The Brookhaven leader., 1890-03-27

that all the 1undS were on mana, ana
that correct books would show 1t. L
have never claimed to know where the
errors we're, but have always felt, and
still feel, that they would be discovered
whenever thorough examination was
made.
''In the light of today l see that was
negligent in not having periodical bal
ances struck and moneys counted, but
the necessity for this did not suggest it
self at the time, when | now see it
should have been done.
II had hoped that the labors of the
committee and commission would be so
comprehensive in detail and so thorough
in execution that the result reached
could be accepted as conclusive. But 1t
will be seen upon reading their report
that they ascertained nothing not shown
in my own report, and attempt to show
that four entries are correct, In which, it
had been suggested there were errors.
IL this were correct, it settles nothing
as to many thousand other entries in
which errors might as easily have been
made. To do this would have required
careful investigation and comparison,
extending throughout weeks and possi-
bly, months, without the scope of their
duty. Although / do not doubt that
they proceeded in good faith, | must
submit to an intelligent and fair public
whether any one in the time consumed
could have made such an investigation
of the transactions of fourteen years, in
volving thousands of items and millions
of dollars, as would enable him to say
that every account was unaffected by
error.
'Tf permitted, l will have such an in
vestigation made, and that without any
Ill A1ak 1n axvni
length of time this will require l can
not say, for about it persons differ. Mr..
Longino, a member of the commits
sion, resigned after beginning work be-
cause it could not be properly done with
out years labor, while Mr.. Patty an
nounced, after four days examination,
that he was ready to make report.
That his work could not be perfect is OBJ
vious, for he changed his report after 1T
had been given to the press and allowed
me credit for S19, 900, which he had over
| looked. The committee asked me, after
it had completed its examination OF the
books, if l could point out to them any
error. Although l knew there were
| errors, for the reasons above stated, L
could not indicate them, for the books
had been out of my reach after the dis
crepancy was discovered except for
| to find errors.
"a member of the committee, as am
| informed, said that when bookkeeper
| makes a statement showing a balance
against him, the burden Is on him to
point out errors if he claims there are
any. This is perhaps the principle on
which it proceeded, and though l could
not meet this requirement then, | am
absolutely confident that l shall be
able to do it when have had an oppor-
tunity to make thorough examination
of the books.
Il have not sought, and shall not
seek to evade the consequences OF my
conduct, and L am here to answer in
any and every way that the law may
-sstssskxsaA may be able. To relieve
my sureties of anxiety pending investi-
CATION, but not to conciliate public
Judgment, as has been charged, have
placed at their disposal all that
Observation-Disclosures of Office, fruits of
my labor outside, property owned when
| went into office, every dollar l had
and the home of my family.
us it asking too much of an intell1-
gent public that it withhold it's judg-
ment until opportunity is afforded me to
look into the matter, oven into the mi
nutest detail, or until judicial inquiry
and determination establish justice OF
the matter?
l am here, ready to suffer the penal
ties of the faithless servant, if be such.
But | ask, in behalf of my family and
those interested through me, that no in
Jury be done them by hastily formed
opinions based on partial investigation.
''If am in default the fact was dis
covered by no watchfulness of others,
but was disclosed by my own voluntary
statement. All that is now known rests
on that statement, and knowing to
moral certainty that it is erroneous,
ask nothing but the chance to find the
error. WILLIAM L. HEMINGWAY"