The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-04-05
ALLEGED SHORTAGE
LAID At DOOR Of
DEAD SUPERVISOR
Hanover County Will Sue Es-
tate John l. Saunders for
$4,000, Alleged Defalcation.
Died Last July.

Legal action against the estate OF
the late John l. Saunders former
supervisor OF the Hanover County
and State Aid Read fund, for the re-
coyery of an alleged dNfxlcAtton OF
about $4,000 has bean ordered by
the county board Of supervisors Of
that county. and Commonwealth at
torney George r. Haw Ia expected TO
enter suit against the estate and the
bonding company within the next few
days in accordance with tho boards
order
Investigation Of the accounts of
the laAe commissioner has been in
progress for some time and at the
last injecting. previous to that of
Wednesday. April LIST. Commissi oner
H. Carter Redd made his report to
the board. This report was referred
to the Commemorative attorney. who.
at the meeting held Wednesday. de-
lvered his opinion concerning the
right Of the board to recover. The
report was favorabiy accepted by the
board. with the result that the at
torney was ordered To take such le-
gal steps as might be necessary for
the recovery of the amount due the
county.
The order entered by the board at
the meeting Wednesday Is as fol-
lows:
Whereas. this board by an order
entered at it's last meeting referred
to the Commemorative attorney the
report made by Commissioner II. Car
ter Redd. relative to the dealings OF
the late John l.. Saunders as super
visor with the County and State Road
Aid fund with the request that he
examine the same and advise this
board in the premises and whereas
the said commemorative attorney
has this day delivered To the board
his opinion in writing. This board
having considered the same doth
hereby order the said Common
wealth's attorney to take such legal
proceedings as may be requisite to
recover from the estate Of the said
Saunders and securities on his Of
fetal bond. the amounts reported by
Commissioner Redd as due from him
and such other sum or sums as upon
further Investigation he may find due
by him.
Even before the death of Mr.. Saun-
ders last July, the accounts OF the
road fund were thought to be tangled
and an investigation was impending.
1t was postponed some time after
the death Of the comm ssioner and
later the records were turned over
to Commissioner Redd for account
Ing. 1t developed that both the coun-
ty fund and the State road appropri-
alton had suffered at the hands OF
the alleged defalcation would prob
ably reach total slightly in excess
Of $4,000.
Saunders was. bonded by the Amer
lean Surety company, OF this city,
for $500. 1t Is said the bond NAV
be an accumulative one and that this
sum may have been automatically in
creasing during the last few years,
although this point had not been def
initely determined yesterday. The
estate OF the dead man. with the
bonded security, is said to be suffic-
lent to guarantee that the county will
not lose heavily as a result of the
defalcation.
Commemorative Attorney Haw re-
fused absolutely yesterday to dis
cuss the case and would give no in
timation as to what course he would
pursue. nor when he would begin
the carrying out of the recent order
made by the board Of supervisors. It
Is thought, however, that action will
be started early this week through the
Hanover courts.
John L. Saunders had been for
many years actively connected with
the affairs of the county and was
highly regarded throughout his Sec
ton of tho state. He was well known
in Richmond and had many friends
here. Tho news OF the state In which
he had left his accounts was q shock