The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-11-12
W. B. THOMPSON'S SHORTAGE.
ATTENTION CALLED 10 IT BY A
WOMIN 4 MONTH AGO.
~subpsnas Issued on saturday for Witnesses
10 Go Before the Grand Jury Missing
Man Was a Very Accurate BOokkeeper
Was q west Indian by Birth.

Was a west Indian by Birth.
YoNKERs. n. Y, Nov. 1l.-Subppnas
we're issued yesterday by District Attorney
Young for the appearance OF Witnesses before
the Grand Jury tomorrow afternoon regard
ing the YOnkers Tax offce inquiry. This
action results from discrepancies discovered
by Tax Collector James T. Lennon some days
ago IN the tax collection OF 1904 when william
B. Thompson was assistant tax rsoe iver.
Three days after Mr.. Lemons discovery
Charles E.. Hartshorn, his predecessor in
once, made the statement that a woman
purporting TO be the wife OF Thompson had
visited his house over a month ago and
had Informed him that Thompson had
stolen sums of money at various times to
pay Wall Street margins.
Mr.. Ha rtshorn said that he had aid
his information before the District At
tornsy nc that time. He said That he had
not told Mr.. Lennon abont 1t until yester-
day because he felt that Mr.. Lennon was
sufficiently bothered with a political CAM
paign. Lennon is a Democrat and Harts-
horn 10 a Republican: so IL Thompson.
Mr.. Bartshorn Is both successor and prede-
cessor of MIR. Lennon. The latter was
tax receiver during 1902 and 1908 and the
former during 1904 and 1905.
Mr.. Hartshorn declared yesterday that
he did not know how much Thompson is
supposed to have taken. He said he did
not know who ~Thompson's wife was. She
had told him that she was a former Yonkers
school teacher. He declared that he had
forgotten the woman address. Thomp-
son had held the place of deputy tax col
lector for nineteen years, serving under the
late Henry B. Archer for fifteen years and
under Mr.. Lennon and Mr.. Hartshorn for
four years. He was removed by Mr.. Len
non upon his second assumption OF the tax
receivership early this year.
Thompson left town and no one knows his
whereabouts. He was heard from in Pitts
burg. He was supposed to be a bachelor,
about SO years old, and the idea hat he was
married attracted nearly as much attention
as the confession OF his alleged wife. His
disappearance was attributed by every one
TO his disappointment at not being retained
as deputy receiver. His refusal to give any
information 10 his successor did not excite
any suspicion.
Mayor Coyne in speaking OF the case
Yesterday said he had received probably
100 letters protesting against his removal.
Thompson often boasted Of his accuracy
ana time ana again OHefeu BOW 10 any man
who could find an frregularity OF one cent
in his accounts. He was under $40, 600
bonds to the succeeding receivers per-
sonally. who in turn furnished the city with
a t76, 900 bond for themselves.
Thompson's boast Of accurate work was
borne out by two expert accountants.
In 1901 Mayor Sutherland had the city
books examined by Henry T.. Bragg, and
this year Thomas p. Ryan made a search
ing inv estigation for Mayor Coyne. Mr..
Ryan found many errors and shortages in
other departments, but nothing wrong in
the tax office. Mr.. Bragg said yesterday
that he had not been engaged TO make an
audit of the tar books but that his eX-
animation found the records to be in good
shape.
Mr.. Ryan said his audit balanced with
the City Treasurer's books to a cent. II
there was speculation, he said, il came
through the failure of the deputy to record
certain receipts, in which event it would
be impossible 10 discover 1t until the per-
sons holding the receipts should turn up
with them.
Nevertheless Mr.. Ryan has SET 10 work
with four assistants 10 go over the books
again. There are 10000 transactions in
q year and the task Of checking them up is
very great. Mr.. Lemons discovery came
in trying TO effect a balance Of the 1904 col
lections on property about 10 be sold for
unpaid taxes 10y the City Clerk.
1t il said here to-day that Thompson was
seen in New York city yesterday. Why his
wife should go 10 Mr.. HartshOTn with a
confession has not yet been explained. In
the subpPnas issued 10 Mr.. Lennon he was
ordered to transfer all his Office records
from 1901 to 1906 TO the Grand Jury room.
This work will require the services Of "A
furniture van and will tie up the tax Office.
Further, the experts say, the records will
be of no value unless the District Attorney
has knowledge OF specific cases.
City Attorney Curran was in consultation
with District Attorney Young yesterday
regarding this question. There are all
sorts of rumors. current regarding the
amount of the alleged embezzlement, but
nothing definite can be learned. Thompson
was prominent in state military circles
and connected with a large number Of
fraternal societies. He il a West Indian
by birth and came to Yonkers about twenty
five XRArS ago