Telegram-herald., 1891-05-12
OUR ABSlN11REASURIR
George n. Perry Leaves Town and
Remains Away Two Weeks.
CAUSING VERY UNPLEASANT RuYORS
To oessis ss shs strests-ass Eosks aaa
Asssasss Ah.siss~sy essrset - Atsa-
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Il ia Chicago Aaa Wi ksgara.

On the day following the funeral Of
NJ H. Ford. "Wednesday April %.
George Il. Perry. treasurer of the City
of Grand Rapids. and fast and de-
voted friend of the deceased, left the
city. Since that time and until yesser-
DAY his continued absence excited no
comment among his friends. nor indeed
WAS il regarded as anything unsusI.
Yesterday, however. the papers re-
eelving the United States Press service,
OF which The TsIEsRAs-HgAKI.pl Is one,
we're wired from Chicago as follows;
cHIcA6o. May ll.-George X. Perry,
treasurer of Grand Rapids, Is missing
from this city. He arrived here =
month ago and put up At the Tremoat
House. lie stayed there four days and
then left, presumably. with woman
OF doubtful reputation. lie WAS last
seen . week ago when he promised =
friend to return 10 Grand Rapids that
night but did not appear AZ the depot
as agreed. Last Wednesday he tele-
graphed MS friends that he was going
10 Plttsburg but this is not believed.
They think ne Is stlll here IN hiding
The Pact Bunetiued.
No sooner was this dispatch received
than il Was bulletlned IN tine newspaper
Offices and soon the subject of perry's
disappearance was on the lips OF every
body. All sorts of rumors were started
involving the reputation OF Perry to
such a degree that the city officials or
dered an investigation of his books and
accounts In conjunction with the
mayor and Deputy Treasurer Nester,
the surelies on Perry's bond Messrs. NJ.
l.. Sweet, II. j. Hollister, l.. +. Haw-
kins and James Barnett held meeting
at the treasurer's Office just before
noon. HIS books were produced and
the gentlemen named made a critical
examination of ali entries and balances.
and upon rising declared that the books
showed no deficiencies in any of the
city's funds. Mr.. Nestor, the deputy,
was not lat home' TO the reporters
and declined to give them either aid or
comfort.
What the Omcials Say.
In the treasurer's Office young man
was buslly engaged over column of
figures when the TELEGRAM III ERALp
called. He seemed reluctant To engage
IN conversation, but when assured that
his visitor was an innocent reporter, he
unscrewed his reserve and sand:
II don't know anything about It,"
''But, Mr.. Perry IS gone, you know
that"
"Yes, he has been gone to Cleveland
now for two weeks, but we expected
him 10 return home q week ago, and he
Will return tomorrow"
as ne in Cleveland nowr'
NO. think he is IN Chicago, at least
] heard he was"
"Do you know anything about the
booksf"
The books are all right. The mayor
and lot of others were in here this
morning and looked over the hooks,
and said they were all right. No, don't
think the Mr.. Perry took away any
money belonging to the city. Hecouldn't
take any without the knowledge of the
city clerk and comptroller, except Our
daily cash receipts, snd ne rarely
handled any Of that money. 1t never
amounts To much anyway, and is de-
posted every day; unless = special roll
is IN our hands our daily receipts are
from 500 up TO 5000. don't think
he could or would have taken any
money not his own"
1t was physically impossible to learn
anything further 1T the city treasurer's
office, because the chief himself was
away. and his "Nester" refused point
blank TO ''gIve up" single word.
In the other Offices.
Mayor Uhl was out with Mr.. l.. f.
Hawkins and his office was as lonely as
graveyard when tne reporter entered.
Clerk Shinkman was engaged at other
work but Deputy Wurzburg volun-
teered all the information in his pos
session. Taking the stubs to the var
rants drawn on the city funds ne
turned back TO the dates immediately
preceding Perry's fight and carefully
checked each Item showing that the
several funds mentioned had been duly
vouched for by theclerk audcCmptroller
and entered Up IN the proper accounts
Everything is regular here" sald Mr..
Wurzburg. eff Mr.. Perry got away
with any money belonging 10 the city
he did so by sofae means unknown to
US for as far as the balances go his ac-
counts are correct"
Comptroller vsndenberg was will
ling 10 exhibit bis books. He
said that the city funds were
correct and undssturbed. s'f do
not have the handling Of q dollar IN
my department, Il ls purely anauditing
department. and "a such acts "a a
check against the wrongful expendi-
ture of all moneys. When the treas
urer deposits the money in the deposi-
tory I receive duplicate certificate OF
deposit. When money Is Withdrawn
from the depository, for any purpose,
10 is first authorized by the council, and
each warrant must bear my name aud
that of the clerk anG treasurer do
not believe thai Mr.. Perry has misap-
propriated a single dollar, N fact.
cannot see how Is ccald oc done with.
out adding the crime OF forgery 90 that
of emhezzlemsnt. Mr.. Perry is not
ab~ent because Of any embezxiement
OF city funds. lie is either away on
business or pleasure. prohably the lat
ter, and he has continued IL beyond bis
usual trips of the iand."
Assistant City Attorney Carroll SAID
s.f hope there can be nothing in the
report OF rerry's defalcation. These
ruuors came To me ike q flash from
the clear sky. George Perry q rot the
man 20 steal from anyboiy--he's
snlendhf feiiow--snd BE Il away on
little 'stoot,v in n,y opinion. II hs had
taken anv money. be would have gone
farther away. bus be has taken nons."
xsshs.s wr..x ~ ss~ s.ns.
Al. the r,snnors e I,efry' = fight spresd,
the stories Of enbszzsemsnt grew until