The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-03-23
BON DSM EN
Make Good DR.. Nash's
Shortage.
TANGLED ACCOUNTS
In Lancaster Post Office
Deficit of $1,000,

- " Il WV
Lancaster, March 22.-The bondsmen
for POSTMASTER Horace NJ. Nash have
made good deficiency of 1859. IL. that
appear in his accounts of the business
transacted by the post office in this
place. Postmaster Nash is suspended
from duty by the request of his bonds
men. Miss Sarah Isabel Lyman, his
assistant, is in charge of the office.
The suspension was made last even
ing under the direction Of Post Office
inspector c. H. Pendleton OF Boston.
Inspector Pendleton came to the Of
flee Monday afternoon. He was the
first inspector whose form has dark
ened the door of the post office for
nearly decade. He was evidently
suspicious that the accounts of the Of
hce were in poor shape. If he was not,
1t did not take him long to make the
discovery. The books, except under
most searching examination, appeared
to be entirely correct. But when the
inspector took an account of stock on
hand he found an appalling discrepan-
cy.
On Dec. 81, 1892. Postmaster Nash
had reported stamps and stamped en-
velopes on hand to be in value, $2075.91.
The inventory, taken March 20, dis
closed but $S52.1S worth Of stamps on
hand. and but $9875 in the cash.
The figures read like this: Stamps re-
ported Dec. 81, $2O75,91; stamps not
oh, road NV him CT
ceived to March 20, $3.50; received from
box rent, $3.50; total, $2S68.04. Value
of stock found March 20, $S52.1S; money
on hand, $9S.75; commission to date,
s217.9O; short, $1699.12.
The inspector sent for Postmaster
Nash as soon as these figures began to
take shape.
When the message came the post
master was in the act of reading the
warrant for the Lancaster town meet
ing This was the same meeting that
accorded Postmaster Nash for the tenth
time the honor of an election Of town
clerk. and the additional honor of an
election to be member of the board
of health.
Postmaster Nash finished reading the
warrant and went to the post office.
He went over the inventory of stock on
hand in the presence of the inspector
By his own account he found the in
spector's figures correct. When there
was no longer any doubt Inspector Pen
dleton sent word to the bondsmen. They
met the inspector and Postmaster Nash
in the post office yesterday afternoon.
BY the inspectors advice they sign
ed the paper asking for the postmas-
ter's suspension, and suggesting that
Miss Lyman be placed in charge. They
are responsible for her, as they were
for DIR. Nash.
DR.. Nash insisted at this conference
that there must be mistake in the ac-
counts. He said he had never done any
thing dishonest.
The bondsmen are Henry S. Nourse,
Henry H. Stowe, George w. Wellington
and William A. Kilbourne, Harold Par
ker and the estate of the late Calvin
Holman. Not all the bondsmen were
present. Mr.. Parker was absent in New
York, and did not hear of the defalca-
ton until last night
Henry S. Nourse, Mr. Kilbourne and
Mr.. Stowe were present. After a meet
ing with Mr.. Parker they were con-
WINGED that it was best to make up the
deficiency at once. Accordingly Mr..
Nourse sent his personal check for the
amount Of the deficiency, with the I'M
Outstanding that the sum will be borne
by the bondsmen jointly according to
their respective liabilities.
The bondsmen differ in opinion as to
the extent of DR.. Nash's liability IN the
case. The charitably inclined are of the
opinion that DR.. Nash had no intention
of being dishonest, but that when he
found himself short he INDUCED in de-
ception, to cover up the shortage, and
perhaps went from bad to worse.
Under the advice Of Harold Parker,
an attachment was issued against some
hundreds of dollars worth of personal
property owned by DR.. Nash and serv-
ed this afternoon, by Deputy Sheriff
c. A. Bartlett. The stock is not of
great value. There is a safe, some
candy and a few cigars and notions.
The chances are the board of select
men will meet and take some steps
to depose the unfortunate postmaster
from the office of town clerk and from
his position on the board Of health.
Eugene V. r. Thayer, member Of the
board, Is out of town for the present.
1t is the general feeling among the
bOndsmen and in the town that such
action will be taken. If DR.. Nash does
not forestall it by resigning of his own
volition. This he will undoubtedly do.
The affair is not an entire surprise
to the people of Lancaster. Some
months ago Harold Parker, one of the
bondsmen, became satisfied that Dr.
Nash was not performing the duties of
the office properly. He even wrote a let
ter to the postmaster general, and adj
dressed ii, advising the department to
keep the Lancaster office in mind.
When he showed this letter to his wife
however, she urged him not to send it.
saying that 1t might do DR.. Nash a
great injury, or even ruin him. Mr.. Par
ker thereupon put the letter in a pigeon
hole of his desk, where it has since re-
manned.
The correspondent of The Spy talked
with DR.. Nash this morning. He was
much broken in spirit, but stoutly main
tanned that there was merely an error
in the figures, which would be cleared
up as soon as he went over the books
with his lawyer. He did go over the
books, this afternoon, with Attorney T..
A. O'Connor. He spent the morning in
the office, giving such assistance as was
required to Miss Lyman.
He said: you can say that no matter
what happens l shall not stay here as