The morning call., 1894-12-17
HIS ACCOUNTS EXPORTED.
Fears That a Big Defalcation
May Be Found.
STREET SUPERINTENDENT AsTIR
One of His Cashiers Disappeared
Last Week and Cannot Be
Found By His Friends.

Superintendent of Streets Ackerson
would have given good deal yesterday to
know what has become of Thomas Croke.
one of his deputies. And his anxiety went
further
The genial face of the Street Supern-
tendent wore troubled aspect, fol- he was
also worrying over the condition OF Croke'
accounts and fell doubly nervous as to
what they would reveal.
CrOke left the Office in the City Hall four
or five DAYS ago, but failed 10 return to his
desk. messenger was dispatched to his
dwelling next day TO ascertain whether ne
had been taken i'll and could not attend to
duty. Nobody in the Office had the slight
est suspicion that anything was wrong, for
Croke had always been regarded as a
faithful fellow. and indeed was trusted
employee. He handled considerable
sums OF money and had never given cause
for belief that the dollars passing
through his hands went into his
cwn pocket. But when the messen-
ger returned with an answer that
Croke had not been to his home. where no
information could be given regarding bis
wherea bouts, Ackerson held a council with
Chef Deputy Welch and began to feel un-
easy.
Still, the Superlntendent's trouble was
kept secret, although a search WAS quietly
and persistently made all over town
wherever Croke was known to frequent.
The hunt was fruitless up to Saturday
night, and then AckersOn de ermlned that
a careful Investigation should be made luto
the books kept By the deputy who had
taken such unceremonious leave of his Of
fee associates. Before taking any other
steps in the premises it was necessary to
examine Croke's accounts, so that II any
irregularities should appear future action
mi4irt be decided en- in lligently.
So early yesterday morning the remark
able spec acle of force OF clerks husliy
engaged in the Street Department Office
was preseu ted al an hour when every body
is supposed to be at church or at rest.
Ali day long he clerks labored over big
volumes, files of vouchers and cash re-
turns until dark came Oh. Every little
item was scrutiniZed. The entry was
taken up and checked off from stubs of
receipt books, which showed the amount
paid for certain permits, and after that the
credit acc mt was scrutinlZed. IL was
slow work, this exporting, and meanw bile
AckersOn watched for some indication
that would either allay CT confirm his sus-
pici ems. The result was looked Tor late at
night and before then not WORD was SAID
as to what the clerks had found
A rumor had gone abroad that Croke
had DISAPPEARED and 5000 or Whereabouts
was miss ng; but this could not be traced
TO any reliable source.
The Street DeF artment men denied it,
adding that Croke was probably around
town some where and would turn up again
in day or two.
1--WE don't know how much. if any
money has been misappropriated," said L..
j. Welcb Yesterday. "CrOke has been
gone for three OF four days now, and be-
fore we can state definil ely that his ae-
counts are not straight the invesLig alton
of his books must be concluded.
$50 you know where he went?" was
asked.
mo, l don't know that. Though l don't
think he has run away with any money"
he replied.
Then you must have some idea as to
where be is at the present time?"
mo, only l heard from a deputy that
one Of his friends saw Croke at about II
O'clock Friday night on Turk street."
what do you think is the matter with
Cr0ke?"
Really, / don't know of my own knowl-
edge. Some of the boys say the suppOs-
tion is be is on spree ana will turn up
all right"
Crrke's duties consisted of issuing GER
tifcates for moving houses and making
changes on the streets, etc, for which fees
have to be paid. The receipts in this de-
partment are quite large, and, unless close
watch is kept on returns, defalcaiions
would not be missed for long time
Croke handled the money and made his
own entries, which are now receiving the
attention of Mr.. Ackerson's best book
keepers.
When seen last night the Superin tend
ent of Streets was at first inclined to be
reticent with regard to the matter of
Croke's suspected shortcomings. AS he
thought it over, however, he gradually
spoke his mind. He feels with consider
able bittern ess that Croke was trusted too
far.
'When I went into office a great MANY
influential and substantial people imDor-
tuned NE to retain Croke, who held the
same position under Mr.. Gilleran. l saw
he was an exceedingly attentive clerk and
as he had the best of backing / kept him
In my office and trusted him fully. He
worked hard all the lime, would never be
longer than half or three-Quarters of an
hour out of the Office at lunch time and
took extraordinary interest in his work.
If he has got away with much money, and
] know he took some. or at least his ac-
counts show very queer work, he was
another Melville. 1t was worked to the
Queens taste.
II got an idea that things were not just
right, and then took q look through
Croke's books last week. He left the
office at that time, but can't imagine he
skipped out yet. To-day put my best
clerks on his accounts, and enough has
been discovered to show that some body is
guilty Of irregular methods. 10 say the
least.
"Croke had charge of the permits. For
instance, you are about to build a house
and need third of the street space in
front. You apply to CToke for permit
Ha h.,
that is taken from book in which there
is stub copy of the permit After the
house is built and you get a certificate
that the street is clear and In good order
you return your permit and get your $50,
for which you sign a receipt on the back
of the permit. This document is then
pasted to the stub, and the money is en-
tered in the cashbook
81 found, as an example of crook dness
that stubs and recelpted permits were torn
out. Say No. 101 would be followed By
103 and 102 be missing. Still the $50 wa,