Evening journal., 1891-05-21
LAST EDITION
Is D0UGHERTY SHORT j?
INTERVIEW WITH JOHN S. Ros
SELL.

Company ExpIained-rhe indebtedness
of Collector DouEherty Probably Ex-
ceeds $4,000.
In reference to the fling Of the petition
of the sureties of Tax Collector John j.
Dougherty by JOHN Rodney, attorney,
before the Levy Court yesterday, the
following facts were obtained this morn
ing.
What John s. RosseI Says.
John s. Rosssll, of the Security Trust
and Safe Deposit Company, was seen at
noon. BE was very reserved in his state.
ments, and 1t was only after he was inn
portuned by the reporter that he said:
1t appears that as far back as last
October, the attention of some of the
sureties Of Mr. Dougherty was called to
the probability of HIS not being able to
settle in full with the county. Notices
were sent out, Il think it was early in
April J to the sureties Of Mr.. Dougherty,
by direction of the Levy Court the same
as they were sent to the sureties of the
other collectors,
$50 far as the course Of this company
in the matter is in question, we simply
proceeded in the investigation of ii as we
would any other matter entrusted
to us. The result of that Investigation
was q statement from the county
treasurer, which showed that there
was due from Mr.. Dougharty q gross
balance Of $2S, ,601 73 That statement
was made on April g. By subsequent
payments and allowances on errors and
commissions, this balance was reduced
to SIG, 000 in round numbers, on May 49,
Since the aseertsinment of this balance
Mr. Dougherty has made payment to
Receiver of Taxes Dickey of $3.50 In
the belief that the Beers estate would
suffer loss by further continuance of Mr.
Dougherty in the possession OF the
books, the company joined in the petit
tion of the Levy Court.
"The presentation Of the petition to
the Levy Court was the joint action of
the sHreties named and was the result
Of frequent conferences covering a period
of several weeks, and many earnest con-
versations upon the subject with
Mr.. Dougberty and his counsel,
Hon. Charles B Lore, to consent
to the transfer of the book TO a successor
to be named by the Levy Court. It was
suggested that this might be ac-
complished by simple resignation from
Mr. Dougherty. This he refused to tender
to the Levy Court. So entirely fair were
the suIeties and so desirous to save Mr.
Doagherty from the odium In thu
matter that they even offered Mr.. Lore
the privilege Of preparing any paper that
it might be necessary to tender to the
Levy Court in order TO effect q change
They have all been lifelong friends of
MIR. Dougherty's. The last proposal
made by Mr.. Dougherty was
that the books be deposited for safe
keeping with the Security Trust and
Safe Deposit Company until next
Msl day, and that no further collections
be made. with the understanding that
the sureties should take no action until
that time. But as no good
reason for this delay was Of
fered ths proposal WAS rejected. That
was the final interview Yesterday, held
in his Office ten minutes before the
petition was presented to the Levy
Court"
He refused to state why the other
sureties did not sign the petition. but it
is generally understood outside that
personal financial complications between
them and Mr.. Dougherty made it neces-
sary for them to keep their hands of.
Unable TO Find Collector Dougherty.
An EVENING JOURNAL reporter was
sent out to find Mr.. Dougherty, but was
unsuccessful. Inquiry at his Office was
answered by the statement that
he left there to go to dinner The re-
porter went twice to his house and was
told both times that Mr.. Dougherty had
not been home since early this morning.
Mrs. Dougherty said she was expecting
him home every minute
Larger Than the Amount Stated.
It it a question as TO how far his real
estate will be available TO cover
Dougherty's shortage The petition
sets forth that the shortage is about
$14,000, whereas, the county books show
it to be nearer $4,000 The fgures
cited in the petition are of his own
naming, as he does not think his short.
age will foot up to the sum named by the
county treasurer.