Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-11-03

- - - AelAo 80 ttosoos AOE WuiNA nc ~
posted In the cash drawer personal
slips
The bltelli0ellccr would have the
public believe that Mr.. Franzheim dis
honestly and crlminally appropriated
this money to his personal uses, al
though il says he left personal slips
for 1t in every case. The fact is that a
very large amount OF the sum named
was made up of innumerabe gas bills,
for various individuals, all
over this city, some OF
them charged against persons Of very
limited means. They would become
delinquent, and knowing that it was
Mr.. Franzheim's duty TO have the gas
shut of, after certain time, they
would appeal TO him to become RESPONSE
bic for the bills, aud out of his kindness
of heart he did it. He met this re-
sponsibility, also, carrying out his
agreement. Another Item OF this
amount Of S2,773.5S was made up OF
sum OF $500, regarding which the fol-
lowing are the facts: When the Electric
Light Commission was about to go on
its trip oi inspection, in July, 1891, Mr..
FraeZheim spoke to one or more Of the
members Of the Board about the adVis-
ability of taking some money along to
meet possible contingencies, and being
told that it would be good thing, be
purchased five drafts on New York for
500 each and took them with him,
leaving memorandum slip In the safe,
STATING THE AMOUNT OF MONEY,
and where il went. Four OF these drafts
were cashed on the trip, aud the fifth,
not being used, was returned TO the
funds OF the gas Office. Mr.. Franzheim
expected that the Board would assume
this matter of S4OO, but as it did not do
so, he paid ii himself, as he did his other
Indebtedness. The remainder OF the
item Of S., 773.5S was money used by
Mr.. Franzheim, personally, and which
he does not deny, in the same manner
that dozens of others handling large
sums in business houses use it, in every
case depositing Slips stating the amount,
and these slips were paid in full by him,
as was everything else charged against
him. II that be dishonesty, the Repuo-
licans can make the most Of it.
'rhen Ii is stated by the IllteLligencer
that the books Of the gas Office, as kept
by the secretary'-the secretary did
not keep the books, by the way
showed a certain deficiency in the tar
account OF IS, l23. so. AS to that item,
10 may be said that a check for an
amount in excess of $4,000, from the
Barrett Manufacturing Company, OF
PittSburg, came TO Mr.. Franzhelm, as
secretary Of the gas board,
IN SETTLEMENT OF THIS ACCOUNT,
was directed TO be entered on the
books in the account against the Bar
rett Company, as a credit, and was then
endorsed by Mr.. Franzheim and deDos-
tied In the Commercial Bank to the
credit of the Gas Trustees. The deposit
slip is still in the bank, where l saw it,
and the check, still showing the en-
dorSement Of Secretary Franzneim,is In
| the possession Of the Barrett Com
pany. l have seen it, also. II the
amount is still due, on the books
OF the Board, the fault is not certainly
through any dishonesty Of Mr.. Franz
helm. He paid this alleged tar short
age, however, on the demand OF the
Board, while believing that an inveSti-
CATION of the books and papers referr-
| ing to the transaction would show that
he was not properly charged with 1t,
and that it should be refunded. He
asked for an investigation in perfect
good faith, and expects that thor
ough one will be made. The other
shortages referred to in tar accounts
arose, most likely, from the method en-
ployed Of punching tar shipments by
the month, and entering them in gross
from stubs. Often there were
CLAIMS OF SHORTAGES
through water being in the barrels, one
insta nee being known where a shortage
of 122 barrels was claimed from this
reason, and an offer Of the Board was
made 10 settle it for sixty-one
barrels, which was done. An
other manner in which the shortage
might occur, would be from an over
sight in entering up the stubs on the
books, which would make the tabs kept
at the works show one amount shipped,
while the books in the Office would show
a less amount, making a discrepancy.
OF course the IRteliigencer would have
the public believe that some thousands
of dollars worth of tar was sold by MIR.
Franzheim for his own use and benefit,
but the fact is decidedly otherwise. BE
could not have done so, for a record is
kept at the works of every barrel
shipped, separate AMI apart from the
record kept at the Office"
Mr.. Franzheim paid every dollar al
legged to be due from him, upon demand,
after the account had been looked over
4hn pnnrd u,hich Is inst nhnnt what