The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-03-21
SHORT In ACCOUNTS.
Ex-sHERfrF M'.Raw AND An OLD
TAX ROLL
County Com mf.ston<rs Claim That
During Mcsrawss Term Taxes
Were Collected but Not Turned In
The ex-sherin Says He VIII
Make the Deficiency Good-state-
ments of the Principal Parties
Concerned.

The county commissioners have for the
mast few weeks been having the several
hooks o. the county oyerhaaieo. From
tire to time ramors have been current
tgat a discovery 0t exceptional Interest
had been made, ccon1ganied ~ the as
earanee that IL would create sensation
The truth is row known. X seems that
when Gov John IL. MeGraw was sheriff
mart OF hfz duties was 20 collect unpaid
taxes During tire years 1883. 1899 and
1851 the vast transactions In real estate
brought n a great amount Of delinquency
In all sorts Of sums varying from fes up
10 hundreds o. dollars. II kept force %
several clerks busy. Sheriff Ac6raw had
charge OF the tax rolls. bat IN addition had
a record kept Of amounts paid Ia. form
Ing a SORT OF journal. from whose totals
fhe amount due the county treasurer Was
ascertalned At that time the sGSTin was
net paid salary bur n fees, ana during
those memorable years the amount derived
from the Office Vas very consideraoie. AZ
fae end OF the term Mr MeGTaw closed up
his accounts, according to the statement
he make ard gave check for the amount
sscersaiued 10 be due. Until the inyesigEa-
ton began. he nad no suspicion, ne says
that there was dollar shortage II seems
that there ~ discrepancy OF between
G. 80 and $3.50. and the condition CT the
matter i best told in the words OK ex-
Coy. McGfsw and OF Prosecuting Attor-
Iey McElroy.
Mr.. McGraw makes the following state
ment:
GOV. MeGraw's Statement.
'Durirg my four terms Of Office as sher-
ia az King county Il was part OF my
official duties 10 collect the delinquent
taxes and 70 turn the same over 10 the
county treasurer. Previous TO my last
term was able 10 give my personal atten-
lion to that particular duty. The deiin-
auent tax rolls we're delivered 20 me, but
in addition TO the record furnished by
them ] prepared and kept IN ny Office
book Of my own which l called the tax
collection register and in which each item
az delinquent taxes collected was set forth
with proper reference TO the page and line
81 the various delinquent rolls. As have
already stated. up to my last term OF ONCE
] gave my personal attention 10 the coiiec-
lion OF delinquent taxes and the entering
Of tic same in this FAX register.
My last term OF Office was during the
boom which followed the FIRE, covering a
portion OF the years isss. 1890 and until
January ~, 1891. The extraordinary sctiv-
f.y IN. real estate during these years. and
the prosperity prevailing. resulted IN the
payment OF enormous amounts OF BACK
taxes. the regular duties pertaining 70 the
once having largely increased. The added
work thns put upon my Office necessitated
the employment OF a large clerical force,
and prevented my giving personal super
vision to this important work From time
10 lime the delinquent tax collections were
segregated and the amounts paid 10 the
county treasurer.
at the expiration OF my last term en-
pioyed Mr. " W. Mott who afterwards
served the county faithfully as bookkeeper
in the sheriTs Office during considerable
portion OF Sheriff Wooiery's lncumbency.
and later was the insurance commissioner
in the office OF the secretary Of state, to
carefully check through the tax collections
made during my term Of Office. IN order
10 discover any possible errors that might
have crept into the work OF my subordi-
mates Mr. Mott was engaged 10 this work
for about three weeks. and az its conciu-
sion furnished me with statement OF the
amount OF delinquent tax collections stu
in my hands as sheriff. which ! lmmedi-
ately checked ever 10 the county treas
urar This collection register, which has
furnished the clue TO the alleged short
ages. together With Mr.. Motifs figures.
were. though personal record, left by me
an the sherin's Office. where they have re-
NAMED until this time.
when recently informed that Mr.. Doug
las Young the expert accountant. claimed
90 have found items Of taxes colleeted dur
ing ms Lass term which were not account
legged. s So I vas firmiy convinced that an
easy explanation Of the apparent deficiency
would be found. Up to this time. / be-
leved implicitly that the work Of ny depu-
ties and clerks was correct. particularly
when fortified by the examination Il had
received AZ the hands 81 Mr.. Mott. since
learning OF these charges have rot had
an opportunity TO fiHy check over Mr..
younG's work. but from a hurried and par
4iai examination ! have become convinced
that a shortage really exists. Since then
have been endeavoring to arrange for
paying 10 the county. or securing the pay
fnenf. 81 such sum as a full examination
might convince ne was actually Que.
HAD this knowledge come 10 me az any
time prior "a INC panic Of isa3 I would have
bad no difficulty in depositlus an amount
aufflcieut 90 cover any possible shortage.
eat in common with the rest % oar rIti-
xsns. have suGercd severe financial losses
ia the iaat four years. and have found h
impossible since thts matter was brought
20 my attention "a convert the property
have into a sufficient amount Of cash %
cover These Items. ] an. however makias
every ofInFt 10 accomplish thaf end ard
bore withia few DAYS To either uay into
the county treasury the Fun amount claim.
a rs he ddc o. 20 secure such payment.
wsth {ae understanding. however. that ~
unou q farther examination. e shah %
found that the amount claimed IS excess
I've. sueh excess shalt De rs.bafed 80 me.
white ! realize that I have nittsr noltti
cal enem Is. have never before been ac-
case1 % any dtshouaFahle acf ia conuec.
sion With any 81 the publie offices I have
ii,ea, and Il wopla seem 20 me A sufficient
answer 80 suy intlmatiou that T had any
personal knowicdgr o. tbese irreetaiartttes
ta state thai ther caul3 only have been als-