The morning call., 1894-05-12
AFTER MANY OTHERS FAILED
The Deficiency Occurred in
O'Brien'S Term.
ALMOST 10000 WAS STOLEN.
The Finance Committee Will Collect
the Amount of Ex-Tax Collector
O'Brien'S Deficit.

A serious charge has been made against
the administration of ex-TaX Collector
Thomas O'Brien. who occupied the Office
up to the end Of 1892.
A shortage of almost $4,000 has been
discovered during bis term. This was de-
veloped for the first time yesterday. The
money was actually stolen from the city
by some Of those in the confidence of Mr.
OBrieD. for only those who handled
money could have stolen it from the Office
That there was more than one in the theft
or public robbery is evident from the con-
dition of the books.
OF course Mr.. O'Brien will be called
upon to make up the deficiency discovered.
but the guilty ones who plundered the
public funds and brought discredt on
honest Tom O'BreD, as he was always
called. need not rest in fanced security.
All the facts of the case. the detection
of the error, the search and location of the
robberies, the men who handled the money
and the books in the Tax Colec or's Office
will all be investigated by the Grand Jury.
and as suspicion rests on several men who
were in O'Brien's office they will likely
be soon called.
The manner in which the shortage was
discovered makes history. When Block
took Office, in January, 1893, he collected
the last half of the fiscal years taxes for
1928. Half of the collections tell in
O'Brlen's administration. When settle
ment was made up with the treasury
Auditor Broderick discovered a shortage
of $4,000.
The figures showed that $4,000 less had
been turned into the treasury by the Tax
Collector than should have been.
The grave question arose as to which ad-
min istratiOn the shortage should be cred
tied.
At first 1t was supposed that the alleged
shortage was merely clerical error, and
that when the figures were gone over 1t
would be easy to correct the mistake and
show that the shortage was only apparent.
Tax Collector Block did not share in this
deluson, but said that comprehensive
examination of tue hooks should be made
AT his own expense he had his books ex-
perted, which operation occupied over
three months, for the task was a vast one.
All the tags, cashbooks and ayments were
thoroughly gone over. This satisfied Mr.
Block that the shortage was not in his
term.
The Finance Committee of the Board Of
Supervisors, whose attention had been
drawn to the shortage. agreed to look into
the matter. Experts were employed, but
x.
was in OBrien's Office, failed 10 trace the
shortage or error.
After spending about $1,000 in a vain
search the Finance Committee appointed
John Pettee as an expert. When this
weli-known master of figures and lightning
calculator set TO work some very strange
things happened in the Tax Collectors 5
Office.
Pettee had not been to work three DAYS
W hen two of the important cashbooks
we're stolen. This necessitated change
of his method of examination. Then he
found that the tags were in ineXtrica BILE
confusion. Finally he set to work by com-
pairing these tags with the large volumes
OF the assessment roll. He had not pro-
ceeued far when three OF these immense
volumes we're stolen from the Tax Coi-
lector's Office.
1t was evident from these mysterious
rObberies of public records that some cul-
prlt was getting alarmed and wanted to
cover uD evidence of guilt.
Fortunately for Pettee, the Auditor had
duplicates OF the assessment rolls and
these were locked up in a steel vault, so
that they could not be tampered with.
And Pettee continued at his work, Just
finishing his herculean task yesterday.
What was thought might turn out to be
a mere clerical error, Expert Pettea has
located as positive and real deficiency.
II
mlttee of the Board of Supervisors late
yesterday afternoon. Expert Pettee says
During the progress Of this investigation
three of the duplicate assessment books were
taken from thelf places, and have seen them
no more, VIZ, y0uinessNOS. % aud 40 OF the
real-estaie roll, and volume NO. IL OF the per-
sOna property roll, although this did not pre-.
vent the success of this investigation yet, tak n
in connection with the result as made known
in this report it indicated the existence
OF a conspiracy iH the Tax Collectors office
during the term Of Thomas O'Bren to defIaud
the government.
Ii was not known at the time the books dis
appeaI ed whether the corresponding original
volumes Ia the Auditors custody could be
made available In continuing the investiga-
tion, but the precauton was taken 10 have
them placed in the Auditors steel vaults wnen
The theft was discovered An examination of
such original books showed that the payment
marks (stamped) indicating collections oy Mr.
" BTten thus (paid) ceased before his term Of
Office expired. aud the payment marks for Mr.
Blocks collections (paid) an Inversion OF The
O'Bren stamp were stamped for the interven-
ing time TO the commencement OF Mr.. Blocks
administration as well as for all collections
made by hr. Block.
Tie obstacle was overcome In this manner:
The name OF Mr.. Block was placed across all
collections acknowledged by him and l was
furnished with UBrlen tags for nearly all other
items. For few collections taxpayers were
personally interviewed and the desired inf0r-
nation obtained.
The following, said to have been paid during
Mr. OBrlen's term. marked by the Block
stamp. find no tags or other information in
regard thereto:
Schooner Fourth of uy.....................$4 81 90
Ah Kow. .......................... 81
Quong Lang Lung ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 56
Total. 81 0s
Owing 10 the multitude OF figures required In
this examination (some hundreds of thOusands)
/ deemed IL necessary 10 prove each assessment
In such a manner as would prevent any error
OF consequence. The method adopted was
found 10 be very effective. Not only did IL
serve TO correct the figures OF this investigation,