Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1902-08-21

Iainily, position, influence, business,
everything.
There is little doubt but that he las
LETT the country hoping to lose himself
somewhere in the wide world, where
there is little hope of his detection.
He probably sailed last Thursday for
some far off country from New York.
creditors are already protecting
their interests, and yesterday attach
ments were made against all of Mr..
Garrison's property.
The friends of the missing man are
certain that he has used nearly all
this money in his business which was
varied and required more capital than
he could acquire legitimately.
[From Daily Pioneer, Friday, Aug. ISL
The defalcation and disappearance
OF County Collector William o. Gar
rlson remains the sole topic of CONVEX
satlon all over the county. The peo-
pie do not know what to thiuk and
everything is conjecture. All sorts of
rumors are afoat and many strange
tales are told.
This morning Mr.. John s. Ware,
Treasurer of the Cumberland Trust
Company took charge of the estate
and business affairs of the missing
collector, he having been appointed as
auditor. The appointment was made
yesterday afternoon by Supreme Court
Justice Charles S. Garrison, upon ap-
plication of Mr.. Walter H. Bacon,
who represents Taylor Brothers, a
creditor who has already made an at
tachment. Mr.. Ware assumed control
OF the estate this morning. The big
South Laurel street store was closed
this morning. 1t is quite likely that
the business will be continued by the
auditor soon, it being thought the
court will permit this. ALI contracts
made by Garrison will probably be
fulfilled by the auditor. The estate
will be wound up and the creditors
satisfied as far as possible.
Meyer Goldsmith, the expert ac-
countant, is busily engaged in going
over the accounts of the collector. He
says that it will probably take about
ten weeks to 60 over the entire ten
years accounts.
The expert is the celebrated. ac-
countant who figured in the remark
able Quay trial in Philadelphia few
years ago, and is considered one of
the best in the. profession.
There is considerable speculation as
to how much money Mr.. Garrison
took with him. He left in bank, to
the credit of the county, something
over four thousand dollars. All other
funds are gone.
In the early summer there was sold
some $13, coo of Dividing Greek bridge
bonds. All of this has disappeared,
but it may be shown that some of this
money has been used for county pur-
poses. There is probability that the
collector has taken something less
than $4,000 with him. 1t may fur
ther be shown that he has not taken
that much.
For some weeks Mr.. Garrison has
been engaged in settling up bills and
he has thus paid out considerable
money.
Nothing further has been learned of
the missing bond. It will probably
be shown oonclusively that Mr. Gar
rison has had this bond in his posses
sion intact since May of 1900. He
has thus keep it so that if it was
missed he might be able to produce it.
1t is entirely likely that he carried the
bond away with him and destroyed it
after leaving town. 1t is understood
that by taking the bond he has
been able to save those who were close
to him.
The letters that he left for various
persons in his safe are not given to
the public. Those who received them
refuse positively to show them. 1t is,
however, known that in one of these
communications Mr.. Garrison wrote:
" 1t is case of my blowing out my
brains or taking a trip. I take the
trip. for do not feel that have the
right to take the life that God gave
me. " In his resignation as Exalted
Ruler of Bridgeton Lodge of Elks, Mr..
Garrison wrote, 81 hereby tender
my resignation as E. R. of Bridgeton
Lodge of Elks, and trust that the same
may be accepted without debate. -
The various bonds given by Garri-
son to the county from 1892 to 1900
have been taken possession of by
County Solicitor Iredell. 1t is under
stood that acting as Counsel for the
Board of Freeholders he will officially
notify the gentlemen whose names
onnoar r1norr fhay, 80 nE. O.-~:,.