The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-11-13
A LETTER FROM AxwoRraY
He Claims to Be the Victim of IN
scrunnlouS RorrOWers.


CLEVELAND, o., Nov. 12.-Thomas AK
worthy, the defaulting city treasurer of
Cleveland, who de, arted town s4SO,000
short and with $4,000 of other peoples
money, has writ n Mayor Babcock letter.
When the mayor received it, he FASTENED to
Montreal in order to have an interview
with Axworthy. He remained there a
week and returned to Cleveland without
having seen his man. Late this afternoon
the mayor gave the newspapers a copy of
his letter. IL is as follows:
THE LETTER.
MONTREAL, Oct. %, 1888.
Hon. ~ D. Babcock, Mayor Of Cieretnnd, o.:
RESPECTED SIa-There has no doubt been
considerable comments concerning my absence.
I arrived here some time since | should
have written before. but could not summon
, courage 10 do so. l shall have TO remain in
some part of the dominion for perhaps all
time for the following reasons: went east Oct.
/ for the purpose Of collecting large sums
loaned by me on cali from time to time during
the last four years lat the suggestion of promi-
nent Cleveland parties). | have been recev
ing interest regularly, but, greatly TO
my surprise and horror when I de-
manded the principal ! was answered:
I'VE cannot pay tin fact. il would have been
impossible for us to have done 40 within four
months after we had made the loans etc 10
fact. investigation proved such to be the case,
although / supposed the parties to be worth
millions. | need not dwell this mat
tern fact ! cannot T. is too terri,
about You will know. from the position oc.
cupied in your community. bow my situation
must affect me or any other man that has
always been strictly homes, to the letter, thus
overwhelmed by circumstances which. when too
late he finds he cannot control. ! am
properly and deservedly, perhaps suffer
ing an exile. am not writing you,
however, in extenuation of my criminal care
lessuess and consequent misery, but writing you
as executive Of the city of Cleveland to advise
you that as far as in my power lies desire to
make amends by turning over my entire prop
| erty, real or personal, for the benefit
| of my city or my bondsmen
An action in the proper court will, / think
| make this entirely legal Below give in full
my entire belongings, to which / waive all
! right and title; aud will write my wife asking
her to quit claim TO all real estate belonging to
my stocks, deeds, bills of sale, etc, in box e.
| National Bank of Commerce.
WHAT 1T FooTs UP.
He then gives list of his assets which in
| cludes stocks, bonds, notes, houses. land and
vessel property. Many Of the stocks are
pronounced by bankers to be worthless and
| others would bring but q trife. He estimates
the value of all at $50, 200. In concluding
his e,ter he says:
The entire assets are good for 1919, 200, which
will pay all my liabilities the exact amount of
which the city auditor can alone easily deter
| mine Could ! have had -four months after
knowing the true situation Of affairs, could
| have disposed OF the above SO as to have met
| my entire obligations, but il is now
| too late. have covered up
nothing. and thus do all possible,
| for the present. TO make all The amends in my
| power and my only aim in life will now he to
| iuuther make good, if needed by any surnkage
from the above, but think it sufficient to cover
| are hereby authorized and empowered bv
| me to act as my attorney. and in fact sign for
me all deeds, bills Of sales, etc, that lpay be
| required in the transaction of the above named
| property. Good-by; God bless the city of
| Cleveland and You all. is the earnest prayer of
THOMAS AXwoRTBY.
| Mayor Babcock will probably make an
other trip to Montreal in the hope Of having
a personal interview with the defaulter. q