Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-05-20
STOLE FROM TAXPAYERS.

STOLE FROM TAXPAYERS.
Treasurer John b. McFadden Confessed
Embezzler.
John B. McFadden, who has been
treasurer of Chester county for nearly
16 wears, is a defaulter. The fact be-
came public last Friday, and Mr.. Nc
Fadden's friends and acquaintance
everywhere are shocked beyond ex-
preston.
For sometime past there had been
half suppressed grumbling on the part
of different taxpayers to the effect that
they believed that they had paid the
treasurer more money for taxes than
their return to the auditor had war
rantcd. Others felt the same way, and
instead of meeting with disapproval,
this grumbling frequently fell on the
ears of others who thought the same
way. As yet, however, there was no
charge of wrongdoing. Everybody be-
lieved the treasurer to be a model Of
upright, square dealing; and but few
thought of such thing as charging
him with an intentional wrong. Just
where the trouble was there seemed to
be but little suspicion.
Along in January last, taxpayer,
whose name has not been made pub
lie, called upon the auditor and COM
pared the tax receipt that had been is.
sued to him by the treasurer with the
amount charged against him on the
books of the auditor. There was a
slight discrepancy. The taxpayer had
been charged more than he should
have been required TO pay. Forth
with he went 10 the treasurer. That
official listened to his explanation, ad-
mitted that a mistake had been made
and promptly refunded the overcharge
out of his pocket. The circumstance
was made known to others. One after
another they compared their tax re-
ceipts with the amounts assessed
against them by the auditor, and in
most cases it was found that they had
been required TO pay the treasurer too
much. Further investigation showed
that Treasurer McFadden's stubs
agreed with the books of the auditor
perfectly; but that, in many cases the
receipts attached to the stubs had been
written for larger amounts. The whole
thing was plain. The treasurer had
been Systematically defrauding the in
dividual taxpayers, and when his crime
was brought home to him he broke
down and confessed. 1t was all on
account speculation in cotton futures
and had been going on for perhaps
four or five years.
That the people of Chester were
shocked expresses it but mildly. He
was always the very first treasurer to
make his annual settlement. Mr..
McFadden was one of the most trust
ed men in the State. He was also
treasurer for Bethel presbytery. Po-
litically, he was without rival in the
county. Everybody was agreed that
he was the right man in the right place,
and it was generally given up that
he could hold his Office as long as he
wanted. His friends were legion and
they were slow to realize the truth.
They could only be convinced by the
unfortunate mans confession, and
even then they were not able to bring
themselves to feeling of resentment.
All felt, and so far as is known, still
feel, sympathy and compassion.
A large number of people from var'
Gus parts Of the county went to Ches-
ter on Friday and Saturday to COM
pare their tax receipts with the books
of the auditor. Many new cases of
peculation were developed. But,
overcome with remorse and shame,
Treasurer McFadden had gone to his
home almost a wreck, both physically
and mentally. He was not disturbed
by the law until Saturday, when he
was arrested on a warrant sworn out
by State Detective Newbold. DR.. S.
NJ. Davega signed certificate to the
effect that it would be dangerous to
his life to take him to Jail, and he was
to remain at home under
guard until Sunday morning, when
friends signed u bond in the sum Of
81, 900 for his appearance at the June
term of the court. In the meantime,
Solicitor Henry notified the comptrol-
ler general and asked that somebody
be sent to take charge of the office.
The comptroller general visited
Chester and placed J. l.. McLarn on in
charge of the treaurer's office.
The amounts of Treasurer McFad-
den's embezzlement range in sums
of from 25 cents up to $3S. No
larger amount has been found. So far
as is known, the county and State
accounts are correct, and lawyers en-
tertain different opinions as to wheth-
er or not the defaulting treasurer's
bondsmen are responsible to the indi.
viduals who have been defrauded.
Some of the lawyers say yes, and
others say no. AS to how it will go
with the treasurer depends upon which
one of a half dozen or more charges
he may be prosecuted under.
Citadel Cadets Won.
The Citadel cadets won the first
prize of 5000 in the cadet drill at Sa-
vannah, Ga, last week. 1t was the
original intention of the managers of
the drill to have only one prize Of
81 900. There were but two compet-
ing cadet battalions, and one of them