Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-11-20
HE is DELINQUENT.
Treasurer Ryland, Of King William, in
Arrears In His Accounts.
TOO LENuEsr IN COLLECTING.
The Oh,ccr Makes "a Frank state
mcnt. Which Ia Fully Borne OutA
burnley Taylor Forged his Name
Pupers Burned.

Mr.. Robert S. Ryland Treasurer Of
King William county. has been reported
by the Auditor OF Public Accounts
as being delinquent in the settlement of
the accounts OF his office for the year
1891. and Colonel Marye has placed A
statement Of his indebtedness In the
hands Of the Attorney-G General for coll
lection, according TO law. The Auditor
notified Mr.. RyIand some months ago
that he was delinquent and urged him
10 settle. Later, Colonel Maryes at
tentlon was brought To Mr.. Rylands
delinquency by the Board of Supervisor.
OF King William. and he then notified
Mr.. Ryland that settlement must bo
made on or before the 7th day OF No
vember. The money not being forth
coming. Colonel Marye on tho 9th in
structed the Attorney-General TO bring
suit against Mr.. Ryland and his bonds
men.
MIR. RlLAND'S EXPLANATION.
Colonel Marye positively declined 10
discuss the matter yesterday, ard
would not give the amount due the State
by King Williams Treasurer. Mr.. Ry-
land, however. was I'm the city. and when
asked last night concerning the matter.
made very frank statement. He said:
THE amount involved. or. rather. tho
sum which | am due the State will not
exceed $500 and my failure TO make n.
settlement i'm the time prescribed by law
Is due largely 10 my inability to collect
taxes from the people of my county. and
to my indulgence OF many Of them. Last
March my house was burned, with all
its contents. Including my official papers
ana books, and considerable amount OF
money. This operated to retard me in
my efforts 10 settle. a. / was and stiii
am, unable 10 ascertain positively the
exact condition OF the accounts now out
standing. | am now making a thorough
Investigation Of all my accounts. and have
already discovered many errors I'm tho
accounts against me- which were made
up by Burnley Taylor. the eN-Commis-
sioner OF the Revenue Of King William.
who IL now serving a term in the peni-
tentiary for forgery.
w'''r OR FORGED HIS NAME.
"My attention has been called by the
Auditor Of Public Accounts to a forged
jury-lst made out by Mr. Taylor TO
which my name had been illegally affixed.
and it IS highly probable that others OF u
similar nature exist ana are charged
! against me. | know Of several instances
III NillAU ldNlNf ms lrFA'Il tiftlNf- tN
Commissioner OF the Revenue and col
lected the moneys therefor and reported
them 10 the Auditor. who charged same
to me. All OF this leads me 10 believe
that my indebtedness tO the State IL nCC
so large as 1t would appear at first blush.
and, therefore, before any settlement is
made. | desire TO have an expert account
ant make n thorough Investigation OF my
office. | have nothing 10 conceal ami
am guilty Of no wr0ng-doing. | have no
intention of Letting my bOndsmen suffer
| II ! can possibly help 1t, and | have al
ready made deed. in which my WIG
Joined. conveying all Of our property.
! both real and personal, To secure taem, as
far as II Will. | am doing all | can 10
effect a settlement. and am hopeful or
II, succeeding 20 the satisfaction nPs only
Of the Auditor. but ri the supervisors or
King William and my bondsmon."
The Board Of Supervisors OF King VIII
liam met again Saturday. and inksti-
gated the Treasurer accounts. and esti-
mated his indebt dness 10 the county
TO be- about S.OCo. MIR. RylanI thinks
that this amount viii be greatly reduced.
as many errors exist I'm the charges
against him.
LOST BY HIS LENIENCY.
The Dispatch last night received tho
following telegtam from It's West Point
correspondent.
For nearly month there have been
rumors Of delinquency IN the office Of thu
King William County Treasurer. Mr.. r..
; Ryland. During the past two weeks
the rumOrs became verified, and Il IL
now settled fact that there Is a short
age In excess OF $1,000. OF this amount
nearly 5000 Is due the county OF King
William. and the balance is payable at
the Auditors office. In Richmond. Ths
shortage became known by the non-pay-
ment Of checks given county officers for
salaries, and an investigation was had.
On Saturday last. when the Board of
Supervisors held a special meeting at ths
courthouse for that purpose. Mr.. Ryland
decided all his property valued AT from
S. 100 to $500. for the benefit OF his bonds
mtn. The sureties are a. 7. Mooklar.
Brooking Chenault l.. N Kinzie. Harvey
Terry Lucius Burke. Hayiland Burke.
Mrs. &. H. LipscOmb. william Burke.
Miss a Burke. Mrs. B. W,Spencer, and
three others.
The feeling towards Mr.. Ryland seems
10 BE- only one VI pity He has not been
an extrayagant liver has not specula'ed.
and was not known to be involved In debt.
II is certain that he has lost very heavily
by his leniency with the people, he having
carried tax-blls, the total u which must
amount up in the thousands, that are
charged against him as cash, and from
which he has not realized.
The deficit Is on the past year. anf
his bondsmen for his present term or
office. he having been reelected last
spring are, OF course. not injured.