New-York tribune., 1907-08-27
NJ. s. R. BOOKS INTACT
SEEN By EXPERT IN 1908.
accountant Tells of Examining
Them IN the Amory Case.

Arthur W. TeeIe a public accountant, who
examined the books and records Of the Metro
poIitan Street Railway Company with reference
TO the criminal charges made against the COM
pany by W.N Amory. said yesterday that on
March IA 1903 he visited the offices of the Dis
trict Attorney for consultation with Mr.. Jerome
before undertaking the work He said that H.
H vreeland. IN the presence of clerks and
others. gave instructions that all books and
papers should be furnished and every facility
be given him for the investigation. and that
these instructions were carried out
D. c. Moorehead, secretary and treasurer of
the company, said on Friday that the books had
been removed from the vaults Of the company
IN February 1902, being obsolete and were
subsequently destroyed
Mr. Teele said that in his opinion the books
Of the Metropolitan had not been moved from
the main offices Of the company when he made
his examination in March and April of 1903 He
bases this belief on the fact that he was able
to get any book he called for quickly and with
out any difficulty He said
Mr.. Vreeland told his subordinates in my
presence to let anything wanted to see.
and to give every assistance in prosecuting
my work. l don't pretend that 1 saw all the
books. That's not what l went for. It
clearly understood between me and the District
Attorney that this general fishing
expedition, but an investigation to determine
the truth Of certain specific charges. I know,
| though. that what / looked at Were the books
and reports of the Metropolitan Street Railway
Company. and / know that / everything
that needed to down the particular lines
that I working on"
The accountant made his report to the Dis
trict Attorney on April 20 1903 He exonerated
the company from all the charges made against
| it, except the that it paying dividends
from, tie al frr
but reported in regard to this that further in
vestigation involving the expenditure Of $4,000
would be necessary before the charge could be
settled.
The statement of Mr. Teele and that Of Mr..
| Moorehead seem to conflict but empIoye OF
| the company explained that the books might
| have been in existence in 1903. that Mr.. Moore
| head did not say they had been destroyed in
| 1902 but said that they were then moved to
| the storage rooms and subsequently destroyed"
Many persons in Wall Street say they think
| the books still in existence. hidden in the
vault Of some interested person They point out
that books of the value OF the Metropolitan's
would not be destroyed by the company. but as
| they might prove embarrassing would be
cretly locked up somewhere" Whether this
NOR can be substantiated seems doubtful. but
II has attracted general interest and has had ere
oence from many Asked what he thought Of
the destruction of the books. announced by
| the Metropolitan officials Mr. Teele said:
"I think can say that have never heard Of
such thing Sometimes in going over the
| ords of a corporation I have found book miss
/ ing through accident or carelessness but that
a company should order a whole set OF its books
destroyed is most remarkable. especially in the
| case of a street railroad
Neither Mr. Moorehead nor Mr.. vreeland could
/ be found yesterday. Other officials and counsel
| for the company refused to make any comment
| on Mr.. TeeIe's statement