The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-05-29
SUpT. BLAKE'SC CASH SHORT.
,ts ESTATE AGREES TO MAKE
H .OOD Az DEFICIENCIES 4.

-, .vpcar 10 TIE the Result or Rudimcu'ary
Observation-Disclosures Trust Ennds
n.pt In ~. Private Bank Account ana Paid
nut when Called For~-Ciaiuss Tor
,,ancle has been discovered by the examiners
.-rlov,d by the Commissioner OF Accounts TO
s,srhaul the books Of the late William Wallace
p,ste who was in the Outdoor Poor Superin-
,sndcnt's office OF the Department OF Charities
,r tventy.seven years. SO far only 81, 900 APP
n,.rs TO no involved. As soon as President Croft
harmed Of this shortage he sent for Mr.. Blake's
brother, who is administrator Of the estate. and
tor ex-Civll Justice Alfred Stockler, his counsel.
presIdent Croft told them Of the deficit and also
,ynlnined that he did not believe that Mr.. Blake
had wilfully converted the money to his own
nae. The shortage, Mr.. Croft thought, was q ro-
,ult of the method Of keeping the accounts. Mr..
p,ake's brother said that he was willing to make
vool the deficit, whatever 1t was. from the estate,
and 81, 900 was transferred to cover what short
are had been discovered.
MI. Blake had served six years al manager OF
the linen department in A. 7. Stewards. when,
IN 1870. h. was appointed assistant TO Superin-
tondent Kellock. Upon the death Of Mr.. Kellock,
IN 1879, Mr.. Blake was appointed TO succeed
him. He was a man Of great energy and worked
lac and early at his office. 1t was his custom to
mpervise personally the distribution Of coal to
the poor. for which $4,000 was appropriated
annually, and he was on hand at z O'Clock every
morning in tho winter months, when the coal
was distributed at the piers. There were about
le5 cases a day and it required considerable
work to find out the really deserving cases. 1t was
also one Of his duties to pay the $50 q year allowed
to each blind man by the State. There was an
average Of 500 applicants q year for this money,
and nearly all of them were known personally to
d. nI,ba IJa otan hod tho a ietrihrffo ~ QE nnN
to Grand Army of the Republic pensioners, and
Of more than $4,000 yearly set aside by tho
courts. 1t was as the trustee for the payment Of
alimony to wives separated from their husbands
and to mothers of children who were likely to
become public charges that he handled tho
greatest amounts Of money. These cases wero
left to him absolutely for disposition for years.
Whether Mr.. Blake followed the custom Of
his predecessor In these cases Is not known, but
President Croft said yesterday that It was
probable that the system under which he ran
the office was established when these cases were
few compared with the great number which do
yeloped with the growth of the city. Mr.. Blake
deposited in his own name money received In set
Element OF these cases. 1t was impossible to regu-
late the system of paying the money, as in some
cases the person who was obliged to pay would
deposit a sum adequate to cover the amounts
every week, while there were other cases where
a a p FINE and the then fail Behind. But on the whole ,Ss
more money was received than was paid out
Mr.. Blake w8s exceedingly Careless in money
% ofies. found A% aftsT his ans d RsaiS1n was 'a q box IN Wh ieS
contained 81, 400 in bills and some stock certid.
Gates OF the Amityville Water Works.
President Croft said yesterday that the en-
aminers Of the Commissioners of Accounts
woull not conclude their Investigation for at
least three weeks. The deficit OF 81 200 discov-
cred up TO date was brought out through per
sons calling at the Office for money due them.
In one case it was $500, and in the others $500
and 800 respectively; uou.n. .,.. NJ, p,,..
had any idea OF taking this money" said Mr..
Croft; 1T was just carelessness. in my opinion.
II IN i thee' East 'nf Rir renaS pa ,nl.u'' along 70 WITH nl%
and a half that I have been in office he had
impossisls to straighten out his accounts He
furnished the Office with money from his prl-
vate account while he was away. and there
the department.. He was simply the victim Of q
system which might have been all right when
he began as superintendent years ago. but
which grew too large for him to handle. He
realized this last year. and had his account in
the bank changed SO that 1t was in his name as
superintendent. Accounts that should have
been kept. in regular ledger fashion he had
In his own books.
"The Commissioners of Accounts began to
and we're. unfortunately, Unable to reach M.
Blake's accounts before his death, else he might
have explained everything. His accounts got
leaving moneys unclaimed. and also from the
reconciliation Of husbands and wives who had
been separated, that he found the task of keep
itself into a system OF receiving money, putting
1t all into one account, and paying 1t out as It
was called for. We have changed the system
now, and will have full supervision Of the books
hereafter"