New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-05-10
HE MEANT TO BE HONEST.
THE CONFESSION OF A DErAUnrER.
COLLECTOR OF SPECIAL TAXES SAYS HE HAS
PAID ONLY $1,000 OUT OF $4,000 COLLECTED.

a
PAID ONLY $1,000 OUT OF $4,000 COLLECTED.
A remarkable story was made public yesterday Of
shortage In the accounts Of Michael J. Bourke, Col
lector Of Special Taxes in the Twenty-slxth wsrd,
Brooklyn, formerly the town Of New
lied to issue bonds for $4,000 at per cent,
due In twenty years to cover the cost Of grading and
ourbing streets, and Bourke was appointed for term
Of FIVE years to collect the taxes. He took Once In
July, 1887, and his salary is $1,000 year. lie was
required 10 pay The money collected 70 the super
visor According to q statement made by Bourke,
he has collected 10000 and paid over only about
$4,000
Under tho law he Is required make yearly state
ment TO the Supervisor and to turn 10 him all
the moneys he collects. In 1887 Supervisor Wofert
was I'm ONCE. Bourke paid him only 800, when ne
had collected $1,000 wofert turned the money over
TO the City Treasurer instead Of the County Treasurer
and there being dispute about the matter, Bourke
retained the rest Of the money. Under Supervisor
Forbel who succeeded wolfart, no payments were
made. When Supervisor Watson took office he be-
gan pressing Bourko for payments, and he succeeded
In getting Bourke to pay up $4,000 few days
ago, and Bourke expects to pay $1,000 before the
end Of this month.
Bourke h under $4,000 bonds, M. J. Gibbons and
John d. Bennett being surees. Ho has all the col
ecdons made for him by NOyes G. Palmer, city as
SCISSOR and formerly collector of for New-LOts,
who is paid $500 a year by BourkB for the work.
BOurke k a member Of the Democratic General Com
mIttee Of Kings County, and active politician. In
his confession OF wrongdoing he says that he paid out
$1,000 in political assessments. When ne got Office
It impossible Cor him TO 1--we on his salary and
pay his creditors. So he began using the trust funds
In bis care. He formerly dry goods clerk and
recently invested $4,000 a storo with Henry L.
Ryan. lie also lost money IN unfortunate land specu-
latOns.
He says that he did not intend TO default but unin
tenuonally used the money In his hands, and II hc is
allowed to replace Il the amount will all be made
good before tho end OF his term, In 1892. He also
says that a legal question whether the Supervisor,
who Is not under bonds, shall receive the money, Is
involved and that 1t Is not clear whether he should
pay 10 him or not.
In his confession Bourke says: Il took money with
out any idea Of how much / taking This thing
mas driven nearly crazy, aud oily my belief IN
eafter has kept me from taking my life"
BOurke's bondsmen were astounded last evening TO
learn that he was short IN hts accounts. They sup
posed that he was prosperous IN business and was
making money on tho saiary paid him. He had borne
good reputation before he was put In Office, super
visor Watson said that when he found Bourke had not
paid the money he had collected he urged him
do IT, and, having confidence in his honesty waited
before making the matter public. He had already
paid over more than no had collected In his (WasOn's
term, but short In what be collected under ex-
Supervisor FOrbell