The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-03-03

Edward l.. Mitchell, solicitor for the
town of East Providence, has is
sued and placed in the hands of Town
Sergeant Adams, for immediate service,
a warrant for the arrest of George r..
Hunter, the town clerk. and who up
to last Tuesday, was tax collector for
the town. The averment of the war
rant was embezZlement, the allegations
of peculation covering a period of
four years, beginning on November 80.
iS94
Hunter had been tax collector for
three years prior TO that date, and ev-
erything in connection with that office
had been conducted satisfactorily.
Three years ago the town struck
financial snag. Evtravagances had
piled up indebtedness, resources were
limited and attention was drawn TO
the towns situation in the annual
meeting of the electors held three years
ago, when Ellery ii. Wilson asked why
advantage had not been taken OF the
taxes. There had been regular assess
ments. the lists had been placed in the
tax collectors hands. and for some rea-
son or other that official had failed TO
gather into the treasury that which
was due to the town. No action was
taken upon Mr.. Wilson's suggestion,
and the following year found the towns
finances I'm a more unsatisfactory con-
dition than in the previous year.
Again the subject of the uncollectei
taxes was broached and again there
was no action: but last year. when the
town authorities were warned that the
limit OF Indebtedness allowed by sta
tute had been reached and that some
thing must be done at once, President
Benjamin Wilson, of the town councIl,
called upon Tax Collector Hunter for
statement of the business of his, Hun
ter's. department, with particular re-
ference to the uncollected taxes.
Mr.. Hunter promised TO make re-
port and later said that he would pre-
pare list Of the delinquents ana ad-
vertise the same. As the sum due from
the delinquents was a large one, III was
expected that that list would be
formidable one, hence, when the claims
were tabulated and published. ana the
individual amounts named were Iounu
to be quite Insignificant, President
Wilson started off on another tack. anu
last November Mr.. Hunter was asked
for further Information. This time the
collector claimed that there had peeh
many abatements of taxes ana ne was
asked TO prepare a list of these. Again
sum total of the abatements was small,
and these. added to the total OF taxes
due and uncollected, as presented by
Mr. Hunter, showed up a discrepancy
Of about $4,000.
When this disclosure was made Mr..
Hunter said that he could not account
for the variance. He was sure that ms
accounts were perfectly straight ana
that he did not owe the town penny,
and his ffiends volunteered the state
ment that an examination would dis
close that there had simply been bad
bookkeeping. These excuses did not
satisfy President Wilson. who insisted
upon pushing the matter and upon
having the tax collectors account
probed TO the bottom.
Charles f.. Blake was called in as an
expert. with instructions TO go back 10
the date where Hunter began collect
ing. In the meantime Hunter an
sented himself from his Office ana as
appeared from view. He was alleged
to be il but he was not at his house
during this period. and was heard from
nut occasionally, when his assistant in
the town clerks office was called up on
the telephone.
Mr.. Rlake concluded his work on
Hunters books, made a report To the
president OF the town council and then
proceeded TO check up on Town Treas
urer Rays books. While he was thus
engaged. President Wilson endeavored
TO find and interview Hunter. without
anv success until one day he sent word
that If Hunter did not come and see
him OF his own volition, he would be
brought i'm on warrant. This had the
desired effect. but the interview which
followed did not please MIR. Wilson.
The expert concluded his work II
checking back and then carefully
nreparcd statement was handed i'm by
him covering every detail OF Hunter )
work The summary was as follows:
Amount OF tax due the town from
Collector q. +. Hunter: 1898 S6sl6l;
1894. S2S7552: 1895. S4S50.91; 1896. S76305
total. SiG.OsS69. less amount Of taxes
FOR 1898 unpaid. SS7i.S2; 1894, Sl07246;
1895. S0SS2s: 1896. S691; total S362o5,;
net. Si2.il912.
This report came as a hombshell.
Notwithstanding the townsfolk had
beeu prepared FOR such a statement FOR
thcir apprchcnsions had been somewhat
allaycd by the assertion made by Hun
ter's friends that ne could show clean
bill.
Various rumors were printed about
town. one Of which was Go the effect
that there were others and that the
town authorities did not dare Co pro-
coed against Hunter criminally. the
inference being that the tax collector
could tell too much.
These allegations stirred up the au-
tborities 60 the uitch that they de-
cided 20 resent the Implication aud
Town Solicitor Mitchell was requested
to take proper action I'm the premises.
Mr.. Mitchell consulted with Town
Treasurer RAY and Town Sergeant
Adams, last night, and prepared war