Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-01-15
Indications Are That 1t Will
Prove to Be Much Greater
Than Supposed.
ONLY FEW DOLLARS LEFT
OUT OF $4,000 FUND
Big Shake-up to Follow General
Campbell's Investigation,
II Is Declared.

Developments today in the investga-
tion of the financial condition of the
First Regiment. National Guard of
New Jersey, reveals more startling
facts than at first supposed.
The inquisitorial rein is to be handled
by Edward A. Campbell, whose rein
statement as brigadier-ge general now
takes place in view of the recent de-
cision declaring the Vredenburgh re-
tirement act unconstitutional.
That the regimental differences will
be sifted to the bottom is promised,
principally because of General Camp
belts familiarity with the First regi-
ment affairs. he having at one time
been colonel in that regiment Gen
eral Campbell, in turning the funds Of
the regiment over to the then Colonel
Brei1tnall, who in turn handed the
treasury funds to Colonel Freeman, is
determined, it is said, upon ascertain
ingswhat became of the $40, 900 that was
said to be in the treasury 1t is under
stood that when Colonel Freeman, be-
fore his promotion to be brigadier-gen-
onel Fraser there was but SIT in the
treasury and many unpaid bills. includ-
ing coal bill to the amount of $1,000.
The alleged shortage, at first said to
be $1,000, seems to be increasing and
il is predicted that when the investiga-
ton shall have been completed that
amount may be doubled.
shaISe-up predicted.
,ises a thorough investigation, and it is
predicted that a shalSe-up will follow
in both the First and Fourth Regi-
rlents, the latter being the Jersey City
regiment. At the time that Bragadier-
General Campbell reinquished his
office Colonel Edwin w. Hine, Of the
Fifth Regiment. was appointed by Gov
ernor Fort to act as brigadier- general.
Colonel Brensinger was soon tilere-
'-'asteneelected to fill the brigade honor.
He resigned two months later, and
there were two aspirants for the office,
Freeman and Hine. 1t Is charged that
deal was framed UP in the First
and Fourth regiments whereby Free
man was elected as brigadier- general.
Freeman retired and Hine was again
appointed acting brigadier general. He
will step out now and hand the brigade
over to General Campbell.
Investigation into the records at the
City Hall show that the First Regi-
ment, under Colonel Freeman's COM
nand, received the following amounts
as rental for the armory for the drills
of the police department and for the
school children's exercises;
1903, October 2, $4,000.
1904, September 2, $1,000.
1905, September /, $1,000.
1906, August 3, $4,000.
1907, September 6, $1,000.
1908, September 4, $4,000.
Received by Colonel Frecman.
Excepting the last item Colonel Free
man personally received and receipted
for the above money. The 1908 item
was receipted by James L. Marsh,
then paymaster and since retired.
Marsh is i'll and it is said is in possess
sion of some of the missing books of
the regiment, which fact is handicap
ping the investigating committee
The First Regiment has received no
rental for the year 1909 because the
finance committee of the Common
Council turned the request down. AL
derman Jerome T. Congleton, chairman
OF the last finance committee. explained
that in December last Captain George
w Church appeared before the COM
mittee saying that he represented
Colonel Fraser and urged that the al
lowance be made. Police Commissioner
John Baader who was at the meeting,
declared that the police had not drilled
In the armory during the past year,
and Mr. Congleton suggested that under
the law as long as no city department
had use for the armory the Council had
Z no right to make the appropriation.
At each meeting of the. finance COM
nittee thereafter representatives of the
First Regiment appeared urging that
the appropriation be made and explain
ing that .he regimental treasury was
In financial condition bordering upon
bankruptcy AS an offset to Mr. Con-
gleton's statement Captain Church
argued that Jersey City paid $500 a
year for similar purposes to the Fourth
Regiment. The finance committee,
however, ignored the request.
Athletic Fund Depleted.
Mr. Congleton felt that as the regi-
ment was a State institution appea
should be made to the State for funds
The State allows the First Regiment
in the neighborhood of $4,000 and it is
charged that $500 of the last appro-
priatlon remains unaccounted for. 1t Is
further alleged that the athletic fund
Is in a depleted state. There are two
athletic meets held each year and the
revenue derived therefrom amounts to
about $1,000 for each meet. 1t is also
alleged that rifles which cost the State
in the neighborhood of SIS had been sold
for IS each and no account Of those
sales can be found.
The investigating committee, it is un
defstood. has discovered an instance
where 112 rifles were sold at one time.
There are two factions in the regiment.
one favoring a continuance of the in.
vestigation and the other urging that
1t be dropped. The former. however. Il
said to be largely in the majority. An
interesting bit OF regimental news that
never became public occurred about six