The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-03-10
 ACCOUN
 SHORT
Deficiency Appears in the Tax Collections for Four Years by More Than
 One Collector

; several weeks it was disclosed that the figures show a shortage on four of these books. The amount of this shortage and to what former collec- tors it pertains the selectmen decline to say for the present. They admit, how ever, that the total is a considerable sum. The books have been returned to the collectors in order that they may go over the figures and explain and wherefore of the discrepances. The circumstances, they now ap pear, do not make it certain that the collectors withheld any of the money they collected or were aware in fact, that any shortage existed. The figures however, certainly show a shortage, the responsibility for which lies be- tween the collectors and w. H. Hull who. for the entire period in question, was the town trea surer.
 Returns of the sums paid the collec- tor are made by him to the town trea- surer monthly and the treasurer makes acknowledgement of these payments by entering on the rate books a credit to correspond In the case of the four books referred to, each of these books representing an account for one year, the treasurec's credits show sum less than the total Of the credits entered on the books by the collector who is sup posed to record each payment when it is made and would be very unlikely to record it unless there was an actual payment. So that according to the figures the treasurer's credits either do not represent the full amount of the payments made him by the collector the collector failed to turn over the entire amount he had received from the taxpayers. The determination of the whole matter and the consequent responsibility hangs on which of these two conditions caused the existing dis crepancy. In their effort to get at the facts the selectmen will extend their investigation to the books of the town treasurer and also weigh up such statements and explanations as he and the collectors may have to offer. The result may show that there has been no intentional wrongdoing on the part of anyone. If the deficiency indicated by the figures really exists, however, some will be called upon to make it good.
 This week the se1ectmen are going over the record of liens in the town clerks office with the object of cor recting errors so that the lien records may conform to the rate book records and vice versa. As has been stated one rate book did not show the pay ment of taxes which has been the sub ject of liens although the liens were released There also appears the fur ther fact that liens still remain on the record for taxes which are entered on When this entanglement is straighten- ed out the books of the town trea- surer will receive attention.
 When First Selectman Sanford was asked if the board intended to get an expert to help out in the work he re- piled that he didn't know, adding that so far an expert that he doubted if outside aid would be necessary. His reference was to MT. Pinkney who has done most of the delving and analyz- ing so far and whose straight forward ness and efficiency have most favor ably impressed his official associates and the community in general
 The former George Sherman place in Pleasant Valley has been sold by Mrs. Myrtle Dewey to H. c. M. Thompson of New Haven. Mrs. Dewey purchased the property something over a year ago and had the house made over. The wife of the present purchaser is a sis ter of N. F. Hoggson who owns the fine country seat above the sherman place. An auction will be held on the 23rd for the sale of Mrs. Dewey's household effects.
 MT. Ward and MT. Grove of Bethel are among those who will take exam nations for appointment as rural mail carriers to succeed George E.. Starr who quits the position on May 1, af- ter ten years of continuous service
 The route was the first one estab- lished in Connecticut, having been au- thorized through the efforts of Con- gressman Hill who made this response to the petition of Bedding residents desirous of having another postofffce provided between the Ridge and Eas- ton MT. Hill thought rural delivery preferable and so, later did the peti- tioners. Despite the exposure to all kinds of weather which carrier has to undergo MT. Starr has never lost a trip through illness in the ten years. The job now pays a little more than $500 a year which Mr. Starr considers the expense attendant upon the keep ing of two horses. He has sold ms place in Bethel
 None of the local representatives of the Lyon family has ordered autos or otherwise showed 6 disposition to plunge on the strength of the $50, 000.- GOO fortune which is said to be in England awaiting their call accompan- jed of course by the proof that they are the lawful heirs of three brothers who came to Connecticut from Eng land prior to 1700, leaving behind the property which has grown to the al- legged estate in question. A meeting of the family is to be held soon, ac- cording to a New York paper, to de- eide what action shall be taken to- wards an endeavor to coax the fortune this way for allotment among the lection of how the Jennings family and many others have pursued allur- ing schemes of the same sort which proved to be the veriest phantoms. prospective benefciaries in the pres ent instance
 which DeWitt Wells of New York is about to erect in Pleasant Valley will be 32 46 feet. There will be a stone ;oeida ch1mney MGod f3T 6nisb DE ire p'oe
 Miss Jessica Sanford, who for the past two or three years has acted as housekeeper for Rev A. k. Sanford of New York, recently deceased, is home with her parents.
 Arthur Todd has arranged for ex- tersive alterations of his residence this spring at d cost of about $1,000.
 Ben Bassett is painting the recon structed house on the Joel Perry place and has the job of painting the new T,11ttgen house. Henry Duncan has the job of repainting Ridgewold, head ouarters of the Sanford school.
 Dr. Read has rented the former John Close place on the Ridge Mrs. Grant Archer who now occupies the former Turney Sanford place.