Los Angeles herald., 1892-04-21
THAT LOST MONEY,
Edgar Moore and the Educa
tiOn Board.
Who Lost the Money He Claims tC
Have Found I?
Some Things Taxpayers Would Like to
Know About the Matter-The statu
Quo Outlined and q Modus
Vivendi Awaited.

Considerable curiosity has been ex-
cited by the statement contained IN last
Tuesdays report of Mondays meeting
of the board of education to the effect
that the board had agreed to pay Edgar
Moore 15 per cent of any moneys he
might recover as belonging to the board.
Edgar Moore claims to be an expert ac-
countant, and several weeks ago he
announced to the board of education
that he had found a sum of money,
from $4,000 to $4,000, which justly be-
longed to the board. This he offered to
secure for the board for percentage.
The meeting before which Moore's re-
markable proposition was laid, referred
the matter to the financial committee,
and then to the committee on ways and
means.
While these committees we're sup
posed to be struggling with the mysteri-
GUS proposition, the members OF the
board individually made every attempt
to discover what the offer was based on
They naturally had conscientious
twitches over having lost 80 large sum
of money without being aware OF it.
The situation seemed to lay them liable
to charges of remarkable negligence,
unworthy OF eminent educators. Their
efforts, however, were fruitless, and not
a member today knows into what crack
OF the floor the little wad of $4,000 has
fallen. The consequence is that the
members of the board speak slightingly
of Mr.. Moore's discovery and declare
that they want to see the color of the
coin before they take any stock in the
story.
The ways and means committee did
not make a report on the subject, and
the board had lulled itself into a condi
ton of calm contentment, based on
hope that the matter would keep out of
sight. But the ghost would not down,
and last Monday night Clerk Baker
read a letter from Edgar Moore, expert
accountant, in which that gentleman
wanted to know what had become of
his offer. He said he was anxious to
turn over the money, and that the
turnover act would cost the board
nothing but a percentage OF the money
recovered.
Mr.. Moore, with becoming modesty,
did not say in black and white that he
wanted 331s per cent, or $4,000 for his
share, but that information was vouch-
safed orally by member of the board.
Mr.. Davis thought this demand was too
high even if the money were windfall,
and offered motion to give the expert
accountant 10 per cent of all he recov-
cred. The motion received no second,
and finally DR.. Hitchcock's amendment,
fixing the percentage at 15 cents on the
dollar was carried.
This is the status quo aud the modus
wi, .o Sc1x .k<I L
has informed Mr.. Moore that he will be
allowed to keep 15 per cent of all the
money he recovers. Up to last evening
no reply had been received from the ex-
pert accountant accepting the offer. If
he refuses it what will be the result?
Mr.. Moore will lose $500, unless the
board decides to raise the ante. On
the other hand, the board would lose
anywhere from $4,000 to $40 ,0O0-maybe.
At any rate there are enough stubborn
minded citizens and taxpayers who will
insist upon penetrating the mystery sur
rounding the case. They will want to
know how board of eminent educators
can make a mistake in arithmetic of
$4,000. They will also want to know a
great deal about the way in which the
lost wallet was found, and about the in
dividual who found it. These revela-
tions are expected, and no hushing pro-
cess will satisfy the anxious inquirers.
As far as the expert accountant is con-
cerned, this is not the fret discovery of
lost funds in which he figures. 1t still
rests in the memory of citizens and
property-holders, that certain Edgar
Moore some time ago found that the
county owed the taxpayers big sum
of money on account of some legal
technicality. The Taxpayers associa-
tion was formed and the members were
assessed to furnish the expert account
ant with funds to fight the claim. The
whole business ended in fizzle, and an
unfeeling individual even yesterday re-
marked, that upon investigation it had
even turned out that the taxpayers were
little shy on contributions to county
expense. In the present case, it is
matter OF great curiosity whether the
board of education is deficient in arith-
metic, or Mr.. Moore is little off on his
figures. Meanwhile Mr.. Moore jealously
guards his $12, 900 secret.
other preparations fail. IT possesses medicinal
ConstiFation and all .oubles with the diges
tive organs and the liver, are cured by Hoods
Rflla Uneuua1Iad n a dinner mill.