The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-07-07
LENT THE 1OBN,y MONEY.
Collie ctor Smith OF South Orange $4,000
short.

snort.
Moses r. Smith OF South Orange. who has
been Town Collector for twenty-nino years.
has been found to no short in his accounts
something over $4,000. Mr.. Smith always
sent in report at the monthly meetings of the
| Township Committee but the committee passed
tho reports without looking them over All
the business of ouch meeting was conducted
In the same way No records of them wero
kent and the taxpayers never bothered their
heads about them.
Mr. Clinton T. Brush was elccte1 q commit
tcemnn last spring. Mr. Brush is n business
man. and when at the first meeting he attond-
oil Mr.. Smiths report was presented. and
Chairman Melville was about to lay
II over. Mr.. Brush was astonished.
SO were the other committeeman when he
asked that the report lie audited. Mr. Brush
said there was no doubt OF Mr. Smiths hon
esty. but no only wanted tho business OF tho
meeting carried on in u businesslike way.
Tho committeeman determined to play
Joke on Mr. Brush by appointing him a COM
mittee OF one to audit Mr.. Smiths accounts
Mr. Brush examined tho accounts and found
they had boon kept in q very bungling man.
ner. He managed to make out that the COL
lcctor's balance should have been SlIlSLOS
He asked Mr.. Smith to show his accounts for
the money. but Mr.. Smith said he could not do
It. rs he did not have the money. Mr. Brush
then went to the Newark City Bank. where the
township money was deposited to Mr.. Smiths
individual account and found that the balance
was only 81. 1914 73 "a shortage OF Sl5,322.3o.
The fact that there was something the mat
ter with Mr.. Smiths accounts leaked out. and
ut the regular committee meeting last night
nearly every taxpayer In the village turned
out. Tho meeting Is usually held In the
side room OF hotel near the rail-
road station. and two hours before, the
60nr anps Mera 9r Mar to yet nto
was oIened about tity persons got into it and
to camor for admittance.
Mr.. Brush had got II petition signed by 1877
ship to have tho meeting held in a more com:
modious apartment. but tho other members OF
the committee refused to net on It,
Of iS psrsons on tbs outside q tho building.
s sSsd sa tss WIZ ossE' sSo
ing OF their own township committee: Mr..
brush finally moved to adjourn to Empire
Ha rf The Of the h
the COMMITTEES did not want to do It.
ss %Ry S Sed o th s
were, The voices on the , outside Ans
%h"t the Which, they had elected
as for Msys {" tn The Question to
| SsSsn The sHs wss did "fi SsS
again. and ff' the De cfowd made its way
Hall, which was soon filled to overhowin2.
dsn q Hi r that s1S
had discovered that the committee had mover
at and m That Il tney lad ooHed into
them long ago they could have saved
,he Of the the fund.- md
lS Mr. Brush S /! SO said he had sent word to Mr.
Mr.. smiths bond smen. stating the situation.
but that they took o notice OF his letter
man Melville go With MIR. Smith this morning
TO the Newark City Bank and have all balances
IN smiths name transferred to the account OF
1t was also ordered that no drafts on the
township funds be paid to any , one except on a
Chairman Of the committee.
MI Brush had also discovered that there is
the e0n tewnship Of which Mr. Smith had no
'ea0t Committee % was appointed to search all
MIR. Smith has II farm Just outside of South
He was elected for term after term without
any suspicion that his accounts were not cor
He explains that he hogan lending the town;
ship funds some time ago to his personal
friends. who he believed would return tho
money to him.
Some of them. he says will pay him what
they borrowed. hut others will not. He believes |
he will be able to refund about ne-half Of the !
shortage. Mr. Smiths salary rs township |
collector was $500 u year.
The South Orange Township Committee is |
composed Of John Is. Diefenthalsr. Charles Fl.
mani Clinton + Brush. and Joseph II. Osborn. |
Clerk.