The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-10-27
HIS GUILT ADMITTED AT A MEET
ING OF THE STATE BOARD OF
DIRECTORS.
PATIENTS FUNDS WITHHELD.
LARGE SUNS ENTRUSTED TO HIS
KEEPING HAVE NOT BEEN
ACCOUNTED For.

OSl& A-iS--
Six weeks ago the rumors of a shortage |
were given circulation. Director Steffans, |
who Is a member Of the finance committee, |
noticed while looking over the books that |
some entries were carelessly made. This |
led him 10 believe that all was not right, |
and so the board decided to hire an expert |
accountant to examine the books.
Governor Budd and Attorney-General |
Fitzgerald were apprised of the condition |
Of affairs and approved of the action of the |
directors in making a searching investiga- |
ton. At the last regular meeting of the |
directors Major Orr was asked TO account |
for the money received by him from pa
tients. He admitted then that he was |
short in his accounts. but said he could |
not tell to what extent.
Since then the major has been sick. He
promised to aid Expert Houskin in trac-
ing the various sums that had come into
his possession, and was 10 have been on
hand yesterday for this purpose. He was
reported to be too Ill, however, 10 appear,
ana was not present at any OF the sessions
OF the board.
1t now appears that Major Orr is unable
TO produce a large sum of money, most of
which belongs to insane patients, which
was intrusted to his care by the board. 1t
is the aggregate of many sums which have
been given into his keeping during the last
thirteen years and no account of it has
ever been rendered by him.
When Major Orr first assumed the duties
of the Office some thirteen years ago the
fund amounted to $500. This sum had
been taken from patients when they were
tod 70 Inn bn
thus received have always been turned
over by the secretary to Treasurer Orr,
whose receipts have been taken for the
sums paid him.
The moneys have then been deposited in
his name in local banks. As the fund was
supposed to have assumed quite large pro-
portions, 1t was suggested recently that
the money might be devoted to the i'm
provement of the asylum. This led to an
inquiry as to where all the money was.
When the directors had looked into the
matter they called Governor Budd into
their councils and apprised him of the
situation.
He at once employed George Housken to
expert the books of the institution for the
purpose OF learning just how much money
had been taken from patients.
a secret meeting, at which the Governor
was present. 1t was found that Major Orr
had filed only one bond in all his long
term Of Office, and that was thirteen years
ago when he was first elected treasurer of
the Asylum Board.
Those who qualified on his bond were
". H. Hewlett, T. W. Newell, l. s. Bost-
wick and Frank Stewart, of whom the last
named is now deceased.
The directors held long secret meeting
this morning. James A. Louttit, the attor-
ney for the board, was summoned and was
closeted with the members for over an
hour. There was an air of unrest about
the officials.
Finally Supervisor Lorenz was dis
patched to town in DR.. Clark's buggy and
presently returned with James Il. Hough,
cashier Of the First National Bank OF this
city. Mr.. Hough was taken upstairs to
the room in which the directors were hold
ing their executive session and some time
later emerged with a commission in his
pocket as treasurer of the board of di-
rectors of the State asylum.
Major Orr had been deposed from the
Office, as be held it subject to the pleasure
OF the board.
The First National is the bank of deposit
for the asylum funds and so Cashier
Hough was selected as treasurer to look
out for moneys belonging to the State in
stitution. 1t was thought best to depose
Major Orr and elect a new treasurer, in
order that the latter might demand of Orr
the amount due from him for money
taken from patients.
At the afternoon session the report of
George Housken was presented. 1t recited
among things that ne had discovered in
the minute-book treasures and changes of
figures; that DISCREPANCIES in copying
reports therein and bill sheets and audit
ing com mittee's reports have been altered
and amounts increased or raised. Some
warrants have been raised from the Con-
troller of State, deposited in bank, their
value drawn out and no record made in
the cash or minute book"
The experts report takes the balances
for July l, 1892, and starts from that date
1t shows the receipts since then to have
been S765,37S IA and the disbursements
S772, 093 81, so that there should have been
q balance in bank of 1924 81, instead of
which there was actually in bank 1888 90.
This leaves a shortage in the regular
funds of $3.50 50. The great deficit, how
ever, is in the fund made by moneys paid
in by patients.
Treasurer W. B. Austin, Orr's prede-
cessor. paid over TO him for account of this
fund $685. IL. Since then there has been
collected of patients and paid to Major
Orr S5S63 y, which would make total of
$40, 459 So. This amount has been lessened
by the transfer to the contingent fund OF
$3.50 OF, and by 1867 As which Treasurer
Orr paid over to the estates of deceased
patients.
Thus the actual shortage in this fund is
$S301 81, and this with the deficit of
$3.50 50 on the regular funds already men
toned makes Major Orr's defalcation
amount 10 $40 1872 SO.
In October. 1893, Major Orr received
warrant for 500 81, according to Expert
Housken, which is not accounted for, and
on June 10, 1895, one for 1915 81, OF which
no entry appears. These sums are included
In the $3.50 95 mentioned above
The directors said this afternoon that