The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-04-20
Facts as to Short a g e
May be Pr ented
Later to Grand Jury.
TO HEAR CHARGES
N EXT TU ES DA Y
Office Temporarily Closed, Until
Council, in Joint Session, Can
Elect Successor Tomorrow
Night-Taxes Collected in \
December Never Reach
ed Treasurer.

City Collector Frank W. Cunningham
was suspended by Mayor Richardson
yesterday for misconduct In viticc and
neglect OF duty" The Mayor has named
next Tuesday at1l a. NJ. for formal in
rcstlgntion. when evidence Will be
heard In HIS office. and when Captain
Cunningham will be given an oppor-
1unity TO be heard in person or by
counsel, and to present testimony in
his defense
a Joint session Of the City Council
has been called by President Robert
Whittet, Jr- of the Board of Aldermen.
Tor to- morrow night at S O'Clock TO
elect Collector OF CITY Taxes adj
Interim. NtH
omcc CIosed TO Public.
The office at present, is closed 10
tho public and will continue closed
until the City Council elects. the
deputies not being authorized to re-
ceive money from the time OF suspcn-
sion of the city Collector.
The Mayors notice Of suspension.
with formal settlement Of the
rharses again the City Collector. and
notice OF the hearing on Tuesday
next. were served on Captain Cunning
ham 1t his residence 200e West Grace
street carly yesterday afternoon by
Sergeant Arms George c. Euskell
OF city Council. The collector vas con
fined TO his bed yesterday by a severe
nervous attack. and Dy order OF his
physician visitors other than the Ser
ecani at-Arms, with the Official pupers.
were not allowed 10 see lin. In view
OF his physical condition he has issued
40 statement since his removal, but
had previously admitted TO Collector
Of Delinquent Taxes Z. c. WaIford
Deputy city Collector Herbert Hulcc
and Specia Accountant, George S.
#Crensh aw that the charge rs 10 short
age III his accounts OF more than
$500 since .jout Jauunry was cor
rect
GRIND Jury te'.RcvIcw Charge
CominonweaIy Attorney Minitree
FoikeS was closeted with Mayor Rich
nrdson for some time yesterday shortly
after the formal order of suspension
had been isscued Mr.. Folkes later de-
clined 10 discuss the case for puhlica-
ton, but II the order OF suspension
Is made permanent after the trial be
fore the Mayor there is no doubt but
that the case will be presented 10 the
May grand jury. MIR. Folkes admitted
that II was his duty to call TO the at
tcntion Of the grand jury all reported
delinquency of city officials in the
handling OF public funds
Mayor Richardson's formal notice OF
suspension gives a list of seven In
stances OF Richmond People-the w Fl.
Harris Grocery Company. the Richmond
Iress, the Southern Bargain House. the
Vaughan Robertson Drug Company
2 the Tanner Paint and Oil Company, the
Kirk Parrish Company, and Kirkwood
Mitchcll--each OF whom had paid taxes
for 1910 and received receipt therefor
but had not had the payment credited
on the books Of the Office. nor were
these various amounts received by
Collector Cunningham between Decent
Der 2S 1910. and January 5, 1911
turned over 10 the City Treasury as
required by law, nor. have the amounts
UP 10 this time been accounted for.
The collectors bond amply covers any
possible loss to the city, even IL Col
lector Cunningham and his friends do
not make good the shortage. as has
been done in the past when the official
was reported delinquent in settlements.
Formal Notice of Suspension.
The formal notice of suspension fol-
lows In full:
April 10Th, 1911.
To Frank w. Cunningham, Esq. Collec-
tor of the City Taxes of the City of
Richmond:
Take notice that on the written re-
port of the Special Accountant. and the
evidence produced before me, and un-
der authority of Section 100 of the Con-
stitution of Virginia and the Acts NJ
the General Assembly in pursuance
thereof, I. d. c. Richardson. Mayor OF
the city OF Richmond Virginia. do here
by suspend you, the said Frank w. Cum
bingham. Collector of the City Taxes
of the city of Richmond, from the dis
charge of your official duties as such
Collector for misconduct In Office and
neglect of duty. the said suspension to
take effect OH the service OF this no
tice and to continue until the said ac-
cusation shall be heard and determined.
M Charges In Detail.
The misconduct and neglect of duty
for which you are suspended Is specl-
fed as follows:
/. That on December 29th, 1910, you;
did. as Collector of the City Taxes of
the city OF Richmond. collect from w.
II. Harris Grocery Company the sum OF
1850, which said sum OF money was
then and there due to the city OF Rich
mond by the said w. H. Harris Grocery
Company for city taxes for the year
1910; that you did not make any entry
of said collection upon the proper books
in your Office; that you did not report
such collection under oath to the City
Auditor within ono week thereafter,
and that you did not pay the said sum
of 1850, SO collected. into the city treas
ury. as required blythe charter OF the
city OF Richmond and the ordinances
of said city.
.. That on December alst 1910. YOU
did, as Collector OF the City Taxes OF
tho city of Richmond, collect from
Richmond Press tho sum OF $40. which
snId sum Of money was then and thore
i--I7 /CoutinuedI 4 N T,hird no or \ ------