New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-04-17
THE TOWN TREASURER GONE.
4 SHORTAGE AT THE SANE TINE IN THE
FUNDS OF SOUTH ORANGE, ~ J.
DISCOVERY OF THE METHODS OF ROBERT A. HAL
LIDAY IN oFFICE-THE AMOUNT INVOLVED
NOT YET KNOWN.

n1scoyERY OF THE METHODS OF ROBERT A. HAL
IIDAY IN oFFICE-THE AMOUNT INVOLVED
NOT YET KNOWN.
co,.h Orange y j. Is in state OF excitement
over the report that its treasurer Robert A ha''
day who has been one OF the mos' respected me"
=, town. is missing and with him some OF the
village funds The facts out at the meeting
NJ the BOARD OF Village Trustees on Monday evening"
when President Eugene V. Connect announced tha'
Mr. Halliday had disappeared ana that there was
a shortage IN his accounts Mr.. Connect SAID that'
in company with ex-Presidsnt E1ward r Church,
h. had called at Mr.. Halldays house and had
,bere been told py his wife that Mr.. Halliday had
been absent for the last weeks and that sha
d,d not know where he had gone nor when ne
would return.
The announcement fell Ike thunderbolt out OF
a clear sky on the committee. Philip II. Campoeu
was Immediately appointed treasurer pro ten' ana
the Finance Committee set 10 work 10 ascertain"
the facts in the case. The trustees showed an un'
,,lli,g,ess 20 talk on the matter last night but
the story OF Mr. Ha.ldays course was many
learned. About six months ago the ooarN oeoaHe
satisfied that there was too much money s'dhu'"s
out IN unpaid arrears OF taxes, ana MI. Campoe!
was appointed a committee OF one TO look INTO 'h'
matter He set on foot an investigation into tho
books % Mr. Halliday. and found that they "ers
kap, in a slovenly condition. but had no idea thai
,rv,blnc was wrong He asked Mr.. Halliday's help
In making out a list OF the delinquent taxpayers
who were In arrears for year or more bacA ana
Halliday made all sorts OF objections and pisce1
hindrances Of all sorts In his way. He then became
suspicious that something was wrong ana
told the board that the only safe thing
to do was TO publish in The South oranga
Bulletin" list OF the del!nquents. This they
agreed TO- but Mr.. Campbell could get no assistance
in making out the list from Halliday. Finally no
got possession of the books and making out tha
list as best he could. 1t published IN ms
on the committee from taxpayers in the vi.ase wn!
declared that they had paid their taxes ana hela
the receipts OF the treasurer for them AAtOsethet
there has been something over $1,000 OF these taxea
80 far reported. =,
Immediately the trustees took occasion 10 ms
vestigate the books OF Mr.. Halliday, and on Mon
day April l. Halliday disappeared. IL has Deeu
Der OF demand notes from different people In me
village in payment OF taxes. and some or these,
to the amount OF $o7I. We're found IN MIS- house
Another curious thing found is that he had notes
from James W. Hughes and checks on the oanA
from him which had never been cashed. some dat'
ing back ten years. Hughes was one OF MS bones
, -
Mr. Halliday Is believed 10 be In hiding and N
full communication with his wife. He Is hfty yeerf
old and has never been known to have any Dad
habits. He a respected member o; the Souts
Orange Presbyte Church. ard had been treas
urer OF the village for the last twenty-egh years,
His bondsmen the James w Hughes estate
village Is entirely secured from any loss Jusl
to what proportions the defalcaron will grow NJ
one seems TO be able 10 give guess. and Il u
possible that II may mount up into the thousandS