The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-08-17
M'COOMBS' PLUMBER.
The Relief Embezzler Secured
at Least $4,000.
Why TURNER GOT OFF EASILY.

Why TURNER GOT OFF EASILY.
FINAL Reports to the General RELIEF
Observation-Disclosures the Bal
snce TO Charities
The general relief committee held a
meeting yesterday afternoon at the Cham
bar of Commerce, at which the final re-
ports Of the committees work were pre-
scented. judge ]. Il. Lewis was in the
chair, and the other members present were
9. 81. Hebron and Griffith Davies. Judge
Lewis read bis report as follows, which
was accepted:
Atths last meeting Of the committee held at
the Chamber of Commerce, il was resolved that
the balance Of funds ON hand be distributed an
follows:
10 the Ladies' Relief Society. Of Seattle.
for the benefit OF the Orphsns Home
under the mensgement OF said society.s 5000
mana&ement of the w. c. r. U 2M0
70 the Women's Home Society at Seattle. 5000
70 pay al balances duo from the committee
and give to the Ladies Relief Society for gen.
sral purposes any balance remaining.
The above sums to be paid ON the check OF the
chairman Of the committee or the treasurer of
the society ct such time n deemed proper
have since the above meeting issued checks
On the treasurer Of the society q follows:
In payment Of bills
10 Thomas Clancy, balance on account
10 james Farmland. services on special y"
10 Manager Of Day Nursery. l loo ~
TO Ladies' Relief Society, general pur-
pgsss I. 500 90
e.,,. :. :. ;. 5000 %
There are bills on ME against the committee
~ follows:
For counsel fees IN the prosecution Of Nc.
Coomps ana runner. $500 90
Hacks and livery for secretary .......... % 90
Services OF special committee balances. 200 90
These bills were incurred during my absence
and submit them for your action
made settlement with Bolton Rogers,
special ofncer on requisition for Turner and he
refunded 70 me on account of funds advanced
$4O,H, which sum deposited to the credit of
the treasurer The stated account with deposit
ticket submit herewith.
NO part OF the sum appropriated to the
Womans Home has been paid over The so.
ctety, however, has been duly incorporated and
procured by donation from David T. Denny ana
vile one Lot and purchased one adjoining. upon
which to erect suitable buildings for a home.
and the ladies' OF the society having shown
much diligence In carrying out the purposes for
which the society was organized and the funds
appropriated, think the amount appropriated
Tor such purposes should be handed over 10 their
society.
The report Of Mr.. W. D. Fenton, attorney, who
assisted In the prosecution of McCoombs, is here
with submitted.
Tho report Of the special committee hereto
fore employed to look into the accounts of the
committee IL herewith submitted. In Noyem-
Der, 1850. first settlement was made by the sec
rotary Of the committe, Mr. Gleason, which was
4r<oA
WITT the treasurer, and his accounts and vouch-
- found correct and ON such settlement an &C.
oount was started between the committee and
the treasurer showing the whole receipts and
disbursements and balance, then on hand.
which st the time was published. An account
vas started BY the special committee with the
Puget Sound National bank, the agent OF the
treasurer, mp to May 8 from the former settle
mont have had an account made out by the
bank from May the 9Th to date, which shows all
seoetpts and disbursement from May to date
and balance In the hands of the treasurer of
$l06S7.6l Said account and accompanying
checks are submitted
OF this balance 5000 should 20 to the
W0mens Home Society, of Seattle, and all bills
should Be paid and balance paid over to the
Ladies' Relief Society for general relief purposes
and - per former order OF the committee.
The following bills were ordered paid
Nv. d. Fenton and w. Lair Hill, for legal
services in the prosecution of McCoombs
and Turner, $500; John Langston, livery
hire. $40: special relief committee, $500,
being at the rate of 500 each, for service,
and $50 for printing, stationery. etc.; au-
diting committee for advances for tele-
grams, ETC., $2S.25.
Judge Lewis reported that he had made
. settlement with Bolton Rogers for his
services in bringing George s, Turner from
New York. The auditing committee ad-
vanced $3.50 to Rogers, who expended
$751; 20, including $3.50 reward for the cap
ture of Turner, and was allowed $50 addi-
tional for his own services. He received
s153 from the state for the expense of
bringing Turner from New York. and thus
balance of $40. q remained. which Rog-
ers had repaid. This settlement was APP
proved.
The following report from Messrs Fem
ton and Hill on the McCoombs case was
read and accepted:
SEATTLE. June 90
John Leary and Griffith Davies, constituting the
General Relief Committee, Seattle, Wssh.-Gen-
aemen: Inclosed herewith hand you our bill
for attorneys fees in the various matters con-
nectod with the prosecution of J. p. McCoombs,
which trust you viii ind reasonable a3d audit
and direct its payment at once. At this time 1t
seems proper for me to say that, upon an inves-
tigation of the various crimes committed by ].
p. McCoombs, as disclosed by the records fur
nished me by your auditing committee, adj
vised the prosecution of the defendant upon the
check known as the Maiverty check. and, as
you know, the defendant was brought TO trial
and after two days consumed in the same the
jury promptly convicted him of the charge of
forgery. This was test case and the strongest
case. in my Judgment OF any, and one freer
from technical objections than any of the 9TH
era Upon an investigation of the other cases
having access only to the records which were
not destroyed by McCoombs, am of the opinion
that he in almost every instance which he was
guilty OF defrauding the beneficiary or the COM
mittee. II will be found that he contributed
OF the particular ckecK or funds appropriated
form one-half TO three-quarters OF the amount
allowed by the committee to the benefcieries
and the remainder be embezzled. Ii is impossi.
bic 20 say whether any OF the grocers received
any of the illegitmaic profits Of McCoombs'
peculatiaus not, and would not express
myself a. indicating opinion that any of
them have done so. The only suspicious cir
cumsance, 30 far as it relates 10 the grocers who
furnished supplies. is the fact that a very large
part of his trading was done with Clark &
Carder and the checks drawn to them appear tn
be uniformly Endorsed in the handwriting of
one person. and look to be in the handwriting
of McCoombs. II Is probable. though. that
Clark & Carder may have authorized McCoombs
to collect these checks and pay their bills in
cash at the store. The presence OF Clark &
Carder before the committee could not be had.
and Ii was impossibl BILE In the case tried against
McCoombs 60 produce their testimony or to
know what It would be- as they have both left
the city and have not been seen by me, or by