Omaha daily bee., 1888-10-24
A ROUND HALF MILLION GONE.
Papa is In Canada, Tell Mama Not
to Worry"
JGE DEFAlCATiON IN OHIO.
The City Treasurer OF Cleveland
Leaves for Parts Unknown With
His Pockets Full Of Money
Other Boodlcrics.
A Gigantic Steal.

CLEVELAND, Oct. 23.--Thomas Axworthy Ia
city treasurer and very prominent, both as
business man and democratic politician. 10
is n common remark that whatever he
touches turns into gold. He has vessels,
real estate, coal mines, iron ranges and other
valuable investments. He has been absent
for some time and rumor has been busy
with his name. Saturday the mayors clerk
submitted to the city board of revision par
tial report of his Investigations into the busi-
ness methods of municipal officials Still
Axworthy was out Of town and yesterday
morning the inquiry was, "Where is the city
treasurerin His business and official associ-
ates declared he was IN New York and was
stopping at the Windsor hotel. A
telegram of inquiry was sent
to that hotel and the answer returned
that AXworthy had arrived September 30, In
the morning, and had departed in tho even-
ing for Montreal, Quebec. There all traces
of him were lost Meanwhile his bondsmeu
began to investigate. They are United States
Senator Payne and j. II. Wade, jr., and are
pledged for $780, 600. They, together with the
leading city officials and attorneys, were in
consultation all night. Each refused to say
a word about the meeting. The finance COM
mittee OF the common council, after hasty
examination of the books state they believe
that the loss to the city by reason of Ak
worthy's disappearance is $500, 600. Senator
Payne and j. II. Wade ir, the bondsmen,
early this morning filed petitions and afiidavits
in the common pleas court, praying for an aG
tachment against Axworthy's vessels, real
estate and other property. The schooner Re-
public and three quarters interest in tho
schooner Page were attached and his money
and stocks in local banks were garnisheed.
The sheriff is now attaching the
real property Of the missing treasurer, in
Guiding his farm outside the city limits and
his summer residence on Lake avenue. The
National Bank of Commerce also began suit
for SG5, 010 to recover promissory note they
had discounted. 1t is said Axworthy had
5000, 600 with him.
Late this afternoon IL was announced that
of the $50, ,SS1 "a turned over to the treasurer
and by him deposited in the bank only S447,.
450.05 renamed on deposit. The shortage,
therefore, amounts to S429, ,43759. The poi
lice pension fund and the fremen's relief
fund. which were unsecured by bond, are gone,
and over Sl92, 900 of the board of education
fund goes into the shortage. THIS last item
is secured by a separate bond of S250,0OO,
with Silas Chamberlain and Il. p. Handy as
sureties
1t is believed that Axworthy's vessel
nearly S50o,00o, and the bondsmen
are secured The city will probably
lose nothing as the bonds are good. No
trace of the missing man has been secured.
1t is asserted that he Is in Liverpool, Eng
land, on his way to Belgium, and that he is
we'll provided with ready money. A cable
gram. known, to- have been from him, was
received by one of his married daughters ON
Saturday last dated Liverpool, which read:
Papa is in Canada; tell mama not to
worry"
1t is rumored, but the rumor has not been
confirmed, that Axworthy lost heavily in the
recent wheat squeeze, and that he was in The
Gogebic iron crash for large sum. The
common council met tonight to take action
in the premises. 1t was decided to declare
the Office of treasurer vacant, and that will
be done as sooI as the proper resolutions C al
be passed, when a temporary treasurer will
be appointed to ill out Axworthy's term.