Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-12-15
DOUBTS THE EXPERTS.
Supreme Secretary Mundorf SAYS
Their Report Is All Wrong.
HOW THE SOLONS DID BUSINESS.
lTlarent Shortages Attributed to the
Bookkeeping System.
IMPORTANT PAPERS STILL MISSING

lie defendants on trial for conspiracy and
anoezzlement, yesterday took issue with
he report OF the experts on the Solon's af-
airs and declared it was wrong.
The day opened with the cross-examina-
ion OF Accountant John Vaughn. He had
I'D IN his direct examination that the de-
cit on December 81, 1890, was So.9S4 "a.
IN cross-examination he said he meant the
.ehclts had not been lost TO the organiza-
Ion, but they had been replaced.
Did the organization lose anything up
the time your examination closed?"
There was shortage of Sl,5sS. This
nay have been made up. The amounts
Uttered. 1t was the same shortage en-
Urged and reduced from time to time, but
he final shortage was 81, 343"
"Was any explanation made about the
hortaEe Of S14,OOO?"
No, sir, don't think there Was"
Were you told why and by whom the
1900 were paid in?''
No, sir. Mr. Beatty, however, told me
'me funds had been used to make up de-
Re eacies in other funds"
Nj Vaughn said he found places in some
e the books where pages had been re-
l0ved; that certain reports, warrants and
Gecks were missing; that stubs for checks
hat had been issued were missing, and that
one checks had been antedated. Some of
lie missing papers had afterward been OBJ
AIMED from Mr. Mundorf.
The Bank Account Was Short.
Louis Thumb, a bookkeeper employed BIZ
he Order of Solon from June l, 1890, until
H.camber, 1891. testified that q warrant,
81. !, for So 400. had been credited to Mr.
rodtrey's account, but neither the warrant
ar check passed through the bank. He
IS ordered to make certain entries, and
ne of them was the cancellation of this
arrant. This left s., 400 to the credit of
.dtrev. and it made the bank account
-tg0 short.
T. ". Morse testified that he had con-
ersation once with Godfrey about the al
.-sd shortage of SC, ,O56, and the latter said
had taken the money out of the funds
secure him for a claim. for back salary,
.-cH lie ewas not sure OF getting.
Judge Slagle remarked that he did not
.ow what this had to do with the case, as
records show the Sc, Oj6 was paid to
-irev for back salary.
4 portion of the report of Mundorf to the
ruary meeting of 1892 was admitted in
.leace. It was offered to show that the
ort was false and untrue, and that Mum
y Godfrey and others conspired to have
report Of Sawhill, the expert, excluded
"a the meeting and instead acted on
u3ori's report
liz. c, c. Craft identified the official
IAN OF the order which contained the
rene officers reports for tie month
-ing April p 1882, and which showed a
lance in bank OF Sl3, 700. He said: 81
IS at the session December 6, 1892. Mr.
l.rpy was handed a bundle of checks
presenting s., 34I and admitted he had
posited the amount in the Monongahela
u,IOnal Bank, 10 his own credit. The
port OF Slr. God rev of April 25 1892.
5ws, he claims, Sj9S more to his credit in the |
nix Than the books of the bank show ne |
s. Mr.. Covert, while speaking in the |
citing Of December g. held in his hand |
..- same bundle OF checks and said: "God--
sv admits having deposited this money toe
personal account" and Godfrey nodded |
head
Covert Made Clear Speech.
lIr Patterson wound up his cross-exam-
ion bv saving:
Wasn't Mr. Covert's speech a wild and
-aherent one. and didn't he wind up bv
lbitiug a bundle of shares of mining
k, and offering them for sale at Is cents
share2"
No, sir; he positively did not His
.sch was very clear and very much to the |
mt He knew just what he was talking |
U-."
ere the prosecution ended. John S. |
10 opened for the defense, and claimed |
Godfrey never was short 81 in his ac-
-a;s, but that 1t was due to his manner of |
ny business that carried the order along
had put it in the good financial condi- |
. il now enioys Mr. Robb devoted con-
.rable time explaining the various funds, |
r thev were made up and how paid out,
manner OF keeping books and the pay |
mt Of benefits and the general rules of |
order
IT, Nundorf. one of the defendants. then |
k the stand, and his examination contin- |
until the adjournment of court. Mr. |
.nl0rf has been in the order two years,
q was chairman of the Supreme Finan- |
-"s from May, 1890, until January II, |
rs when he was elected Supreme Secre- |
.r. Although suspended in September,
Nundorf still claims to be the Su- |
.ue Secretary, and testified Yesterday |
d. Le las not ceased to act in that capac- |
M Mundorf is in the lumber bGsi- |
In. NTundort said: f'I made an exami- |
on OF the books while 1 was Chairman /
ne tinanciers and found a discrepancy |
the account of the Superintendent |
etarv. Benjamin F. Beatty. We had /
funds-the relief, reserve, special and
raj. "
How the Funds Were Handled.
lie witness then described the various
Is and said Godfrey had charge of all /
the general, which was handled by |
nv. He then referred to the meeting |
Il he had reported the apparent short
but denied that he had attempted to
zeal ANYTHING. He said that warrants
Dis be paid over the counter at head
rEers and credited against the Treasurer,
Il would not appear on the bank ac-
.- until the check was deposited In
way there might be an apparent dis
..ucv between the books of the secre-
aud the bauk account
IL. Porter cross-examined the witness
over an hour His first questions
..ed ros bundle of checks which could
be found when the experts were making
their report Mr.. Mundorf said they
in the hands of Mr.. Israel, the attor-
o witness described the loan of S35, 600
q rom the special fund to the general
and gave the dates upon which each
sier was made.
When transfers were MADE were credits
to the Treasurer?
Ees, sir.
When was the last transfer made?"
On December 8, 1891. !"
low does it come, then, that on October
davs before the experts closed their |
ri. The Treasurer had credit for the