Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-10-24
NEWS OF THE DAY.
Crooked Ways of the Wicked
World.
A CITY TREASURER GOES WRONG.
The Keeper of Cleveland's Public
Funds Skips Outfits Bonds
men Safe.

Associated Press Dispatches to the HERALD. |
CLEVELAND, O., October 2S.-Thomas
Axworthy is City Treasurer and very
prominent both as business man and
Democratic politician. 1t is common
remark that whatever he touches turns
to 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. On Saturday the May
or's clerk submitted to the City Board Of
Revision partial report of his in
vestigation into the business methods
of the municipal officials. Still
Axworthy was out Of town, and yester-
day morning the one inquiry on the
streets was, "Where is the City Treas
urer?' Occasionally an indefinite an
swer was made to the effect that he was
in New York. His business and official
associates declared that he was there,
and was stopping at the Windsor Hotel.
A telegram of inquiry was sent to that
hotel and an answer returned. Ak
worthy arrived there September ooh, in
the morning, and departed in the evening
for Montreal, Canada. There, all track
of him was lost. Meantime his bonds.
men began to investigate. They are
United States Senator H. B. Payne and
j. H. Wade, Jr., and are pledged for
100000. They, together with leading
city officials and attorneys were
in consultation all last night anG
adjourned early this morning
Each refuses to say a word. The
finance committee of the common coun-
ell, after hasty examination of the
books, state that they believe the loss to
the city by reason of Axworthy's dis
appearance is 100000. Senator Payne
and j. II. Wade, jr., bondsmen of the
city treasurer, at 2 o'clock this morning
fled petition and affidavits in the COM
mon pleas court, praying for an attach
ment against Axworthy's vessels, real
estate and other property. The
schooner Republic and three-quarters
interest in the schooner Page were at
tached and his money and stocks in the
local banks were garnisheed. The Sheriff
fs now attaching the real property of the
missing Treasurer, including his farm on
Lorraine street, outside the city limits,
and his summer residence on Lake ave-
nue.. The National Bank of Commerce
also began suit for $3.50 900 to recover on
a prornissory note they discounted. 1t
is said Axworthy has 5000, 900 with him.
CITY AND BONDsMEN SAFE.
Late this afternoon it was announced
that of $S76, 1887. "a turned over to the
Treasurer, and by him deposited in the
bank, only $447 ,450 05 remained on de-
posit. The shortage therefore amounts
to $429. .437 40. The Police Pension fund
and Firemen's Relief fund, which were
uneecured by bond, are gone, and over
$192, 900 OF the Board OF Education
fund goes into the shortage. This last
item is secured by separate bond of
$3.50, 900, with Helas Chamberlain and
T. P. Handy as sureties 1t is believed
that Axworthy's vessel property and real
estate will inventory nearly half mil
lion, and his 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, England, on his way to Bel
GUM, and that he is we'll supplied with
ready money. 1t is rumored, but the
rumor has not been confirmed, that Ak
worthy lost heavily in the recent wheat
squeeze, and that he was in the Gogoe-
bic iron crash for large sum. The
Common Council met tonight to take
action in the premises. 1t was decided
to declare the office vacant and appoint
Temporary Treasurer,