The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-04-14
WOMEN GOT SOME OF IT
Accounts of Other Institutions Yet to
be Examined.
THE EXAMINATION BEGINS TOMORROW
Martin Collected Money From the Widow Of an
Engineer, as Agent, and Converted L to
His Own Use. Didn't Finish
Changing Ills Books.

The legislative committee appointed to
examine Mai. Martins books is still UNI
able to say exactly what his shortage
will be, so they will next week check back
over part of the books. In fact, they
began doing this yesterday and found
one mistake CT $93O6 in Martins favor.
This reduces the $16,SS761 shortage, arr
rived at on Friday night, to $16,744.55.
This, therefore, represents the amount
Of money traced to Martin, but his books
show raises of only $16,33S.S5 or S4062 20
less than the amount traced to him.
Now the question arises. Has the
committee made mistakes to this amount
in its checking, or did Maj. Martin fail
to cover up his shortage, by changes of
the books, to this amount?
Though one mistake of the committee
has been found, there is reason to believe
that most of the S406.20 difference is due
to failure on Maj. Martins part to COM
plete his changes of the books. In support
Of this theory, is the fact that he went
to Treasurer Lacy when his time was
out in the office and offered to remain
ten days longer for nothing, if he would
allow it. This offer, II Is now believed
was made IN order that he might COM
plete his changes In the books SO Nas to
cover his shortage
Within the next few days Martin was
arrested and it is supposed the changes
were never made, and that this accounts
for the $406,2O that has given the COM
mittee so much trouble
The first misrepresentation Of funds
IN yva in l.
exactly $780, Then other amounts were
taken occasionally, until along toward the
end of his term the stealings became
large and frequent.
The largest amount taken at any one
time was something over 81 100. and the
smallest was something under $780,
Treasurer Lacy discovered something
wrong early in February he says. when
there was some trouble about an account
Of S149.56 from the Morganton asylum A
day or two after this woman, the widow
of an engineer, complained to Mr.. Lacy
that Martin had collected from her as
agent for building and loan association.
$3.50 and given his receipt for it. Later
she was called on by the company for the
amount and when she presented Martins
receipt she was told that he was not the
company's agent and had not been for
year or more. She therefore. had 10
Pay the amount again.
These things, together with the claim
of the penitentiary that it ought to have
more money in bank then the books of the
Treasurer showed, started the investiga-
ton by officials in the Treasurer office
that finally resulted ia Martins arrest
and sentence to ten years in the peniten-
tiary.
Even after the investigation had COM
menced, though only the officials in the
office knew it, Mr. Denmark, the retiring
chleb clerk remarked that he hoped the
incoming administration would be able to
go out of office with as clean hands ana
fine a record as he and his associates.
Had Mr.. Denmark only known it, Mr..
Lacy was at that time trying to decide
whom he should arrest for the stealing
that had been going on.
II Is now known beyond all question
that Martin stole from all the Raleigh
public institutions. He says he did. but
claims that he paid them back out of the
penitentiary fund, The committee, how
ever, doesn't care to take his word for
this, and SO tomorrow they will begin
an examination Of the accounts of the
other institutions here.
/ Conclusive evidence has been discover
ed of the fact that Martin gave some Of
his money to women.