The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-11-07
TIL. CT Will
LOSE NOTHING
Funds Taken BY Cecil Epps Made
Good BY Friends War
rant Out.

The city will lose nothing by the de-
faication of Cecil Epps. the gas inspector,
who confessed thai he had taken money
: that was given him to pay gas bills, and
afterward checked up the amounts on the
Auditors books. The amount has been
made good by friends of the delinquent
inspector. and now the police are on the
lookout for Mr.. Epps.
Superintendent Knowles, OF the Gas
whatever on the part Of his office, IN
reference to the defalcation.
,;:sa we have done everything required OF
us by the ordinances" said Superinteno-
emit Knowles yesterday. The laws
for the conduct of our department are
perfectly plain, and we are conducting
the Office; In accordance with them N
der the system at present insvogue, there
is no chance in our department Tor de-
faIcations. method of keeping books
is so perfectly plain and clear that any
one can see what We are doing
The shortage was committed on o'e
column in the checking book that IS III
control and under the supervision of the
Auditors Office, and it was discovered
by clerk in that Office.
when the Investigating Comml.;ee
gets to work, L shall request that q
thorough investigation be made, Of tve:y-
thing in connection with the lEttter. SO
that if there be any suggestions or recon-
menGations to be made in reference to
the system OF keeping the 900 As md
tn, accounts of the ) Gas Department;
they will be made from start to in sh.
a warrant is now in the. ilan1s of the
police for the arrest of Mr.. Epps, charging
him with embezzling funds of the city.
This warrant may be changed 10 IIeet
the case more clearly, as she puilesaen
has been raised as to whether thu city
is the loser, or the individuals rit-1 whom
the money was secured. In the event the
loss falls upon the citizens, the mage
to be preferred against Mr.. Erp; VIII
be that of forgery. in placing fS1'es IN
the checking columns of the tooi>z
The warrant was issued by Mayor j y
lor upon the affidavit of Auditor War
rem. Every effort will be made 10 locate
and apprehend Mr.. Epps. It mas been
stated that he was last seen on his BIZ.
cycle making for the Free I;r'sSe-
When suspicion first rested uDon Mr.
Epps, there were gathered in :.le private
office of Auditor Warren, g. ne auditor.
tie City Accountant. the City Treasur-
.er, and the Gas Inspector. Thcy had
examined the books and had struck a
cue ludL pOlllSu W 4ii- IIJPo 49,
offender 1t was suggested by me City
Accountant that Mr.. Epps be confronted
with the evidence, and he volunteered
to go after him. At this iuac-lra, the
City Treasurer and the Gas Inspector
suggested that they retire, as the Matter
lay within the hands of the Auditor. But
at, the request of that gentleman the two
officials remained as witnesses as to what
might transpire. Mr.. Epps readily adj
mitted his wrong doing and shortly at
forwards left the City Hall.
The investigation. SO far as the account
ant is concerned. is about finished and
the shortage at this time amounts to
S4135O The first. case was discovered as
far back as February, 1899.
Mayor Taylor deplores the fact that,
while the theft was known early in the
day, no report was made to him. until
late in the evening. Il should have been
informed at once he said yesterday
afternoon Then I would have taken
immediate steps to have detained the
culprit; no change should have been given
him to ESCAPE.