The San Francisco call., 1905-04-27
McCABE MAKES DISCOVERY.

covery l made. Last Monday shortly after 10
over, the check books. To my amazements /
discovered that the taxes of the railroad COM
@ pany had seemingly not been paid. though
that corporate had always been in the ha Bit
of settling it's account promptly.
/ rang up Mr.. Ryan at the railroad office
and he replied that the taxes had been col
lected by Smith several days before. The first
check, amounting to little less than S24, ,0o0
was paid on April and the last check, which
represented about SIS, 600. turned over to
Smith personally April 20
My suspicious were then aroused and I went
directly TO Cashier Jack Smith. Eds brother
and told him what 1 had discovered. Jack
seemed TO fear the worst for Ed had not been
seen around the City Hall since the previous
to play detective or press the matter, but that
it was better the whole thing should be laid
bare.
took Jack over the books and showed him
everything. He broke down and nearly
collapsed. He finally mustered up courage and
decided TO lay the matter before the Mayor
We made a rigid examination of the accounts
and discovered the exact amount missing To-
gether with a stenographer, went into the
tive everything. though he nearly collapsed
before the sad scene had ended and the Mayor,
too was visibly affected.
PAYS BACK LARGE AMOUNT.
Smith was forced to make good about $50 O0o
to the Sharon estate and the Hibernia Bank
short time ago. | managed to find out he had
misappropriated the money by the merest ac-
cident l was in the bank last February and
while there l began to talk to Mr. Buckley
asked him about the taxes and spoke of the
duplicate roll. He told me the bank had paid
the taxes on the Palace Hotel property
mortgaged to the institution by the sharon
estate. The taxes amounted to ST4OO
/ was surprised at this. Tor in my roll book
the taxes to the amount of S74o0 had been
further investigation l discovered Smith had
gone and collected all the Sharon estate taxes
but had not turned the money into the office
or said anything about 1t.
the total amount. Including tha xT4Qn v.vbiob
was duplicated. represented about $50 600
knew Smith had taken the money and on
demanded explanation. He refused to ad-
init having stolen the money but promised to
make max good the amount He kept his word and
the next day produced the full amount he had
TAKEN so the matter was hushed up and
said nothing more.
Now, where he had secured that big amount
or coin in such short space of time 7 do not
know / did not inquire, though IT seemed
strange to me that he should have been able
" iay ms hands on the money so quickly.
BROTHER TO RESCUE.
know positively that James Smith came TO
his brother 9 rescue in April, 1904 and out of
his own private fortune paid s1G5' 600 In order
that his brother might not be placed behind
prison bars and snirch the name of rood
Iamliy. HIS own brother. Jack. told me of
this one day in the office.
Jack came to and said that Ed had
taken a large amount OF money and that his
bonds were practically worthless He realized
that the doors of the penitentiary were about
TO swing open for him and consequently he
went to his brother James and implored the
latter to save him from disgrace.
James Smith drew $1e5, COO OF his own private
fortune and paid 1t all out that Ed might
escape prosecution. Ed was on his last legs
at that time and had his brother res
cued him his wrongdoing would have been
made known within few days and all would
have been over
The matter was hushed up at the time and
none save the two brothers and myself knew
anything of 1t. / did not know before that
time that Smith short in his accounts
though / felt that everything was not ali
right. How he had managed to secure this
money do not know, though he possibly
annexed II by the same process as in the other
cases and settled IL before any one had a
chance to go the books.
Mayor Schrnitz insisted that / take charge
of the tax office for the remainder of the
term, but this / positively declined to do
consented to assume the responsibilities for the
balance of the fiscal year, but after that time
will step down and out. | do not want the
position and they cannot force it upon me-
have been in the office for nearly twenty
fve years but If l cannot manage to shift the
responsibility of taking Smiths place for the
balance of the term l wifi resign II / were
elected to the office would accept 1t. but not
under the present circumstances.