The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1908-12-04
TELLS HOW
He SPENT
FUND
REPORT READS LIKE A
THRILLING DIME
NOVEL STORY.
Council Committee Is Well
Satisfied With Work
Performed.

George r Russell. newly ap-
pointed postmaster. who. while city
treasurer. vas inlrusted' with the
task Of apprehcndine John Ripping
er. seattle's defaulting city comp
iroller today made a complete re-
port OF his work 20 the council
finance committee This report
shows total expenditures OF
N,i9S.Z7. and a certified check for
the balance Of the g. 900 fund ap-
prpprlated az the time Il was de-
cl.cd 10 capture Ririinger II pos
sible. f2.206e3. YVES turned over TO
the custody OF r s. Sawyer. chair.
man 81 the finance committee.
Russell was given receipt for the
check.
The members Of the committee.
after going over the report in de-
tail. unanimously expressed their
thanks 10 Mr.. Russell for the en-
ceiient showing be had made and
the thorough manner in which tho
investigation had been carried for
ward.
Seattle. Wash. Dec. 4. 1908.
The Honorable Frederick Sawyer.
Chairman. Finance COMMITTEES OF
the City Council, Seattle. Wash.
Dear Sir. IN answer TO your re-
quest FOR a statement in reference
10 the search for the absconding
city comptroller, John Ripllnger,
and our attempt % recover from
him moneys belonging to the city
Of Seattle. I have the honor 70 re-
port as follows
Ar Ripilnger's term of office as
city comptroller OF the city OF So
attic expired on the 18th DAY OF
March. 1906. II was not, however,
until May. 1907. that any knowi-
edge Of his defalcafions was given
90 yourself. as chairman Of tho
finance committee OF the city coun-
ell. or 70 any other member Of the
city government outside OF that de-
parfment.
! received no information con
corning this matter until ID was
published In our daily press on
May s. 1907. Your committee de-
cided 10 place in my hands the in
yesugation Of these various funds,
and, to that end. employed
Mossrs. r. @. Shorrock a Co,
whose reports are now on file in
the city clerks office The total
amount Of these shortages. as you
viii remember, was s6S.l7s.sI.
Il Is not necessary In this report
10 go into a full detail Of the ex-
porting Of those accounts, which
was done by your order under my
direction as city treasurer. as
there has been filed with you a
complete report Of those investiga-
lions.
An ordinance, No. 16.573. was In
troddced IN the city council on July
rs. 1907. directing the city treas
uref 10 cutter into a contract with
such parties as he may select TO
secure the recovery and return OF
such part Of the funds Of the city
OF Seattle as are nnlawfully in the
possession OF John Ripllnger. to-
gCthcr with the arrest aud deten-
ton Of said Riplinser. and appro-
priated therefor the sum OF $1,000.
Has Prosecuted Search.
As You viii remember. was
at that time to take
charge Of this matter. You insist
ed. however. that inasmuch as
had controlled the investigations SO
far. Il was but proper that the
rest OF the work should devolv0
upon me | entered upon this duty
with hesitancy as / realized the
great difficulties necessary to be
overcome. owing TO the length OF
time Intervening between Rlpling-
or's leaving the city OF Seattle and
the discovery OF the existing short
ages. Nevertheless, | consented TO
do the work. and have since that
time prosecuted the search 20 the
best OF my ability.
Upon this matter being placed In
my hands, | took up with Mr..
Ah@n. agent for this division OF tho
Pinkerton's Detective Agency. the
question Of the proper methods to
pursue II was impossible al that
time TO make a definite colract
With any detectlyo agency 10 ac-
the end desired There
WAS no means of calculating the
amount OF work 10 be done
Having reason 60 belNve that Mr..
Idplinger was still la the vicinity
Df Los Angeles. Cal. | went there
In August, 1907, and, IN coniunc-
ion with Mr. Bacon tnow dead,
head OF the pinkorton staff of that
district, commenced an active
search for the abscondlng criminal.
We discovered that Ripllnger sun
a household at pasa-
lena, Cal, at 722 w. nth av., bat
hat he had gone from that neigh
)orhoOd
Riplinner Located.
Many reports were coming 10 me
hat Mr.. Riplinger was In Mexico.
and also In Honduras. Request was
made of the pinAerton Agency. New
York City, to discover. IL possible.
Il Rinllnger was IN either of those
two places After considerable cor
rospondonce, we received from Be
ize British Honduras. letter un.
Ger date of October o. 1907, which
read as follows:
81 hnu IA urlnotplaaus ,.s,,et..4 =