Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-03-08
MUCH SCANDAL IN IT.
ne American Church Missionary
Society Shortage.
STATEMENT rRox GEN. swArxE.
An Explanation Of the Situation
frsm the Chairman OF the Finance
Connittee = Systematic Robbery
from the Treasury.

NEW tOfth, MaIcn 5.-oeuefai Wa6HSr
Swayne. president OF the American Pro-
testant EpIscopaD Church Missionary 80
ciety. maee the following Official state
ment this afternoon concerning the dis
pensing by that society with the services
Of Henry A. Oakley as treasurer and the
treasurer and secretary:
II was present at the meeting Of the
Executive Committee. March S. 1895. and
voted In favor OF the resolution ter
minating the relations Of the treasurer.
Mr.. Oakley. and of the general secretary,
Mr.. Newbo with the society. The action
Of the committee was unanimous. With
quite full knowledge Of the facts. I deem
II TO have been. as to each OF the per-
sons referred to, just and mild and ne
cessary.
"The ground Of the committees action
was. as to each OF them, a separate ac-
countability for moneys with which the
other was not involved. Action was taken
only after repeated and solicitous con-
ference with each Of them. extending over
considerable period, and with every op-
portunity and invitation 10 each OF them
to relieve himself and the committee from
the sorrowful conclusion to which the
committee must otherwise be driven by
the facts.
AFTER the report Of the subcommittee
on Finance had been read. written at
tempt at exculpation on the part OF Mr..
Newbold was also read TO the committee.
and the fact was disclosed that Mr.. OAK
ley had already made a partial restitu-
ton Enough remained as 10 each OF them
10 make the action taken. in the judgment
of those present. unavoidable"
FULL OF SCANDAL
NEW YORK, March THE alleged de-
fciences in the accounts Of the American
Church. Missionary Society, which have
resulted SC far In the secretary OF the
body, Rev. ". A. Newbold, severing his
connection with It. promise to be brim-
full Of scandal. The deficit amounts to
some $4,000, and the chairman OF the
Finance Committee. George c. White
made a statement this evening In the mat
ter. When be had concluded II he declined
10 say whether or not proceedings would
be instituted against the alleged ohsnder.
Mr.. White said: I'm comparatively a
new member OF the Executive Board. and
In January last. at the meeting, l was
put In az chairman OF the Finance Com
mittee. Immediately upon looking INTO
my duties I found that the books called
for a large cash balance In the hands or
trust company. was informed py
the treasurer OF the society, II. "A. oak-
lev. that there was an error In the ac-
counts. as he had no such money In hand.
I was afterwards informed that the gene
raj secretary knew that there was dis
crepancy In the accounts some months
prior. but did not inform the board at
the January meeting
EXPERT ON THE BOOKS.
"The treasurer was at once called on
by me to produce his DOCKS OF account
and his own. and then show where the
difference existed. Also. In looking over
the books. discovered some matters that
seemed to be irregular, and Immediately
nut an expert on the books. l brought
him to the Office and introduced him TO
Mr. w. A. Newbold. who was the general
secretary. and directed him TO produce all
the books. vouchers, and papers he might
ask for There appeared to be several
items In regard to Mr.. Newbold's accounts
that required inspection. At the end OF
few days Nr. Newbold. hnd'ng the
temperature OF the office getting too
warm, announced that he had severed MS
connection with the society.
The result OF the experts investiga-
ton showed that Mr.. Newbold has over
dawn from the society the sum OF ABOUT
sl2 600 over and above what Is due MIN
for salary, and furthermore, that moneys
received from interest and other sources
10 the amount OF about 5000 he has failed
to credit on the books. and the cheeks
for the same were not deposited In the
society's bank account.
NEwBOLD CONFESSES.
"Mr. Newbold has confessed to four
different members Of the society these
defaIcations, and We also have letter
written by him confessing his crime ana
pleading on the score OF past service Tor
ieniency, and claiming that he was
obliged to take this money 10 support
a large and expensive family. Mr.. New
hold lives I'm a fine place at Montclair,
N. j., which he states TO the press ne
estimates to be worth $500. and aso
keeps horses, a COW. and carriage.
"Mr. Newbold's statement that ne was
allowed 1900 for travelling expenses IL
incorrect. as all his travelling expenses
were properly charged In the expense ac-
count. The house Is mortgaged for ABOUT
81 .cJO. and he has expressed his Wiling
ness to deed whatever equity Is In IL 10
the society. He has been secretary Ior
twenty.six years. and has always been
most implicitly trusted by the officers ana
members Of the board. The expert ac-
countant has ascertained that for GER
tainty in the past ten years-and now
much longer we do not know-he mas
bsen systematically robbing the sacred
treasury OF the society"
MIR. KINSOLvING.
Mr.. White would not say who the MEM
hers OF the society were to whom New
bold IL alleged to have confessed, nor
would he produce the letter which he said
had been received from Newbold. Rev.
A. B. Kinsolving, of Brooklyn. who mas
been appointed secretary pro tem.' listened
while Mr. White made his statement ana
a, its conclusion he said: please put
down Rev. A. B. Kinsolving. who has
been APPOINTED secretary pro tem.. as be-
Iieying the above statement absolutely.
Treasurer Oakley was present at Pri-
vate meeting Of the board this afternoon.