St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-10-24
ARTLESS AXWORTHY.
Cleveland's Wealthy City
Treasurer Turns Out to
Be a Thief.
He Steals Nearly Half a Mill
ion and Skips to
Belgium.
When Last Seen He Was in
Montreal With the
Gang.
It Is Thought He Was Caught
in "Old Huteh'S"
Corner.
Special TO the Globe.


Treasurer Thomas AXworthy. Mr.. Ak
worthy left the city OF Sept. 2s, going
direct to New York city, and from there
he is said to have left for Montreal,
Canada, Oh Sept. 20. Nearly every man,
woman and child in Ohio has heard of
City Treasurer Thomas Axworthy. and
thousands of them personally acquaint-
ed with him. He is, perhaps, the most
popular politician in Northern Ohio. So
highly is he regarded that he could
have been nominated for congress this
year if he had but said the word. In
business circles he has cut very big
figure, and the statement is often made
that whatever he touches
TURNS 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 is prominent figure
OIL the street. and at every turn is greet
ed by old and young, rich and poor, Re-
publicanS and Democrats. A law which
provides that the funds OF the city must
be deposited in bank, the municipal
ity to be credited with the interest on
the same, was to have gone
slant. Proposals were asked for,
but all the banks save two refused to
make bids. The result was that the
bids received were rejected, and new
ones will be solicited. However, Mr..
AXwOrthy was not in the city when the
proposals were opened, and his absence
OccaSioned some comment. On Saturday
Mayors clerk, Briggs, submitted to the
city board of revision partial report of
his investigation into the business
methods of the municipal officials. Still
Mr.. AXwOrthy was out of town, and yes
terday morning bright and early the one
inquiry on the streets was:
WHERE is THE TREASURER?'
Occasionally the indefinite answer
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. "A
telegram of inquiry was sent to that
hotel and the answer returned that Mr..
AXworthy had arrived there on Sept.
90, in the morning, and had departed in
the evening for Montreal, Canada.
There all trace of him was lost. Mean
while his bOndsmen began to inveSti-
gate. They are United States Senator
II. r. Payne and j. ii. Wade, Jr., and
are pledged for 100000. They, together
with leading city officials and attorneys,
were in consultation all last night and
adjourned early this morning. The
finance committee Of the common
council, after a haSty examination
of the books, state that they believe
the loss to the city by reason of Mr..
Axworthy's disappearance is $500, 600.
Senator Payne and j. III. Wade, Jr.,
the bondsmen of the city treasurer. at 2
O'Clock this morning filed petitions and
affidavits in the common pleas court,
praying for an attachment against Mr..
AXWorthy'S 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 garni-
Sheed. The sheriff is now attaching
the real property of the missing treas
urer, including his farm on Lorain
street, outside the city limits, and his
summer residence on Lake avenue.
The National Bank Of Commerce also
began suit for 100000 to recover on a
prOmiSsOry note they had discounted.
1t is said Mr.. AXwOrthy has $500, 900
with him. The announcement of AK
wOrthy's defalcation
PRODUCED A PROFOUND SENSATION,
was impossible to get at the details.
The first excitement of the day was Oc-
casioned by the beginning in the COM
mon pleas court of actions in attach
ment against all of AXwOrthy's vessel
property and real estate, and the serv-
ing of WritS of garniShment upon a half
dozen banks. These actions were be-
gun by two of the bondsmen and the
National Bank of Commerce. The city'S
funds had been deposited in banks by
AXworthy, and the actions against these
banks were begun with the object of
tieing up the money he had left in his
flight. At the City hall, confusion
reigned. The mayor and auditor
were both out of the city. The
small reserve in the treasury was soon
exhausted and at noon payment ON two
warrants was refused. There was DO
more money, and it was impossible to
draw Oh the funds in bank which had
been tied up by order of the court. The
finance committee of the common cOun-
Gil was hastily summoned and an inves-
tigation begun. Late this afternoon it
was announced that of the 1876, 1887. GA,
turned over to the treasurer and by him
deposited in bank, only S447, ,450.05 re-
mained ON deposit. The shortage there
fore amounts to 1920, 1859. OF this
sum Treasurer AXwOrthy is believed to
have taken at least 100000 in cash
with him. The police pension fund and
the fireman's relief fund, which were
unsecured by bond. are gone, and over
s192.OOO of the board of education fund
GOES INTO THE SHORTAGE.
This last item is secured by separate
bond of S250,OO0, with Selah Chamber
lain and t. p. Handy as. sureties. 1t is
believed that Axworthys vessel prop
erty and real estate will inventory
nearly half million, and the bondsmen
are secured. The city will probably
lose nothing, as the bonds are good. No
trace of the missing man has been Sc
cured. 1t is asserted that he is in Liver
pool. England, on his way to Belgium,
and that he is well provided with ready
money. 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 a 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 soon as the proper reso-
luton can be passed, when temporary
treasurer will be appointed to fill out
AXwOrthy's term.
AGvices from Montreal state that AK
worthy arrived there Sept. 80, register
ing at the st. Lawrence hotel, where he
remained until Oct. l2. Montreal de-
tectlves could not trace him after he
left.