believed that Axworthy's vesse, property and real
estate Will inventory nearly half a million, and
the bondsmen are secure. The city will probably
lose nothing, as the bonds are good.
No trace OF the missing man has been secured.
Another story has 1t that he Is In Liverpool Eng
Land, on his way TO Belgium, and that he Is well
provided with ready money.
III Is runored, but the rumOr has not been con-
nrlned, that Axworthy lost heavily in the recent
wheat squeeze, and that he was in the GOgeDic
iron Crash for a large sum.
The common council met last night to take
action In the premises II was decided to declare
the orfce OF treasurer vacant, and that will be
done as soon as the proper resolution be passed.
when temporary treasurer will be appointed to
NIL out AXwOrthy'5 term.