Omaha daily bee., 1895-12-08
CITY NAY LOSE THE CASH
Hard to Fix Liability for Henry BOlln's
Defaloations,
EXTENDED THROUGH BOTH HIS TERMS
Believed Therefore that Neither Set of
Bondsmcn Can lie Made TO
Pny-Opipions of At
torncys.

When the task OF examining the books Of
ex-City Treasurer Boln was begun 1t was
positively announced that as soon as the in
vestigation was completed the bondsmen
would step UP and promptly make good every
dollar that the city had lost through Bolln
and his deputy. The delay in ascertaning
the condition of Bollns accounts as well as a
number Of other circumstances have steadily
operated to impsach this assurance and now
1t Is the general opinion. even with those
politicians and officials who have been fore
most in Boln's defense, that the city will not
get much of its money.
What invests this idea with more than an
ordinary degree Of probability is the fact
which is stated on the most reliable author
ity that the investigation will utterly fail
to show conclusively how much of the al
legged defalcatlon belongs TO Bolln's first and
how much to his second term of Office. This
was the important proposition, inasmuch as
in order to collect any part of the amount
the city would be compelled to show which
of the two bonds was liable 1t is now as
serted, and the statement is confirmed by the
chairman Of the finance committee, that the
books OF the city treasurer do not afford any
conclusive proof that certain amount was
taken from the treasury during Bolln's first
term or during the second. The showing in
dicates that the pecuations were begun
in the first term and continued with in
creased confidence during the second, but
there is absolutely nothing to show exactly
the amount for which each of the two bonds
is liable. This being the case it is the
opinion of several attorneys who have been
consulted that the city can never collect a
dollar and that the taxpayers will have to
pocket their loss.
Next Tuesday night the finance committee
VIII present partial report of the results of
the investigation This will be followed by
complste report, which will probably be
ready by the next regular meeting of the
city council As to what these reports will
show there is marked difference of opinion
among the members of the committee. Coun-
Gilman kennard believes that the report will
settle all controversy as between the bonds
men of the first and second terms He de-
clares that the legal department of the city
will be furnished with substantial basis on
which 1t can go into court and compel the
bondsmen to make good every cent OF the
defalcation.
On the other hand, Cadet Taylor chair
man Of the committee, does not pretend to
make any such claim. He says that the main
advantage of the investigation will be to dis
cover the shiftl:ss methods which have been
employed in the treasurer's office and to sug-
gest improvements which will make the re-
currence Of such condition impossible He
admits that so far the effort to satisfactorily
between the first and second terms has en-
tirely failed The books are in such a con-
dition that 1t has been almost impossible to
arrive at anything Ike a satisfactory con-
clusion and the exact date On which some of
the drafts were made on the banks can in no
way be ascertained. Mr.. Bolln has been ap-
pealed to, but he declares that he does not
know anything about it, and he is the only
man who could set the matter straight
There is another explanation Of the sudden
forgetfulness of Mr.. Bolln which is given by
city official who has been intimately asgo-
ciated with the matter from the beginning
He says that when the investigation was first
begun Boln offered his services whenever
they might be required and cheerfully gave
any explanations that were asked. Then he
made an arrangement with his bondsmen by
which his property was turned over to them
and since then his bondsmen have exerted the
most influence over him. He began to fear
that he was not entirely safe from criminal
prosecution and this fear was intensified
when Coulter was arrested. The result wao
that he suddenly found himself unable to give
any assistance to the city. Whenever he
was asked a question in regard to any trans
action he invariably declared that he did not
know and the investigators have given up
getting any satisfaction from him. AS he
holds the key which would alone unlock
the intricac!es which enter into the COM
plication between the two bonds, the reason
OF his recently acquired forgetfulness Is obvi-