The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-07-16
BARDSLEY'S BOOKS.
The Experts Make A Statement
About Them.
STATE OFFICIALS IMPLICATED.
Interest Received on Public Money Deposited
In Banks-To Carry Nails In
American Bottoms

PH1LApELpH IA, July 15.-The experts
appointed to investigate the accounts OF
the late city treasurer, Bardsley, made
detailed report TO the mayor to-day. 1t
shows the total balance due the state and
city is g, 504, 551. Against this is credited
deposits in various banks to May 80 last OF
1919, 673; keystone due bills S925, 600, and
keystone bank checks paid by Bardsley in
excess of the city fund account Sl96, 0i3,
leaving total net deficiency in Bardsley' s
accounts Of $685., S35. In addition to this
deficiency the interest which Bardsley re-
ceived from various banks, firms and
individuals, together with dividends
on stock and securities in which be
invested with the public money, amounting
to at least SD, 900, should be added, max
ated SIS, S35. AS to the credit of S925, 900,
represented by keystone due bills, the
experts lind more or less evidence of pay
ments made from time 20 time by Bardsley
TO the president Of the bank, which may
make up this amount. The due bills are
irregularly numbered and dated, and this,
in connection with the fact that the ex-
perts found blank due bills in BardSley' s
desk, created a suspicion as TO their gen.
ulneness. Whether they arc genuine or
not cannot be determined until the eX-
perts gain free access 10 the books OF the
bank. Even assuming them to be gen
uine. they don't represent deposits made
in good faith by Bardsley as a public
officer. Public money to which he had NO
title was taken by him and handed over TO
the keystone bank or its president, for no
legitimate reason but apparently for per-
sonal advantage and to obtain higher rate
Of interest than he received at other de-
positories. Bardsley's private memoran-
dunn book shows he was paid by the Key
stone bank $1,000 each month, commencing
in January, 1889. and continuing reg
ularly to September, 1891, max
ing total Of $4,000. This sum
was regularly paid in addition 10
the interest which he received on the state
money and appears TO represent the 8 per
cent limit on 100000 Of city deposits.
One entry shows receipts Of $500 "for the
use of 500, 600 from December II to Decem-
Der 81 at SIS per day." The total amount
of interest paid Bardsley in 1889 and 1890
| by this bank alone was $40 SCI. Thus these
due bills represent loans personally made
to the bank of public funds in violation OF
the law.
The experts say the numbers of the
stubs in the check book of Bardsley's &C
count in the keystone bank have been
torn out. They have, however, found
checks bearing the corresponding number,
all except one being drsw4f by Bardsley,
to bearer, or TO the ''orier Of myself" On
| the stub of one check is an entry in Bards-
| ley's handwriting at William Liksey,
state treasurer, for his kindness to me dur
| ing the year, $500" On a page showing
| the rebates received from newspapers in
which advertising was done in 1889,
| amounting to $l6, 2S9. appear these entries /:
| LESS amount paid to H. A. Craffin, g 900,
one half to Thomas McCamant s7,114.5O !;
one-half to j. b., 81, IA So" In 1890 and
to the caedit OF Bardsley. The interest re-
ceived by Bardsley from banks and by him
converted to his own private use during
| 1889, 1890 and 1891 aggregated S202, 493.
Thomas McCamant, mentioned in Bards-
ley's check above, is auditor-general of
Pennsylvania.
ga further statement of Bardsley's spec
lations show he invested 81, 1862 in the
stock market Upon this total of specula-
tion he made losses aggregating $l10, 500,
and gains Of Sis, 1854, q net loss of S5l 935,
which might as well be increased by 500.
900 of Baltimore Traction bonds, which
Bardsley gave Marsh TO help the keystone
bank out of one Of its temporary predica-
ments." That part Of the the report
showing q division Of the spoils with ex-
State Treasurer Liksey and Auditor Gen
eral McCamant, as noted above, creates
much interest In the same connection
there Is another remarkable item, as fol-
lows: ''May ID, 1890, II. Fitzgerald item,
in place Of getting mercantile appraiser
list to publish 81, 900"