Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-03-05
Z. B. GRYMES' ARREST
THE CLERK TO THE CITY TREASURER
CHARGED WITH eMBEZzLEMENT.
Gas Ellis Recciptcd by Him Not Credited
but Entered On the Auditors
Books as Paid.


Mr.. z. B. Grymes, first clerk In the City
TreGsurer's Office, was suspended from duty
yesterday by Mayor Ellyson and ordered
under arrest on the charge of embezzling
money from the city of Richmond.
1t was in the Mayors Office that this oc-
CURED, and the warrant was sworn out by
Police-Justice John J. Crutchfeld.
The Justice allowed bail in the sum of
$500 and the bond was.promptly given.
The preliminary hearing Of the case was
fixed for Saturday the 7th instant at
noon.
TAKEN BEFORE THE MAYOR.
II was about 10 o'clock yesterday morn
ing when Treasurer John X. Childrey. ac-
companied by Mr.. Grymes, walked into
the Office Of the Mayor
Mr.. Childrey, in introducing the subject,
stated that he had q very painful duty to
perform. He had Just been informed that
from a comparison of the Treasurer's
books with the gas-bill book in the
Auditors Office it appeared that on Feb
ruary oath and 25th, four gas bills had
been marked as paid on the books in the
Auditors Office for which there was no
credit on the books of the Treasurer. That
when this omission was discovered the
citizens whose bills had been marked as
paid were asked to exhibit their receipts,
which were found TO be signed by MIR.
Grymes and which he acknowledged were
receipted by him. Under these circum-
stances he felt constrained to report Mr..
Grymes TO the Mayor.
SAID He FORGOT IT.
Mayor Ellyson said he was very much
grieved TO hear the accusation against Mr..
Grymes and that il was so grave charge
ne would be very glad to have any state
ment from Mr.. Grymes that would show
that he had been falsely accused.
Mr.. Grymes replied that the receipts
were certainly given by him, but he must
have forgotten TO enter them on the book,
ana that in the hurry of business 1t must
have been forgotten.
The Mayor then inouired Of Mr.. Childrey
whether his cash was found 10 be over that
night. and he said it was not. The ques-
tion was then asked by the Mayor whether
the entries made In the gas-book in the
Auditors Office in which the bills were
marked paid were IN his handwriting. lie
replied that they seemed to be, but that if
he wrote them he must have done II when
asleep. for he had no recollection OF having
done so.
PUT UNDER AEBRsT.
MAYOR Ellyson sent for City-Attorney
Meredith, and after consultation with him
he informed MIR. Grymes that he was about
to perform the most painful duty of his
official life, which was TO suspend him
from Office and place him under arrest.
Polce-Justice Crutchtield was tele-
phoned TO come TO the Mayors office,
which he promptly did, when the follow
ing warrant was sworn out:
CITY OF RICHMoSD-To WIT:
To Al or Any Of the Public Offers Of the city Of
Richmond:
Whereas, j. Taylor Ellyson has this day made
complaint ard information on oath before me,
John j. Cruchleld. Police Justice OF said
city. that within six months last past 1881,
at said city, Il. Buford Grymes did unlawfuly
and feloniously embe2Zle S54.25 cents in United
states currency the property Of the city OF hich-
mond these are therefore, In the name Of the
Commonwealth Of Nirgili8, 20 command you
forthwith to apprehend and bring before me, or
some other justice OF the peace OF sal1
city, the body of the said L. Buford Grymes
10 answer complaint and to be further
dealt with according 60 Law. AND moreover
upon the arrest Of the said K. Buford Grymes,
by virtue OF this warrant ! command you' IN
the name Of the Commonwealth OF Nirgini0, 10
summon j. Taylor ElysOn, Joseph shelton,
Miles Turpin, K. L. Williams, John h. Childrey.
- Thabimer. - Watkins, j. L. Levy'
and +. Schaeffer oappear at the PoIoe Justces
Court as witnesses 70 testify In behalf OF lhe
Commonwealth against the said Il. Buiord
Grymes on tho day OF -, that ib 70 say, on
the next day following tho day OF arrest. Ana
have then and there this warrant with your re-
turn thereon.
Giyea under my hand and seal this 4th day OF
seal JOHN j. CRUrcHF1ELp.
Police Justice.
Mr.. Grynes was Immediately bailed by
Justice Crutchfeld for his appearance at
the Police Court Saturday at noon. MIR.
John =. Branch went on the bond, which,
as stated above, was for the sum of $500;
There are four distinct warrants IN the
case, one for each bill.
TIE MoDUs oPERANDI.
The gas bills are made out in the Audi
tors Office by Bill-Clerk Joseph NJ. Shelton,
bv whom they are listed in ledger pre-
pared for that special purpose ms oopn
has several columns which contain the
number Of the bill, the district, name OF
consumer, quantity of gas, used. and
amount of the months bill. The last
column to the right of each page is left
blank, and when the bills paid each day
are called off from the Treasurer's book III
the afternoon the date OF payment IS en-
tered in figures with pencil.
Ten davs after the bills are delivered in
each district the bill-clerk goes over his
listing-books and makes up lis delinquent
list which is handed over to the inspector
to be dealt with according to law. lie
places on this delinquent-list all bills that
have not been checked of, unless there IS
some good reason given for not dong so.
HE CHECKED THE BILLS.
IN the afternoon of February 25th Mr.
Grymes went into the Auditors office,
where Mr.. Turpin and Mr.. Williams were
checking off Mr. Greenhow's book from
the Treasurer's Office. Mr.. Grynes asked
MIR. Williams please to ada up MS nook I9r
him and he (Grymesl would do Mr.. VII;
liams's checking for him. This was agreed
10 and Mr.. Grymes checked about page
i'm the bill-b0ok, Mr.. Turpin calling from
the Ireasurer'S book.
Last Monday when making out MS de
linouent list for the second dlstrlct Mr;
Shelton noticed that Ihaihimer Brothers
Lin No. SAG for S23. .85 was checked in q diff
fprent hand from that of MIR. Williams, VINO
usually did the work. The bill was mark
ed rs paid on the oath, and as Mr.. Grymes
had checked up on the 25th the clerk couId
moi understand it. He made n red ring
oround the entry aud went ahead.
When he had finished his delinquent
list Clerk Shelton conferred with Gas-ln-
spector w. z. Knowles, and they exam;
med the Treasurer's book TO see II the bill
had been entered Gs paid. Mr.. Knowles
belng unable TO find the bill went TO IDal-
bimer Brothers store and asked to see
their February gas bill.
IT WAS NOT CREDITED.
Three bills were shown the Inspector,
all of which were receipted by L. b.
Grymes under date of February 2ith.
Sir. Knowles returned 10 the office and
be and Mr.. Shelton then went over the
Treasurer's books from the date of the de.
livery of the bills until March "a, but
could fnd no entry OF the one which had
excited their suspicion, although the other
two were discovered.
The bill clerk knowing that Mr.. Grymes
had aided the Auditor il checking the
Jreasurer's books on the 25th for short
time, paid no attention to the bills Grymes
had checked on that date. But after dis
covering the error of Thalhimer Brothers,
be and Mr.. Knowles went over the listing;
hooj, and made list of every bill that had
been checked by Mr.. Grymes on the 2oth.
These two officials then examined the
Trnesurer's books TO see if the bills had
haen entered there. They found oil had
been paid except the above and the follow