The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1888-10-24
"A HUGE DEFICIT.
An Ohio Democratic Politi-
clans Flight.
HE STOLE HaLr A MILLION.
Thomas Axwsrshy. Statesman and
City Treasurer OF Cleveland. is
Forced 10 Leave in the Height of
an interesting campaixn-stand-
ard Oil Payne Bsndsman.

CLEvELASD, o.. Oct. 23.-Thomas
Axsorthy Is city treasurer and very
prominent both as = business man and
Democratic politician. 1t is a COM
mon remark that whatever he touches
turns TO gold. lie has vessels. real
eastate, 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 mayors clerk sub
mitted 10 the city board of revision a
partial report of his investigation into
the business methods OF the municipal
officials. still Axworthy was out ot
town and yesterday morning the one
inquiry on the streets was: Where
IS the city treasurer" Occasionally
an indefinite answer was made 10 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 10
that hotel and an answer returned that
Axworthy arrived there September 20
in the morning and departed in the
evening for Montreal. Canada. There
all trace OF him was lost. Meanwhile
his bondsmen began to investigate.
They are United States Senator III. h.
Payne and ]. IL. Wade and are pledge 4
for 5000 They, together with
leading officials and attorneys. were in
consultation all night and adjourned
early this morning bat refuse 70 say
a word.
The finance committee OF the coun-
ell. after hasty examination of the
books, state that they believe the loss
TO the city BY reason of Axworthy's
disappearance is 500. 900.
Senator Payne and J. III. Wade, Jr..
bondsmen OF the city treasurer, at 2
O'Clock this morning tiled petitions and
afhdayits in the common pleas court
praying for an attachment against Az
worthy : vessels. resi- est ite and other
property. The schooner Republic and
ihree-q1arters interest in the schooner
Page were attached, and his money
and stocks IN local banks garnisheed.
The sheriff i now attaching the real
property Of the missing treasurer, in
ciuaing his farm on Lorraine street,
outside the city limits, and his summer
residence on Lake avenue. The
National Bank of Commerce also be-
gan suit for $4,000 to recover on
pronissory note they discounted. 1t
Is said Axworthy has $4,000 with
him.
Late this afternoon il was announced
that OF SsI6,Ss7 81 turned over to the
treasurer, and by him deposited in the
bank only SAT $50 Q5 remains ON do
post. The shortage, therefore,
amounts to si29, 9,437 81. The police
pension fund and fireman $ relief fund,
which were unsecured by bond, are
gone, and over Sl92 600 of the board of
education fund goes into the shortage.
This last item is secured by separate
bond of $50. 900, with Helas Chamber
lain and J. p. Handy as sureties.
1t is believed that Axworthy's
vessel property and real estate will in
ventory nearly half q 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 received. 1t is asserted that he
is in Liverpool on the way TO Belgium.
and that he j. well 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 Gogebic
iron crash for a large sum.
The common council met tonight
to take action in the premises. IL was
DECIDED to declare the office OF treas
urer vacant and appoint a temporary
fraaanrar