New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-04-17
THE ROBBERY OF A STATE.
Continued from first page.

:
balances on October g. 1891. were State, $4,000;
school 1862 600 and railroad. $364,000. During
the three years of George r. Gray's term the
balances were State fund. $4,000, $4,000, s124,
600; school fund $4,000, s52l 900 $25sOco; rail-
road fund $3.50 600 s.33O 900. $4,000. On Novem-
Der t. 1894. the end Of the first fiscal year OF
Treasurer SWANS term. the balances were: state
fund $1Sf 900; school fund. S2lS0OO ana railroad
fund S4CS O09 During Colonel Toffey's term the
money Mr.. Corbn said. was deposited in great
many banks; during Mr.. Gray,s term in rev
banks. and about the same condition existed DUR
ing the term of Mr.. Swain.
Colonel John j. Toffey, at present Sheriff OF
Hudson County, then called as witness.
He was State Treasurer from 1850 10 1891. The
Colonel said he had never received penny as
bonus or interest for State moneys deposited In
banks and had no knowledge of any one else
ever having derived any benefit from such de-
posits. He had selected banks In burlington
County. Colonel Toffey remarked that he had
never lost cent by any deposit in the banks.
Before leaving the stand Colonel ToHey
asked permission to make an explanation reia-
tive to the manner In which his name mad oeeii
mentioned in connection with the bills incurred
by b. j. Ford. The Colonel explained that
prior to the appointment of Mr.. Ford, me- py
virtue of his Office had been Custodian or the
State House. He had been careful Of his own
expenditures. and. after Mr.. Ford's advent he
had carefully scrutinzed bills. watching the
weighing Of coal, and. on the whole, thouSht
everything was correct AS matter OF fact,
he said at about the time of Mr. Fords APP
pointment. the expenses OF the state Rouse
should nave increased, D'Cdust vi lh' i"i -"
addition to the building The annual expenses
during his term were from $4,000 to $4,000 He
thought the increase would be TO $4,000
Are YOU aware that it has been as high as
81 900 recently" asked Mr.. Corbn .
Yes sir and that is exorbitant," remarked
the Colonel as he left the witness-chair
Ex-Treasurer George X. Gray was called ana
declared that he had not received any interest
or bonus on State deposits, and did not know
OF any one who did, and the present Treas
urcr George b. Swain testified to the same
J. l.. HtIME's wRONGDOTNG.
Then Joseph L. Hume, head clerk in the
Trcasurers Office since 1888 took the witness
stand He lives in Mount Holly. He SAID that
money had been deposited in the Burlington
County banks as long as ne could reiheihoei'
He confessed to having used his influence 10
have the deposits kept there since ne ms
held office. His examination contiiiueu' !" '
stance, as follows
STAT deposits from the banks? Al did T.,
GLOW long have you been coilec'ihs '"'Se III
o State TO the committee now you ,nrst CANE
TO look after this interest on o 20 tbs effect
mai Interest was paid on deposits. AS there we're
certain persons in burlington Uoq" Won T1'I rv and
s% 81 nv We'll I'D you do It? Ayes. sir. I ap,
nroached certain people and soon as suggesi ed
;ho matter they said I was certainly entitled 10
vou got IT.? A-Ycs. sir and used it for
political purposes and certain other things o,
q Was IL understood that the money was usel
ror nolIt,rai nmrposes? Al understood that II was.
and I wish TO say right here that none OF the
state Treasurers under whom served knew any
thing whatever about my actions.
O-Ani you say YOU used all the money 80 re-
cciyoi Tor political purposes? Al dld. 49,, .
G-What IA 1t amount to? About 5000 or
5000 year ,
O-And those PARTIES knew what they were giving
you the money for? Al think most Of them did.
TIL, confession was 50 unexpected by everybody
that IT produced tremendous sensation. About
= score ~ Burlington County banking officials
were called. and sYore 10 paying Hume sums
RANGING from $3.50 70 81 coo annually some admit
ting that they knew the money went into Hume
rocket and othc~s declaring that they always
thought the state received II. The committee ad-
burned until Tuesday Of next week.
Joseph L. Hume t. sill employed in the Treas
urcrs Office but II was rumored tonight that his
resignation would be demanded at once.