The morning call., 1890-09-28
COLLECTOR HUEY
HAS GONE WRONG.
He Has Absconded With $4,000
OF the States Money.
The Discovery Of the Defalcatiou Casually
Made-His Fall Attributed to Gam
bling on Horse-Races.

$-OOO.
Huey had been in the employ of the COM
mission for almost year, and held one OF
the most responsible positions in the gift of
the Commissioners, having salary of $50
per month. He was regarded as one of the
most trusted employees. all attached to the
Office having the utmost confidence in him.
The discovery of his shortage fell like a
thunderbolt on those who reposed their trust
In the young man.
The manner in which the defalcation was
discovered was as follows: In August last
1ae of the bondsmen of Huey, named S. j.
Loop, sent letter to the commission asking
TO withdraw from the bond. Although this
notice was not legal one, a verified petition
being required under the law, and formal
release from all obligation by the board, yet
the Commissioners informed Huey that they
were willing to release Loop upon Huey
giving new bond.
The President of the board informed
Huey through the Secretary that he would
have to furnish the new surety this week.
Huey informed the Commissioners that Loop
had been induced to withdraw from his bond
through social influences. lie claimed that
an enemy of his had gone TO Loop and com
peiItd him to Withdraw, but promised to
have new surety to his bond, which was
SO, goo, with the following suretieS: John
II. HeSler, L, IL. Minor, Maurice Schmidt,
). j. Loop and James Gilleran, each quail
lying in the sam of $4,000
NOTE FROM THE DELINQUENT
Oh Friday morning the Secretary of the
board found in the Office the blowing ote,
which had been posted the night before:
SAN Francisco, September 25th.
or, TNgtmdn-I have been trying TO perfect
my bond ihis p. IL, but find that tie party whom
L relied ON is visiting the Stockton Fair. l am
tO.mn IN Saa I'm, ! bar a
supplement to the bond, which can be certified
by notary In Stockton. l VIII return on Satur-
day by II o'clock. Yours, w. L. HUEY.
Even this note did not give rise to any sus-
plclons. On Friday morning Assistant Sec
rotary ). ID. Rogers was entering up some
bills when lie discovered that j. ID. Spreck-
els u Brothers had not paid a bill of $50
i-1r berth-ren5. On visiting the Office of the
1rm the alarming discovery was made that
the bill had been paid days before and that
the firm had Huey's receipt for the money.
On returning TO the office. Secretary Thigh
man ana his assistant, Rodgers, went over
the blllS for September which had been given
lucy for collection. All those which had
been marked mot collected were laid aside
and q visit made to the various firms against
which the commission had demands. The
sums ranged all the way from $50 to 5000,
aud IN every case il was found that the bills
had been properly paid, receipts for the
money having been given by Huey.
The stealings OF the absconder were only
of recent origin, his accounts for all other
months having been fully verified and prop
erly balanced. He confined his operations
TO the latter part of the mouth.
THE DISCOVERY L REPORTED.
Secretary Tilghman duly informed the
Commissioners on Friday OF the discovery
made and that body at once notified the
Chief OF Police. giving the following de-
scription of the defaulting collector:
Description of w. E. Huey-Ags IS; height
feet inches; complexion slightly dark, with
brown mustache; deep crease in skin on back Of
head; well dressed; very Intelligent; agreeable
manners were onyx seal ring, with letters W.
L. II. cut In stone.
1t is not thought that Huey could have
gone on any Of the outgoing steamers or
sailing vessels. The last seen of him was at
10 o'clock on Thursday night. The police
authorities have sent dispatches along the
Vine of the various railroads, giving de-
NscTIPuonGot Huey and asking for his appre-
hension. 1t is believed that it is only ques-
tion of short time when the absconder will
be returned to this city to be tried for his
offenSf.
The Harbor Commissioners, after notify
ing the police, also placed the case in the
hand of the attorney for the board in orde
the matter of the bond, and held meeting
yesterday afternoon at which were present
Commissioners English, Alexander and
Brown.
Alter reciting the circumstances of Huey's
defalcati0n, Chairman English asked what
was the sense OF the board in the matter.
Commissioner Alexander offered the fol-
lowing resolution, which was unanimously
adopted:
THE SENSE OF THE BOARD.
1t appearing that w. E. Huey, one OF the
collectors under the appointment OF the board
has been guilty OF the ENLIGHTENMENT Of about
$1,000, the money and property of The Stale, 1t is
hereby ordered that the order appointing w. L.
l. An1t la and
hereby rescnded. Said ". E. Huey is hereby
removed from his said office, aud the said Office
so held by said Huey is hereby declared TO be
vacant.
On the adoption of the resolution the
board adjourned until Monday next. A de-
maud will be made then by the Commission
ers on the b0ndsmen of Huey to meet their
lab lily ON the bond. 1t is not thought that
il will be necessary to bring suit against
the SuretieS as the pro rata liability OF each
bondsnan will be only 500, which will
make up the $1,000 deficiency TO the State.
This sum, 1t is expected, will be promptly
LAhd by those who are on the bond. The
<1apers for the demand have already been
drawn up. Should the hope of the Commits
, si0neTs prove dis appointing and the sureties
refuse 10 pay, suit will be immediately COM
menced against them. as the Commissioners
are badly cut up over the defalcation, and
are determined to come out of the affair as
well as possible by seeing that the State
fea'ance in office.
Huey was well known In this city, and
was a telegraph operator by occupation
During Harrison's campaign he was Secre-
tary of the Conference Convention OF the
Young Mems Republican Club, also a
prominent member of the Union League
Club. Before obtaining his last position he
was in the employ of the Postal Telegraph,
having a salary of $50 month. He had
hosts Of friends and moved in the best social
circles.
TRUSTED IMPLICITLY.
By the Commissioners he was trusted i'm
plicitIy. and thought 10 be one of the best
men in the service of the board on account
Of his oblIging ways and steady attention
70 work lie was not known to drink OF
dissipate to any extent. He resided with
his mother at 2490R Market street, and was
locked upon as model young man, whose
chief care was his mother and sister.
All the Commissioners, although badly
shaken up by the discovery OF Huey's en-
bezzlement, and anxious that no odium
should be attached to the Office, or that it
should be thought that there had been care
lessness on the part of the board, had time
left to express keen regret for the young
man who had gone wrong when his career
seemed so promising. Commissioner Alex
ander said:
II have known Huey for long time, and
[ have never been so surprised in my life as
at the discovery of his defalcation. IL is al
|, most enough to make one lose faith in
Human nature. l cannot explain his con-
duct TO thus give up position of $50 per
month, which was good for at least three
years yet. There must be something be.
hind which we cannot learn. l have heard
since the knowledge OF his embezzlement
came TO light that he has been gambling ON
the races OF late. l feel sorry for the mis-
guided young man, and for his mother and
sister"
CAREIFssNFss DENIED
All the Commissioners are emphatic in
claiming that there was no carelessness on
the part of the board in the matter, and in-
sist that it would have been impossible to
lave prevented the defalcation. The proper
checks were plo 2ed on Huey, but when lie
returned during the last week bills as not
collected, but which he had really collected,
it would have been impossible to have dis
covered this unless another collector had
been employed to follow 10 Huey's tracks
and see that be was telling the truth.
Huey's defalcation is the first since John
. S. Gray's extensive steaiings some years ago
ana for which he was sent to the penitenti-
ary Among the many employees OF the