The San Francisco call., 1899-05-26
SECRETARY OF
A SOCIAL ORDER
A DEFAULTER
NorddeutsCherV Verein
Suffers Financially.
WILLIAM MUELLER EXPELLED
TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS UN-
ACCOUNTED FOR.
The Officer Confessed to Having Col
lected Dues From the Members
Which He Failed to Place
on Record.
TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS UN-
ACCOUNTED FOR.

William Mueller. financial secretary of
the Norddeutscher Verein of this city, is
detaulter to the extent of nearly $1,000.
l MS revelation came about a month ago
as surprise to the members of the So
clety, who held Mueller's reputation for
Veracity and honesty above reproach and
who regarded him as a steady and ener-
geuc associate in fraternal circles.
Mueller's piferings from the finances of
the Norddeutscher Verein cover a period
or ten years; yet until recently no dis
crepancies in his accounts were noticed
due to the confidence his associates placed
IN him. The defauter will not be GRIM
inally prosecuted, but he was expelled
from the society last Wednesday even
ing.
William Mueller became a member of
the Norddeutscher Verein on January s.
1881. He rose rapidly in the estimation
of its members and was honored with the
financial seCretaryship twelve years ago.
AT each annual election of officers since
that time the duties Of the office have
been forced upon him. He made his col
lections of dues regularly each month and
correct record of his receipts was sup
posed 10 have been entered In the books
AT meeting held April II some dis
cussiOn arose as to money received for
badge. It was suggested that the books
be consulted, and during the examination
SpilIt VI the IueHlDeTS, VINO hd0 paid their
dues for the month, noticed that their
names did not appear on the records
Mueller was questioned, while no sus-
picion rested upon him, and he stated that
ne mad tailed to give the credit by mis-
take. He Immediately produced the
amount necessary and nothing more was
thought of the affair.
Henning ThodeS, the secretary of the
finance committee. was not entirely sat
istied with the explanation, however, and
ne commenced a quiet investigation OF
l.
the financial secretary had been in the
habit of placing record of all cash re-
ceived in the ledger but omitting it in the
day book. This system was inaugurated
by him about ten years ago. and by it he
has realized about $1,000.
Ferdinand Rathjens, president of the
Nereln, was acquainted with the facts.
and he appointed an Investigating com
mtttee, which worked from April II until
April 25. The books disclosed the fact
that the dishonest secretary had placed
a portion of the income of the organza-
ton in his pockets after collecting 1t.
At first he embezzled small amounts, but
recently he took amounts averaging about
500. In January, 1898. he purloined s102
and in a corresponding month in 1897 he
pocketed s91. The committees report was
submitted last Wednesday night.
Each year a committee scrutinizes the
books OF the order. Having confidence
in the officers. it has never made rigid
examinations. nor has it checked off each
item which appears in the accounts. Be-
cause of this Mueller escaped detection
While amounts appeared in one book and
on the accounts of the various members.
yet no summary of them was kept in the
final records
Many of the members when the state
of affairs was made known to them by
the committees report were in favor of
prosecuting the unfortunate secretary.
His friends came to his rescue, however,
and a compromise on dishonorable eX-
pulsion was made. The rules of the So
ciety require that q certain number of
days must elapse after charges have
been brought before a member can be
punished for misdoings. Mueller was
taken before the committee and when
faced with the conclusive evidence broke
down and confessed. This dissipating
any doubt of his guilt. the rules were
suspended and Mueller was dropped from
the roll on the night the committee re-
ported its findings.
Mueller. has. been employed by the
Charles Mattheas Company, cigar and
tobacco dealers, as a city salesman.
The name of this firm appears upon his
bond as secretary of the Norddeutscher
Verein, and when his shortcomings were
made known he was discharged from it's
employ. He has a wife and family in
this city.