The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-09-15
CHURCH TRUSTEE IN TROUBLE.
CHARGED WITH LARCENY AFTER
TRUST OF ABOUT $4,000.

Called Upon for His Resignation and
scttIement-As the Money Was
Not Promptly Forthcoming a War
rant Was Issued-BOnd for So, 800
Given-WiII BE a Meeting of the
Church Officers To-day and the
Matter VIII Probably Be Settled.
The treasurer of some special funds of
Savannah church has been put to consid-
cradle trouble this week in an endeavor to
explain an alleged misuse Of a considerable
portion of the moneys entrusted to his care
and to make up a large deficit which vas
charged against him by the church Off
clals, who have been quietly investigating
the finances for some days past.
The funds referred to had been growing
from special contributions for many
months past until they had reached a total
estimated at between $500 and $1,000 Re
oeipts had been given by the treasurer for
all monies received by him.
The funds were all directed placed in a
savings bank, in order that interest might
be secured, and as a rule, never enforced,
was established to the effect that none OF
it should be drawn out except on checks
signed by the treasurer and countersgned
by the chairman of the trustees of the
fund, comprising the deacons, or business
managers, of the church. AS a result of
rather poor management 1t would seem,
this rule was not carried into effect, no no
tee was given to the banks that such
rule existed, and the funds were placed
t1 + he r6l of bA
Recently for some cause or other the
resignation of the treasurer was request
ed but was declined. Then an inyestiga-
ton was begun, with, it Is claimed, the
discovery resulting that instead of the
large amount believed to be TO its credit,
the fund on deposit only represented
about $500. The fact that 1t was not in
a savings bank also tended to create
further suspicious that all was not right,
and a peremptory demand was made for
the resignation, coupled with the accounts
and funds.
meeting was held on short notice and
the treasurer insisted that everything was
all right, that the money was at his COM
mand and would be placed in the hands
of the other guardians of the fund within
an hour or two. This was satisfactory TO
the church representatives. but they
coupled their acceptance of 1t with the
statement that during the two hours the
surveillance. This brought out an angry
protest which was Intellectual, and after
considerable parleying the money not be-
ing forthcoming, a warrant was served
charging larceny after trust to the extent
of $4,000. A friend of the treasurer
promptly furnished the necessary bond,
S. 500, and at this stage of the proceedings
there was a temporary cessation of
events.
This morning at II o'clock there will be
a meeting Of the church people and their
attorney with the treasurer, his attorney
and friend or friends, and at this time it
is the understanding the entire amount of
the claim will be paid over to the other
trustees of the fund. II this is done it is
the impression hat there Will be an end
to the proceedings except such as may be
necessary to a dismissal of the warrant,
although no promises have been made in
this connection by the church representa-
tives.
The treasurer, II is understood. claims
that if a little time had been given him
there would have been no trouble as he
would have paid over the entire funds for
which he was responsible. The church peo-
pie on the other hand, seem to have
greatly doubted his ability or intention to
square the account and so took steps to
bring the matter TO a crisis and if possi-
bic force restitution. While knowledge Of
the case has been kept confined to a few
up 10 this time, if the settlement is not
made to-day the entire facts in the case
with the names of the parties, will proba-
bly, be given to the public.