Evening journal., 1899-04-27
MACNAIR'S DOWNFALL.
Short in His Accounts With
the Savings Fund.
oONFEssEs JUDGMENT TO CANDY


IN THE SUM OF $l5,OOO-ALsO TO
HOME FOR AGED WOMEN IN A
SMALLER AMOUNT - SHORTAGE
SAID TO BE OVER 5.OOO-sOLvBNcY
OF SOCIETY NOT AFFECTED.
Ernest B. MaoNair. receiving clerk for
the Wilmington Savings Fund Society
has resigned his position. in CONSEQUENCE
Of the discovery Of a shortage Of several
thousand dollars In his accounts. The ex.
act amount cannot be ascertained. but IL
Will aggregate from 5000 to $500 in all
probability
He has confessed judgment to William
NJ Candy. president of the society. in the
sum of $4,000 and Mr. Candy informed
an Evening Journal reporter that In his
opinion that Judgment which covers all
Of his property, will pay the shortage
and leave something over.
He has also contested three judgments
In favor of the Home for Aged Women.
the several amounts being $500, $1,000
and 5000.
All four judgments have been entered
in the prothonotary's office at the Court
House since April 10 and his resignation
following their entry was what gave
rise to public suspicion that there was
something wrong.
The solvency Of the society is in nowise
affected, and none of the depostors need
be alarmed. The officers and managers
Of the organization are responsible men,
as will be seen by the following list:
President. William NJ. Candy; vice.
president, Edward Andrews; treasurer
Wilmer ]. Ellison; auditor, j. a. Rich
ardson: solicitor J. L. Smith; managers
Edward r. Bellah. Mark NJ Cleaver
Richard p. Gibbons. Jacob Derickson
William NJ Candy, Elwood Garrett,
| Washington Jones, Thomas $. Bellah,
Edward Andrews. Thomas H. savery,
Edward T. Candy, John Richardson Jr,
Albert G. Thatcher. Edward Brlnghurst
Jr.. Alfred d. Warner. Albert W. Smith,
H. James Belt, Thomas Darlington
Charles r. Jones, Henry c. Jones, John
NJ Harvey Linton Smith, Wilmer Pal
mer, ]. Newlln Gawthrop, George G.
Lobdel. Jr.
Mr.. MacNair is a popular young man
whose home is on West Sixteenth street
near Brnckle avenue. He is married
and has two children. He has been in
the employ of the society for the past
twelve years, and was regarded as one Of
the most trustworthy and intelligent
members of the clerical force. lie is a
small man. CT dark complexion and
pleasant address, and possessed Of a
large circle Of business and social
friends.
1t was not until recently that MS fidei-
lty was suspected. although he had been
dealing heavily in real estate on a low
market for several years. until he held
title to between twenty and thirty
houses, nearly all Of which were lncum-
bered.
A short time ago the bank officials be.
came suspicious, and finally discovered
discrepancies In his accounts. A meeting
Of the board of managers was called, ant
experts were put on the books. After as
! certainment OF the amount MacNair was
s called upon to make it good and, to es
- cape criminal prosecution and repair thu
! injury he had done the institution, h'
( confessed the Sl5,0OO Judgment to Presl
dent Candy. Then. to protect the Hom
for Aged Women. he confessed judgmen
in their. favor for $500.
President Candy and the managers ar
u reticent They admit the shortage, but
n feeling themselves secured by the judg
ment, are disposed to keep the fact
a from the public. In fact, when they me
" they agreed that the matter should b
5 hushed up. although some Of the man
/, ayers strenuously opposed such a course
| at
n statement would be much better tha
secrecy.
1t is learned, however that MacNal
did not use the individual accounts an
pass-bOoks OF deposltors in his work G
peculation, but manipulated the other aC
=. counts Of the bank The experts foun
that he had credited each depositor wit
every penny entrusted to the society
,s care.
An Evening Journal reporter called o
President Candy this morning and aske
him if criminal proceedings would
taken. lie said that he thought no
- When requested to give the amount {
MacNalr's shortage he evaded positiN
I" answer. and declared that the judgmei
y Of $1,000 would indemnify the bank an
'e he expected. leave something over Wha
ever that surplus amounted to would
returned to MacNair. He was dlsincline
to give particulars. and, while apparen
. Iy agitated, made an effort to talk ligh
~ Of the matter.
Edward Bringhurst. Jr, member
80 the board Of managers, said that the
~ was shortage, but that the judgme
10 confessed to President Candy covered q
Of MacNair's property. He was not a
quaintcd with the amount Of the shor
age, having been called away to Ne
he York by the death of his son in-law.
p was his understanding that there wou
k be no criminal action brought again
iN MacNair.
Mark NJ. Cleaver another manager 7
Dig fused to discuss the matter. When 7
quested to give the amount Of the shoI
- age he declined saying that the ma
ayers had pledged themselves to secrec
- When it was pointed out to him that
lr- was "A matter which Interested hundre
u" of depositors in all parts of the city
= said that he recognized that fact "a
was opposed to the seal Of secrecy bel
placed on his lips, but that it had be
es. so agreed, and he must be excused fro