Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-03-27
TOWN. TO SUE FOR
ALLEGED SHORTAGE
Former BelIeviIle Official, Ao-
countant Reports, Owes
s28'7e7.es.

Legal proceedings will be instituted
by Town Attorney John DeGraw, of
Belleville, to recover $2s, 1873, the
alleged shortage due the town from
former Tax, Collector A. H. Osborne.
The alleged shortage, which covers a
period of eighteen years. was made
known in a report submitted to the
Town Council by Lewis r. Huxtable,
town accountant.
Faulty bookkeeping, it was ex-
planned at the special meeting of the
Town Council last night. was to
blame for Mr.. Osborne's Indebtedness
to the town. Mr.. Huxtable in his re-
port laid emphasis on the fact that
he attributed the alleged shortage to
the methods by which the accounts
were kept.
Mr. Osborne, he pointed out, appar-
entity relied more on his memory
than on his books. The only time he
evidently gave any attention to the
books, the report read was when he
was making up his annual report.
Faulty Bookkeeping.
In substantiation of this statement,
the report showed that the franchise
tax of the Essex and Hudson Gas
Company for 1901, amounting to
$54367, has never been paid The
company can find no record of the
bill having been paid. Town Attorney
DeGraw was instructed to take action
toward collecting the bill. which. with
interest, now amounts to 1925
The amount of general taxes which
Mr.. Osborne failed to turn over to
the town. according to the report. is
$50. 25l 40. On account of the dates not
being recorded on which the differ
ent items which make UP the shortage
were received no interest has been
charged to the actual shortage.
Interest at 6 per cent. however was
charged on the Public Service fran
ehise tax, amounting to 81, 1864,
which was received and not recorded.
This amount. according to the report,
was received in 1894 and 1905, and the
interest. amounting to 81, 169.04, was
added to Mr. Osborne's indebtedness
te the town. These two items, to-
gether with the report of the tax ad-
justment commissioners, amounting
to $2,S1761, sum up the total indebted
ness.
The tax commissioners report is
based upon the property owners re-
corded on the books as not having
paid their taxes during certain years,
and being so informed, showed re-
eeipts for the same.
Data Unavailable.
The report was delayed, according
to the accountant. on account of his
inability to obtain the books and
data from Mr.. Osborne. The report
was received by the auditing commit
tee on March 3. and an attempt to
present it last Wednesday night, was
withdrawn on MIR. Osborne's request
that he be given a chance to go over
the report with the auditor.
When seen this morning Mr.. Os-
borne said that it is his intention to
engage an expert accountant and
have the books ree8amined Mr. Os-
borne stated that he had seen the
report in toto and not the itemiZed
account. He said he would inform
Town Attorney John De Graw of his
intention.
Mr.. Osborne, who Is a Democrat
was tax collector for more than TWEEN
ty-fiye years. He was defeated for
the nomination by Martin A Malague
in 1911. The latter was defeated for
the office by George W. staniar, Re-
publican.