The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1907-09-17
IRREGULARITIES
IN ACCOUNTS OF
!. NJ. c. A. MAN
Financial Secretary Miller
Suspended Pending
Investigation
DATE FROM THE FIRE
Discrepancies Are Numerous
but Only for Small
Amounts
PLEADS NEGLIGENCE
Grave Accusations Are Met
With Explanation of
Lax Methods
DATE FROM THE FIRE
PLEADS NEGLIGENCE

Felix Ellis Miller. for 10 years
financial secretary of the local
branch of the Young Mems Chris
tia1 association, is under suspen-
sion from the organization pend
ing an investigation of irregulari-
ties in his accounts, which were
recently brought to light by other
officials of the association, but the
exact extent of which has not
been ascertained. The order of
suspension was made several days
ago by General Secretary H. ].
Mccoy and the formal investiga-
ton is to be taken up by the
board of directors Thursday.
Failure to account for sums re-
$SlfC CO cS lASulOSISIlp Lees, us
crepancies between the amounts paid
for certain supplies and the account of
the same as entered IN the assocda-
tion's books and other Irregularities
of similar nature are the things
charged to Miller. He has already at
bility in the matter, alleging that all
discrepancies were due only to negli-
gence and carelessness on his part, but
his statements have not been accepted
as conclusive of his innocence, for the
formal investigation has been ordered,
although every effort has been made
to keep the scandal secret and prevent
knowledge Of it from becoming public.
Pending the outcome of the inquiry
Miller has placed $1,000 on deposit with
the association to cover any deficiency,
should any be diyuIged.
SCORE OF DISCREPANCIES
The discoveries. which led to the sus-
pension and fling of charges against
Miller were made by Secretary Mccoy
and Educational Director E. z. Esdon
of the association. who have unearthed
nearly a score of financial discrepancies
which demand explanation.
The incident which first directed the
attention of the other officers to Mil
ler's methods of handling the associa-
tion's accounts was the discovery about
two weeks ago of a member OF the
association whose name did not appear
on the rolls and whose payment of
membership fee was not entered upon
the books. Inquiry developed the fact
that the fee had been paid to Miller,
and then several other cases of SINH
lar kind came to light. This led to
ling in its results. Among other things.
1t was found that voucher made out
to an Instructor of the association
shortly after the fire had been cashed
without his knowledge. The fire
caused the services of several of the
instructors to be dispensed with, but
later 1t was determined to pay them
certain amounts on their salaries. One,
whose name was withheld. did not Sc
cure his voucher for $25 at the time it
was issued, but later demanded it and it
was found that it had been cashed and
receipt given by Miller.
Cash tags from stores where Miller
had purchased supplies for the associa-
ton were found on which the sums
had evidently been erased and changed.
parent irregularities were unearthed.
PLEADS CARELEssNEss
When faced with the charge. Miller
denied that he had ever intentionally
withheld any money belonging to the
association. He explained the missing
membership fees by stating that he
might have negligently failed to make
out the proper receipts and credits.
positively require this to be done, and
that the money might have become
mixed with that kept on hand by him
and used for other association expenses.
Miller pointed out to his accusers that
since the fire the unsettled conditions.
and the fact that the various Offices
of the association have been scattered,
have made it necessary for the receipt
books to be taken out of his office at
times for the use of the book keepers
and that consequently he has not al
ways been able to furnish receipts at
the proper time Miller is said to
have admitted that he changed the
figures on certain purchase tags. but