The evening world., 1894-03-16
$500,O00
IS MISSING.
Committee Estimate that Nc.
Kane and HenChmen Are
that Amount Short.
TRACING 100000 OF BONDS.
E1-Czar's Friends Promised to
Explain, but Have Been
Unable to Do So.
OTHER OFFICIALS INVOLVED.
Exposure for McKane Means that
They Also Will Be Held
Accountable.
OTHER OFFICIALS INVOLVED.

Gravesend accounts to-day roughly es-
tmated officially that between John Y.
Mckane and his henchmen the tax
payers have been cheated out OF over
100000 at the lowest figure.
How much Of this amount went di-
rectly into the pockets Of McKane Is
not known, but 1t is believed that he
received most of the money.
The most valuable information given
to the Committee is coming from persons
who heretofore were regarded as Nc
Kane's closest friends.
From such a source the committee re-
ceived new information to-day which
was at once placed in the hands Of
their counsel, George F. Elliott. The
facts furnished the committee relate to
McKanes private excise fund.
Mckare established new office in
1885,. known as Inspector Of Licenses"
and appointed one of his policemen.
James II. Cropsey, now an indicted
election Inspector, to fill the position.
1t was Cropsey's duty in Summer to
collect the licenses from hacks at Coney
Island and also 800 apiece from the con-
Ger: halls.
The committee have learned that there
are twelve concert halls taxed 500 each
and about seventy-five hacks, which
they understand McKane taxed at IS
each. This would give an annual rev.
enue of sl.575 at the lowest figure.
The books Of the town show that since
from concert hall and hack licenses,
This amount. the committee believe,
should be at least $1,000 for the eight
years.
feet that the concert hail and hack
owners were not taxed regularly, but
at the sweet will OF McKane.
When the Chief desired money. 1t is
said, he sent Cropsy out to collect de
linquent licenses" and was instructed
| to take anything he could get. AS a re-
suit some OF the hackmen paid their
license fees four or five times during a
season.
Sometimes McKane, for appearance
| sake. the Committee say. turned over
amounts of money to tns TOWN Treas
ito pay town bills" In 1892. for in.
stance, McKane turned over 1879, and
| Immediately after drew out $3.50.
These queer ransactions are being
thoroughly Investigated by the Commit.
tee, and will. 1t is said. play no small
part in the big exposure which which y prom, ron
sion is appointed:
The first official announcement regard
Ing the bonds which Mckane has not
accounted for was made. to-day by
Charles G. Overton, one OF the Graves
end Board of Audit.
There is no use trylng to oSsrfen Soneeal
for. and something must be done II
James McKane does not keep his prom.
ise to give us report Thursday; he
placed before the Board meeting yes
| terday, but at the last moment we re-
ceived a telephone message begging foi
few days longer in which to get mat
"The missing bonds amount to 100000
Some of the money. raised on these
bonds l know has s been ,,t spent lsgiti; sgniy
Young McKane and 0Rourke were
trying to trace the bonds sold by Nc
| Kane. They visited banks In New York
and Brooklyn for that purpose yester'
II understood that in the report they
are fixing up they want to s9 show So tina,
town improvements, That may be taker
for what It Is worth.
The persons or persons responsible
| with McKane for the return OF these
bonds or their equivalent Will be held ac'
countable for them.
"McKane was given bonds and he did
as, he pleased with the money from thei'
The Board of Audit was forced to. ac
cept his report--such as 1t was-withou
question or investigation.
'In many instances the bonds were
Issued one month for n certain improve
ment and again duplicated.
"The report OF the Investigating Com
mittee upon this subject. will he o
great In terest to the public, and th'
endeavors of some people to withhold
the truth will be of little or no avail.
II know positively that the none,
raised on these bonds was spent lille
Rally by McKane."
MIR. Overton was then asked to sa!
something about the methods OF th
Police justices In fining men and fail
ing to turn the fines over to the Count!
Treasurer.
II know positively that any numbe
of fines are collected by the police jus
tices, and was surprised TO learn tina
no money had been turned over to tn
County Treasurer
II Inquired into the matter and learnft
that under the law the justices had th'
right TO purchase stationary with IN
moneys collected by fines. Evidsntl!
they have used about 100000 worth o
sNobody knows the amounts of tn,
nnes collected by the Justices because
they kept the disposition OF each prisone
In their private d0cket
.This record would be Interesting. bu
III understand that the Police Justices
4 n. = T.