The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-10-25
MONEY GONE AND BOND LOST


Tax toiector James scott. Dr.. IL short
A0.474 AMI ~. +. Uonneiiy. 'i'r1 of the
Distr'ct. Has Lost Itn'k Of ScO.'s bond.
Staten Island School District No. . is in the
towns Of Middletown and Southneld. and the
village OF Edgcwatnr is in Middietown and
Starleton. and perhaps that accounts In rnrt
for the general confusion OF mind In which
James Scott. Jr. OF Stnrlcton. collector Of the
school district Of the towns of Middletown and
Southfleld. was in when he mixed UP his own
cash and tina, o, the school district until
s3.474.17 entirely disappeared. Scott is now
In the Richmond county Jail In Stnplcton.
But that is not all that is exciting Stapleton.
Michael +. Donnelly. clerk Of school district
No. = of the towns OF Middletown and South
field. and also Town Clerk OF the town OF Mid
dletown. was arrested yesterday and charged
with misdemeanor, because tho Official bond
Of Scott hns disappeared from Donnclly's gus
tody since Scott's cash became short.
An annual meeting OF the electors OF the
school district was held in the Town Hall in
Stnpleton on Aug. ,, when Scott should have
made n statement Of his finances to the dis
trict trustees. Instead OF doing so he report
cd 81, 100 uncollectcd taxes of the Sl2.OOO tax
warrants turned over to him. and said he
would fix up his books and make a report
later. Thoreupon he was reelected collector
OF the school district. beating two opponents
by 300 majority. Tho trustees soon called on
him for his books and he again put them of.
At u later meeting of tho trustees their law-
yer. John Widdecombc. made n demnnd on
Scott for an accounting. Scott then made n
showing which proved him to be short S3.;74.
allowing him $1,000 OF taxes Sworn of" as
uncollectablc. He admitted that he could not
produce tho balance. This trustees found
themselves in u curious dilemma. The tax
collector OF the school district is an elected
officer. charged with the custody rs we'll as
the collection Of the school fund. not II servant
1.-THE trustees.
III this predicaamegt The trustees considered
bY,ndsmen AZ z comnromiSc.
could not accept. but the trustees wanted the
money. Another meeting was held to con-
siderthe question. and thon the compromise
hal not been able to qualify for office for his
second term. .bondsmen being shy. and the
trustees appointed MIR. George Brand col
Brand qualified. and on Sent. % tho trustees
which he did not have. and in. that way made
Up a case seen on Which ", 4 ! they gould ,nh proceed against ga rs
new collector and became a defaultort thereby.
Then there, were some more negotiations
with the bondsmen. who were: John Scott
Michael Cahiill. a .Stanieton hotel Keeper:
Iames Scott; Sr. and Dr.. John L. Feeney. one
At that lime umars hesan lying about that
SCOTS bond for S25.OOO would not he found
when wanted. AR: Mi.it ;%e had taken .s ne
from Town Clerk Donnelly when scott was
first suspected. SO he knew the bond had re-
Gently been in existence.
Ten days ago tho. school trustees held n
meeting and called in Donnelly to ask him
Oct. is Mr. vi Widdtomb Jew went to D DanISii; and md
s saaiidd, he H,; would Sn in He u look at the the bond. Don n
clerks office. but the lawyer insisted upon an
immediate investigation, and had the office
Ipen ;edw and l, toll bonn Donne !, to show 1t the ;ob bend u
through a, desk drawer. where there were
Other bonds; but not sG0tt';. ana he finally,
On sunday scott was arrested on the charge
Of grand larceny in tho first degree: and YES
mcanor charge. under section III of the Penal
Code. Tor wilful neglect Of duty in not prop
Yesterday Scott wa nrraiened before Jus.
tice Marsh. waived examination. and was, held
fGs tHs st a: ss!5o g. ths Srp II. aoa|d n M,s f tSrn Trs
on 500 ball. His further hearing viii be- be-.
scott is less than, 80 years old. but has been
active in Richmond county politics for a num-
Seio Ia asats spo Dari.f te END 3 n"s! sear the he mas money ne1
tsa sHpp S 9 to he h hayf he fiaa' efics sR hi. "a fat 1"s r hss
too. has gone. Before he was elected tax col:
lee t no for the rs H ach29l district Scott was clerk OF
Donnelly has also been IN county politics
for some time. and has held the Office Of Tow
Clerk q number Of terms In looking through
Lawyer Widdcombe found a mortgage in an
envelope in which it had been sent to DonneI-
ness with his official papers was we'll known.
and it is supposed that some one Interested in
tho disappearance OF the S2j.OOO bond took
advantage OF that carelessness. with or with
out Donnelly's knowledge. to make way with
the bond.
There il a modern steel safe in Donnelly's
office. but the most valuable papers OF tho
town corporation were left scattered about his
desk drawers.