Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-03-28
SENT FOR MORRISON.
OFFICER ToMLlNsoN GOES TO WASH
INGToN AFTER THE DEPUTY CLERK.
How Auditor Maryo's suspicions Were
Aroused-what Investigation Re-
veaied-Not Yet Arrested.

veaisd-Not Yet Arrested.
Mr.. David II. Morrison, late deputy clerk
of Scott county. Is mnn of sthetic etaste
and sentiment.
Through the early mail yesterday Colonel
Morton Marye and two OF the clerks in
the Auditors Office received from him
quito handsome Easter cards. In one
corner of the tokens Is q silver bell en-
bossed IN spray of flowers. and below this
in gilt letters the legend. "A Happy Easter
to You and Yours.r
In the mean time Colonel Marye, not to
be outdone in the matter of courtesy, had
sent Mr.. Morrison q very pressing INVITA-
ton to come to Richmond. This invitation
was dispatched to Washington by special
messenger Police Sergeant Alexander
Tomlinson, and consists of q requisition
from Governor Mckinney upon the wash
ington authorities for said Morrison,
The fact that Mr.. Morrison would be re-
quested to visit Richmond if he could be
special from Bristol yesterday morning:
That telegram stated that Morrison had
been indulging in various irregularities
and the story of these Irregularities Is about
as follows:
HOW HE PROCEEDED.
Morrison was deputy clerk Of the Scott
County Court. and was IN the habit of col
lecting from the Auditor all the fees and
allowances made by the Court to witnesses.
jailer, Commonwealth attorney, Jurors,
&c. He appears TO have acted both
in Che capacity of an accommodating
agent and broker. As deputy clerk he had
charge of all these accounts. In his official
capacity he would send his certified list OF
claims allowed by the court TO the Audi
tor. AID in his same capacity he would is-
sue to the witnesses and jurors their certl'
ficstes. Then, it appears, he would BUY up
these claims OF offer TO act as collector.
After getting them into his possession he
would send them to the Auditor. who would
compare them with the certified list
which had been previously transmitted 20
him, and finding that they tailed would
order payment. This was perfectly regular
as far as the Auditors Office was concerned.
The list and the certificates were according
to law. both being certified by Morrison,
in whose handwriting every transaction
with Scott county in Colonel Mary's ofhce
appears.
SUSPICION AROUSED.
Several weeks ago, however. Morrison
sent through one of the banks here batch
of these claims for collection, which ex-
cited the Auditors suspicious. Upon q
comparison of the dates OF the certified
list and the time at which the services spe-
cited in the claims we're alleged to have
been performed. he concluded that some
thing was wrong and decided upon an in
vestigation. He called in Colonel w. b.
Robins and together they went over the
certificates and made careful memoran-
hum Of some fifty suspicious items. Colo
mel Robins, upon the Auditors IN
structions, went TO Scott county and
made an examination of the books
of both the Circuit and County courts
that moro than confirmed the suspicious
of tho Auditor and himself. On the order
book of the Circuit Court there was IN
several cases no corresponding order 10
the certificate sent the Auditor. The ex-
animation of tho order-book of the County
Court developed that it had been inter-
lined with many allowances, and these IN
terlineations the clerk of the court, who
went over the book with Colonel Robins,
informed the latter had been made since
the order-book had been signed by the
Judge.
AMOUNTS RAISED.
The examination further developed that
amounts Of allowances had been raised at
ter the signing of the order-book by the
Court, and that witnesses had been alleged
to have been brought from great distances
outside of the State, when, in point OF fact
no such persons were known to exist. In one
instance a batch of witnesses were manu-
factured in case where there was nc
trial.
Strange to say. none OF these Irregular
ties had been discovered by the clerk o.
the court before Colonel Robins's arrival
The clerk read the record to Colone
Robins, who held his suspicious list IN IN;
hand and would frequently break out II
calculations of astonishment, saying TINS
or that "is wrong, no such allowance wa'
ever made by the court" Further irregu-
larities were discovered that were not OF
the Colonels memorandum. Morrison u
a nephew of the Judge of the Circuit
Court and had the confidence OF the oih
GERS of both courts and the entire commu
nifty. He divided the work with the clerh
of the County Court. and it was his espe
cial business TO attend TO the claims o.
witnesses. Jurors, &C., and issue the Ger
tificates. The work in the court has for
long time been very heavy.
WARRANT FOR FORGERY.
As soon as the results of Colonel Robins
investigation were communicated to Au
ditor Marve the latter swore out warrant
for Morrison's arrest, charging him wltt
forgery. and yesterday Governor Mckn
ney issued requisition upon the authorl
ties of Washington city for the ex-Deputl
Clerk. The Chief of Police of Washing
ton was telegraphed to arrest and holt
Morrison, and Sergeant Tomlinson, arme(
with the requisition, left for the capita
city on the ii O'Clock train on the Rich
mond, Fredericksburg and Potomac rail-
road.
WANTS THE EVIDENCE.
The Auditor, of course, held the suspi
cious certificates, witness tickets, &c.
and in the last few days has received seve
raj kilograms from Morrison ,importunina
him to return them. Yesterday he also re
ceived letter to the same effect iron
Scott, which closed with wishing the Au
ditor and his family happy Easter.
THE COURT SIGNED IT.
Some of those who are cognizant OF th'
facts in the case have advanced the opln
ion that it will raise an interesting iaV
point as far "a the question OF forgery Oh
| the order book Of the County COURTS con
cerned. a. every entry is in the hand-wri
ting of Morrison and the book Ii dulI
signed by the Court.
Colonel Maryes first suspicious wer'
| that Morrison was taking advantage OF TN
| ignorance of witnesses, but this suspicion
| finally broadened to Others. One OF tn
| tickets or claims sent in was of date as Ia
back as 1886, and naturally suggested q
| the Auditors mind whether the people on
| in Scott county were so well oil that the.
| could wait all that time for their money;
1t is understood that the bond OF tn
| clerk of Scott county is perfectly good
and Colonel Robins is satisfied that Nor
rison's crookedness was revelation U
him. Indeed, the results of Colone
| Robins visit to Scott took the whole com
| munity by surprise.
| AS before stated the certified lists OF IN
claims allowed by the court are sent on Z
| the Auditor before the certificates and wit
ness-tickets are forwarded, and q careful
comparison of these is made. Morrison
it seems, prepared his list so as to make
agree with the claims that were coming
and therefore if Colonel Marye's suspicion
had not been aroused by something un
usual in the claims it would have been IN
merest accident if he hsd been detected
| MORRISON NOT YET ARRESTED.
| A special telegram to the DIsPAIcH fror
Washington last night says: Police-Sef
| -.~o,t fror,I;rann nf Richmond. QrrlVel