Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-04-25
THE MISSING MONEY
The SPECIAL COUNCIL COMMITTEE SAYS WHO
GOT IT.
An Extremely Interesting Session Last Night at
Which Some Things Are Cleared Up-Ihe
Report % Council.

The special committee consisting Of
NIessrs. Harrell, Brandfass and Max
well. appointed under a resolution Of
Council to make q further investigation
into the matter Of the Compromise loan
defalcation. met in the Office Of Clerk
Thoner last evening, TO carry out the
work allotted them. There were pres
ent. I'm addition to the members Of the
committee. City Solicitor White Mr.. p.
b. Dobbins, chairman Of the Finance
Committee of the old Council. Expert
Accountant Allen Brock, aud several
other interested gentlemen.
The Committee organized by elect
ing Mr.. Harrell chairman, and the SeS-
Sion was opened by Mr. Harrcll enquir-
ing: What are we here for?
MIR. Brandfass- ought 10 know.
Mr.. Maxwell-What for!
MIR Braudlass-TO straighten this tmng
Nr. Maxwell What part Of this thing:
Mr. Brandfass-Whv, TO straighten the
whole thing out.
The Chair suggested that Mr.. Brock
refresh the minds of the committee by
reading his original report, and this was
done. showing the total shortage 10 be
sl4,956.G9
When this had been finished Mr.
Dohbns. by way of opening the discus
sion. said his transactions, as chairman
NJ tl,e committee. had all been with Col.
Wilkinson. and never with Mr.. Brady.
Mr.. Harrell-The fraudulent bonds run
from 1883 10 lSS5.
Mr. Dobbius And the coupons IRON
Sir Brock couldn't tell when they
Mr. Dobbins- there were no bonds
redeemed before that date.
Mr. Brock-Yes. there were but we
can't tell when.
bonds were redeemed after 1883.
Mr. Br0ck-Yes, and before los'-houe
after that date. ,.a
The Chair TO Mr.. Dob0ins)-W men ala
YOU take charge as chairman
Mr. Dobbins-In January, 1889.
The Chair-COl Wilkinson run the
thing prettv much himself, didn't hel
Mr.. Dobbins-D During my term OF once
YES. He told me he always attended 70 IL
himself Mr. Brady was living wnen Col.
Wilkinson got his first order, but thlnk
he died before the last was issued. ana
not know Mr. Brady in the business.
The Chair Ito Mr.. Brock Whom, does
il seem. got the money during the last SIX
In. seven wears. Alt would be difficult
for me 10 say that, but all the settlements
were made with Colonel Wilkinson.
n.hhfne 1nr transactions were
with Col Wilkinson.
Mr.. Brock The two drafts were ~ Col.
Wnkinsou's name They were two sight
drafts for $50 each. They were marked
for the redemption Of coupons, but no
coupons were found for them.
Mr.. MaXwell-Are any coupons missing
Mr.. Brock-Yes, for some six years, or
some such period They We're destroyed.
The Chair-Is there any gentleman pres
eut who could recognize Col WILKINSON
figures,
Mr.. Maxwell-Mr Brooks report says
they were SO neatly changed or so Oadly'
that one can't tell l would not know ms
figures.
The Chair-Nearly everybody has some
popularity in their figures.
Mr. Brock said so neatly, or so badly
mutilated il would be impossible TO tell the
original numbers"
Mr.. Dobbins-I examined the numbers
when YOU We're making your tlrst report
and really didn't recognize the handWilt-
ing of either.
The Chair-In whose hands were the
executed bonds.
Mr. Dobbius-In the hands Of the COM
missioners
Mr. Maxwell These bonds were discov-
cred by Mr. William Wilkinson in box
kept bv his father. He asked me TO 90 10
the Exchange Bank and look at them
They were turned over 10 the committee
The Chair-Whatl want 10 get at IS, who
had charge Of the bonds turned into the
hands of the Finance Committee as genu-
inc. but which were bogus.
Mr. DObbius-The Finance Committee Ol
lsS3 reported 20 Council that there were so
many of these executed bonds in the hands
of the Commissioners.
MIR Brock-Nr Stone was chairman and
the committee recommended that the bonds
bedestroyed The report dind show how
many bonds there We're.
Mir Maxwell That would be "a strange
report. Would the committee recommend
that the bonds Dee destroyed. without stat
lng the uumber
Mr Brock merely say that's nay recol-
lection.
MIR Maxwen-Let's get the report and
see.
A clerk was sent TO look mp the re-
port. while the Chair said he thought
there were thirty of the bonds
Mr. Maxwell Good bonds might have
been brought iu here and old bonds changed.
ANY one in that business could hold out the
coupons
Nr Dobbms- ] don't think coupons could
be cut on the bonds without IT'S being no
ticed. The committed was always careful
90 see that all the coupons were on the
bonds zap 90 date.
MIR Brock Here is the report OF the FL
nance Committee of May 9, lS's. +. j.
stone was chairman of the commttee. The
report says
several thousand dollars OF compromise
houd, ar, boo the hands of the Commis >iourr, or
have been deposited hN the Mayor ln thr EN
chang. Bank. Some of them are signed anu
the cit, would Doe held liable 10 they were 90 ial
into improper hands. The committee recon-
meud- that they bede,troyed
Mr.. DobbiHs-l think the reason the
Commissioners of the Compromise loan
had the bonds on hand, was tQ be able TO
exchange the bonds on demand OF holders
Of the bonds.
What was done with the 1000 orderi
Mr. Brock-The money was drawn, ana "a
few DAYS after $1,000 was placed IN the
hands Of Winslow, Lanier X Co. What
become Of the $50 we don't know.
q WHO deposited il. Alt was IN the
name OF tho Commissioners.
Didn't You know NJ Brady was
dead. then. Ayes.
Mr.. Dobbins The Chairman asked me
about the numbers on the bonds. Nhen
I we ss.tled in ISIS, we We're examining the
bonds, ana MF GrpSe discovered the bonds
were scratched aud the pambeF FeErl ttsn'
and asked how IL was. Col Wilkinson
said they had been numbered with Q pen
and ne supposed there had been a mistake
| i'm numbering. and they had 20 be renum,
Ibered. We passed IL over. as no one had
| the least suspicion
Mr.. Brock Examining bonds It's my
firm conviction Col Wilkinson never made
those figures He made large, regular
/ figure. and the changed figures are small
and irregular.
The Chairman-Th Council who issued
Ltalse bonds should have seen they were m
safe hands aA2 come one responsible ior
them. II is just Ike y ...Gt, signing up a
lot of checks and then throwing the oaeck.
book around, where any one could get hold
- 3. Il mos "a moor. way IN do business.