New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-01-26
THE DEFAULTER DEAD,
LOUNsBERY's THEFTS GROWING IN AMOUNT.

EXAMINATION OF THE POsToF.
FIcE ACCOUNTS GOING on
The death of Cashier George H. Lounsbery. a
the Postofice, at 80 O'Clock yesterday morn.
ing brought to an end one part Of the investiga-
tiOn into the deficiency in the Postoficc accounts
The question of beginning criminal proceedings
was not discussed except rs to the remote possibi
ity of holding any of the cashiers associates
responsible for completely with him. The report
of his death also softcned the feelings of some
of the PostOfice officials who ceased to discuss
his private habits.
1t did not stop, however, the rigid investiga-
ton into the condition of the finances of tie
Postoflice. As the first step Assistant Cashier
Lectch was called before the Postofice Inspector,
and Chief Inspector Wheeler crosscxamined him
for nearly an hour to learn all that he knew
about the dead cashiers habits and recent
duct They could not discover the time at which
the money was all taken, but they received
information about the manner in which the
business Of the office was conducted The CASH
ier kept in his own hands the receipts for adj
vances to the employees lie counted the cash
and made up the daily reports OK
amounts hand. He gave directions
to the clerks which they obeyed
blindy, and used their confidence to aid him 10
cover up his schemes Tie clerks in the office
were also examined by Inspector Wheeler.
The examination of the stamp accounts, money
and receipts continued most Of Friday night. Be-
fore noon yesterday Superintendent Wood, who
was in temporary charge of the cashiers Office,
made important discoveries which greatly increased
the amount of the defalcaion from the sum at
first reported The cash account showed that
over 50 900 should be in the safe, while the
amount on hand was only from $4,000 to $4,000.
The stamps valued at many thousand dollars, were
examined The number oil stamps received from
the printers and the number reported as sold
we're easily ascertaincd. The work of counting
the stamps was facilitated by the fact that they
are put up in large bundles The count when
completed, showed shortage in the stamp ac-
count of 100. This almost all in the
smaller stamps. The POstoiice officials say that
il is practically impossible now TO dispose OF
large amounts of stamps outside the office with
out causing suspicion, and they believe thao
Cashier LounsbcTy sold the stamps at the ofhce
and appropriated the proceeds of, the sales.
The advances" account was the next exam
fined. The advances made at times to officials
on salaries for the current month and receipts are
given. At the end of the month tina
amount of each receipt is deducted from the SAL
AIRY due to ne person who has received the
money over $1,000 had been advanced but
an examination of the receipts showed that $4,000
had been placed against this amount, for which
there was no receipt. Inquiry among the clerks
developed the fact that Just that amount had been
placed against the account on January ID last,
On that day Lounsbery exchanged checks with
Superintendent Pmley of the Registry Depart
ment, receiving a check for $4,000. This check
he cashed and the clerks recall that he came to
the door of his inner Office and said Place
~, 600 on the advance account" The
entry was made, and it was sup.
posed that Mr.. Lounsbery, who had tie
receipts under his control had received the neces-
sary vouchers. There also a small amount
due on receipts which had really been asked
for as a personal loan. The borrowers Yesterday
returned it to the Posofiice cashiers office.
4 deficiency of 81 900 also found on
another small account. The whole amount missing,
according to Acting Cashier Woods calculation,
is about S50,00O-less an uncertain amount OF
cash in the safe which has been sealed up to
await the appearance of Mr.. Lounsberys bonds
men. The cash in the safe was not counted but
the examiners who made the first discoveries
Judged that the amount was from $4,000 10
$4,000 They left it just in the position in which
it was found, and placed strip OF paper with
,eals on the ends the door IN order that the
bondsmen might be sure that nothing had been
taken out after Mr. LouLsbery had lett 1t.
The postOfhcc inspectors alter Mr. Lounsberys
dpatu obtained the buucn Oi Keys Nhlcn ne al
WAYS carried. They took tnem to the PostOilce
and examined the small central compartment OF
one of the safes, the only unopened receptacle 10
which the cashier had a private key II con-
,aincd uothlng except Il lew letters and papers.
Iohn Moonan, one of the cashiers DondSmen,
was present when the compartment was opened.
lie was the only one of the bondsnlen who visited
lie Office lie seemed convinced that the money
was gonc but was at first somewhat luclIned 10
be critical rs to the system under winch 80 large
an amount could be taken. Observation-Disclosures
oN
rect and the examiners from Washington had re-
ported that the number of checks on the corect-
ness of the books ncedesSly large lie said
that no system could prevent the taking oil the
cash on hand.
Those engaged in the examination of LOunS-
bcry's accounts worked steadily uhtli nearly
o'clock last night, when they were almost sure
that they had come pretty near the amount Or
fine steailngs This figures up IN round numbers
SiS.00O. Nothing could be learned Dy tne eA-
animation of the books in the cashiers Office "a
10 the time covered in the stealln-s. Ihey
thought however, that the bulk of the Sis,O0O
WAS carried away when LOGnsbery left the Post
Office last Thursday afternoon. IL is now the
oplrlon among those who have been making tho
Investigations that he contemplated going To Nah'
ada but his courage failed him.
An effort made yesterday 10 ma the money
winch il is believed was taken away when hes
last lett the office but AsslStant-PoStm9s'er Bank
son +. Morgan, said that not the slightest trace
OF il had been discovered.
1T is a mystery to us what he did with It,
ne added.
Richard VI. Van Colt, the fOstnastets sou,
who had been mentioned a temporary successor
to Cashier Lounshery said yesterday that under
existing circumstances he could not take tha
place lie said that If the accounts had peen
correct and no extraordinary difficulties had pre-
sented themselves, he would have been glad ID
assist his father. UMited STATES DiStIict-AttOrney
Mitchell advised Postmaster Van tott as Ia the
stems necessary 10 protect himself under the bond
given by the friends of the cashier Commits
sioner Shields said that his part IN tie ailalf
ended with the death of the cashier.
Notices had been sent to the b0ndsmen OF Mr..
Iounsbcrv that an examination of the amounb
left in the safes would he made yesterday after.
noon They did not appear at the Posioilice, and
the officials made detailed examination.
Iohn Noonan, of No. 427 Wcst-s., engaged In