Eureka weekly sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1887-1902, 1901-03-23

The following is the report OF the
Joint Legislative Committee appointed
to investigate matters connected with
the Orphans Home Fund, and the
disappearance Of nearly the entire
amount of money which it contained
Mr.. PRESIDENT - Your Standing
Committee on State Affairs in connec-
ton with the Committee OF the As.
sembly have had under consideration
matters connected with the Orphans
Fund and beg leave to report the fol-
lowing facts as We find them:
There seems to be an impression
abroad that this Fund has been en-
bezzled or misappropriated in some
manner by the Directors of the Home,
who were responsible for its safe
keeping. The fact is that the original
Fund amounted to the sum OF eight
hundred and fifty ($S50) dollars, $500
Of which was bequeathed by Peter
Lynch OF Gold Hill; $500 was donated
by James G.. Fair and $50 was donated
by the Caledonian Club of Virginia
City.
By judicious investment of part of
this fund it had increased on May g.,
1879, to 1886; that seems to be the
maximum point reached by this Fund
at any time. We find that on Janu-
ary /, 1888, ID. X. Sessions, who up to
that time had been Secretary of the
Board OF Directors, turned over to his
successor in office the sum Of s805.57
in coin. II may be necessary to state
here that this Fund was created for
the sole purpose of creating little deli
cacies and luxuries for the Orphans
at set times, such as Christmas and
| the Fourth OF July and other festival
times. Now, when it is understood
| that there has been no addition to the
original Fund since its creation, ex-
cept by investment as above referred
to, il is easy to explain that the Fund
must naturally diminish.
For instance, in the single year OF
1884 there was expended the sum Of
1921 &c, one business house in Carson
receiving the sum OF 1886 for holiday
goods. Coming down to the End ol
January, 1891, without going into
| yearly and monthly details, We find
| the fund reduced to the sum OF s427. 7.42
Of this sum s400 was represented by a
promissory note of j T.. Jones, (who
| at that time was one OF the Board of
Directors of the Home). leaving a
balance OF s27. AZ in cash in the Fund.
This note is still held by the Board OF
Directors OF the Home, but there is a
serious difference OF opinion about its
value. Professor Ring, who was a
member of the Board at the time the
note Was executed and for four years
thereafter, and who is a membe OF
the present Board, does not know
whether there was any interest paid
on the note or not during the years
1891, 1892, 1898 and 1894, nor does he
know what use was made OF the bal
ance, $27.42, which was in the Fund
when he entered on his duties in Jan
uary 1891. There was no record kept
Of anything connected with this Fund
or note since January, 1891.
Besides the note Of ]. Z. Jones,
there remains the sum OF s3.40 and a
receipt for So.
This is all that is left Of the Orphans
Fund. The note was presented to the
heirs of the late j. E. Jones for pay
ment, by order OF the Board of Direct
ors of the Home who were in Office
during the years 1895, 1896, 1897 and
1898. The heirs said they were una
BILE to pay said note, and no further
action was taken. We are of the opin-
ion that the Directors OF the Orphans
Home from the lst OF January, 1891
to the lst OF January, 1899. we're each
and all culpsbly negligent, and guilty
Of nonfeasance in office, when they
did not take action to enforce the pay.
ment OF the j. E. Jones note. There
is wide difference Of opinion among
lawyers as to whether this note can bt
collected from the estate of Mr.. Jones
or not. We would respectfully cal
the attention Of the Governor anG
Attorney General to the matter, ant
would recommend that they take
measures to collect the Jones note i
possible.
| All of which we respectfully submit
i [Signed.l
| Messrs. Green. Hardesty and Viii
liams, Senate Committee.
/ Messrs. Jacobs, Sweeney, Coryell
| Gtsn.4r 4 VIZ hlxx Co.~,