Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-10-24
KING OF SWINDLERS.
Cleveland's Treasurer FleeS
 With Half a Million.
THE CITY IS IN A TUMULT.
Thomas Axworthy Proves Himself Un- worthy of His Trust-He Carries Away All He Can, Draws $2O0,000 in New York and Sails for Europe.

worthy of His Trust-Ho Carries Away
 All He Can, Draws $2o0,ooo in New
 York and Sails for Europe.
 CLEVELAND, O., Oct. 24-The greatest ex- citement prevails here in financial and busi- ness as well as social circles over the reported dedication of City Treasurer Thomas Ak worthy. MT. Axworthy left the city on Sept 2S, going direct to New York city, register ing at the Windsor hotel, and from there on the 29th either to Canada or Europe Investi- gation so far develops a shortage of city funds of over S333, ,000 and it is thought that further investigation will increase that amount
 Axworthy's bondsmen, consisting of United States Senator Payne and J. H. Wade, Jr., who are on his bond for $500, 900, had a hur- ried meeting at the office of Attorneys Dickey and Squire, and attachments were imme- diately taken out, one for $500, 900 and the other by the National bank of Commerce for $25, ,000, to secure themselves on Axworthy s paper. All of Axworthy's property i'll the city, consisting of large amounts of real estate and lake vessels, was also attached, and garnishments were served on all local banks where city and personal money was on deposit, and on the numerous firms ill which the defaulting treasurer is interested
 All city funds have heretofore been depos- tied in the various banks in the treasurer S own name but a recent law compelled the de- posting of all funds in one bank, selected from bids This law took effect last week and precipitated the crash.
 Axworthy's reasons for embedding are un- known. He was perhaps the most popular politician in northern Ohio. So highly was he regarded that he could have been nomi- mated for congress this year if he had but said the word In business circles he has cut a very big figure, and the statement was often made that whatever he touched turned to gold
 He has real estate, ships that sail the lakes, coal mines and iron ranges and many other valuable investments When at home he was prominent figure on the street, and at every turn he was greeted by old and young, rich and poor Republicans and Democrats.
 Many believe that he was caught in Hutch inson's wheat corner and lost $500, ,OO0 There is on deposit in various city banks about S350,000 in Axworthy's name, but how much of it Is city funds and how much personal it is impossible to tell.
 The authorities are so greatly excited over the exposure that they have not yet decided how to proceed, though a portion of the money stolen may be made good by the de 1 faulting treasurer's bondsmen.
 Late yesterday afternoon it was learned that Axworthy had fled to Europe. A cablegram, known to have been from him was received by one of his married daughters here, on Saturday last dated Liverpool which read: Papa is ill Canada; tell mann ma not to worry"
 A full investigation of the city treasurer: accounts has been made, which shows that there should be to the credit of the city de partment SS76, ,9S7.64 To offset this there i | in the banks here S447, ,45O.O5, making the de | felt $429, 437. 59.
 It is rumored that just before leaving New l York Axworthy drew S20O,OO0 from the | American exchange in New York, which i the eastern depository of the city funds ano | bonds
 NEW YORK, Oct. 24.-The statement tha defaulting Treasurer Axworthy, of the city of Cleveland, had drawn $200,000 from tn American Exchange bank of this dty, whicl is the New York depository for Cleveland was denied yesterday by the bank officials | Cashier Burns looked at the books and de clared that no large amount had been paiC on Clevelands account for months. He sait that the bank had for years only paid ou money to Cleveland on maturing bonds O. coupons It was possible, he said, for AK worthy to draw the money, but denied tha | he had done so The officials of the banl know the defaulting treasurer personally and declared that he had not been in tn
 bank for months. They made a most em | phatc denial of the statement,