The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-01-09
Mr.. B0udar Takes EXCep-
tion to Statements
Made BY Treasurer.
READY TO PROVE.
CHARGES MADE
Does Not, However, Doubt the
Honest Intention Of Mr..
Hechler-Great Interest
Taken in Case-Talk
About Political
Aspect.

Interest in the affairs Of the Henrico
treasurer, now approaching an airing in
the courts, was intensified yesterday by
a further statement from Mr.. Henry C.
Hechler Of his position, calling forth IN
reply an assertion from the accountants
of their ability TO substanttate fully every
allegation made In their recent reports
touching the matter. n
Commenting Upon the publication in the
papers yesterday. many which he de-
c!ared as untrue. Mr.. Hectler denied abso-
lutely that he had used any Of the county
funds for personal use, asichorged In the
report of the grand jury on Monday,
which stated in precise terms that the
treasurer has used the county funds
from time to time for his own personal
use contrary to law"
Mfr. II. b. Boudar. of the auditing firm,
who examined the accounts Of the treas
urer. and whose Recommendations sub
mitted to the grand jury were printed
yesterday. said last night that his firm
was prepared to prove the
OF it's report in every particular.
What Mr.. Boudar Says.
THE statements made in the Interview
with Mr.. Hechler this evening are entire
ly without foundation" Mr.. Boudar said.
When they are .dfssected they do not
mean anything. I have received sum-
mons as a witness in the court proceed
ings for January 18th, and am prepared
TO prove the correctness Of pur report in.
every particular. II the treasurer had
not been short in his accounts at all.
why should he have deposited thirty-two
hundred-odd dollars on the 18th of Octo-
lis, ~
Office to make good what Wis found to be
deficiency. OF this deposit the bank
officials have testified thlt there We're
two notea which werst .ikcounted One
OF thasa waa--Tor suD. ind Mr.. Hechier
claimed that this was hisscWn note. which
he was discmnting at the bank in order
to raise the amount OF cash called for.
We did not see this note"
According to Mr.. Boudar. Mr.. Hechler
told him during the auditors investigation
of the treasurer's Office that he had used
money called for on the books of the
Office. and explained how he had used
It. and this conversation was presented as
evidence before the grand jury.
Mr. Boudar said he had no reason to
doubt the intentional honesty of Mr..
Hechler, nor did he think there was any
Intention TO defraud either the county
or the State.
The rule issued by direction of the
Judge OF the Circuit Court r. Carter
Scott, was served on Mr.. Hechler yes
terday afternoon about2 o'clock by Dep
uty Sheriff Ashby Fra,ser. The rule d.
rects Treasurer Hechle' to appear before
the court on January 18th on the charge
Of malfeasance In offle.
Statement ofHechler.
AS stated. Mr.. Hechlr positively denies
| that he has followed THAT is known to
| have been the custom OF some OF his
| predecessors in advancing taxes to cltt-
| zens of the county. fact according
| to Mr.. Hechler's statment, this could
not have been done DUNG his term, as
| he went into Office in farch. 1908, while
1 the report of Boudar 8 Co. was OF Oc-
| tober 1, 1906. Taxes fr 1906 would not
I become delinquent and have the penalty
| added until December ] 1905
1 Mr. Hechler said yesteday:
"The report made to,Iudge Scott by
John Stewart Bryan ad w. c. 6ann-
ders, advising certain changes in my
methods aof bookkeeping, was
nothing but lind endorse
ment OF Accountnt Boudar's
report, which was sbmitted to the
| board OF supervisors lome time, ago.
| . Neither Mr.. Saundersnor Mr.. Bryan
took the trouble to mxe any personal
investigation OF my boks or methods.
They reported bllndlyto Judge Scott,
with no knowledge OF their own.
merely taking for gInted what Mr..
Boudar had said.
/ ..The article to- TIL effect that
/ have, like my predecessors, appro-
prtated county funds Q my personal
| use, Is utterly withut foundation
MY books are open tothe public, and
4. have been so ever sire have been
/ in office, and now tina this thing has
been stirred up. I anlgoing to fight
1t to the finish"
Mr.. Hechler intimate the possibility
of political cons!derati being behind
the matter, Or. at least, laving hand In
it. He has retained ascounsel, Messrs.
O'Flaherty and Fulton, no will represent
him during the proceedgs.
Counsel's Stsement.
Mr.. O'Flaherty when zen at his Office
in the Mutual Buildngyesterday after
non made the following s.tement
'NIr. Hechler has refined ourselves
and Mr.. II. st. John talter as coun-
sci to represent him ar we have con-
ferred with him f,y about the
entire matter We aresure that the
courts investigation III show that
he has never used adollar Of the
States or county's morr; that he has
not followed the practi' OF his prede-
cessors in Office. or Unusual custom
OF other treasurers In cher advancing
and paying the tax OF hers and coll
lecting the penalty + himself, or
using the county's fun in any way
for his own private pupses; that his
books are correct; that lkeeps a cash
account, and that his bkkeeping and
!. his system of bookkeepg arc of the
! very best order, androm our in
formation the report of,e grand Jury
and the article in the forming paper
does him great Justice. Mr..
Hechler is glad of an oprtunity,to dis
pose of these numero, reports. and
when the matter oon' up before
Judge Scott we, as his unsel. believe
that he will be exonated OF every
charge and fully vindced."
] l.iaAIr Inhn Stewart lBrYn Of tha Eanrics,