The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1915-06-25
STUB RECORDS. :. Of: =.
AASHNlLES CASH
BOOKS ALSO GONE
ANOTHER SENSATIONAL CHAP
TER WRITTEN IN THE BIG
SCANDAL.
THIEVES TAKE DEBIT LtLGER
Disappearance OF Valuable Papers
Adds to the Difficulties of Making q
Proper Audit and Survey Of the
City's Affairs.

City's Affairs.
NASHVILLE, Tenn, June 22.-An-
other chapter to the story of the mB-
nicipal scandal at the city hall was
added Monday afternoon, when the
theft Of valuable records in the ofiics
of the city comptroller was discov-
cred.
Stub records to the cash book for
the month of September, 1914, ana
sheets from the city treasurer's ana
comptroller's debit ledger, showings
how the city's money was received
and expended were torn from booker
in the office some time Monday.
The authorities have evidence O.
the theft in pieces of the stub records
which were found scattered on the
floor. The amount Of money involved
by the disappearance of these records
will run, in the opinion of those who
are in touch with the situation, into
many thousand dollars.
Only one man in Nashville has the
combination to the. safe in the Office
of Comptroller Miles Burns. He is o
safe and lock exrort in whose hands
the matter of locking the safe was
placed following the initial discovery
of the missing books at the city hall
week ago.
Every morning this expert comes
to the office of the comptroller and
opens the safe for the Office employees
The safe is equipped with an auto
matte lock.
Dozens of persons are known to
have been in the office some time
Monday 1t is believed by city and
county detectives who are investigat-'
ing the case that the records were de-
stroyed hastily by some one who hap
pened to be In the Office With NO one
else present.
The discovery was made by Eugene
B. Martin, assistant city comptroller,
upon the suggestion from Sheriff
Charles Longhurst, who said rufnors
reached him during the day of some
such act being committed.
Counsel for Miles Burns stated en-
phatically Monday night that the COM
binaticn was not given to Burns.
The work was construed by Harry
8. Stokes, chief counsel for Burns, an
designed to reflect upon Gums, who
on account Of business engagements
in connection with the case, who In
compelled to be away from his ONCE
a great part of the time.
AS soon as Sheriff Longhurst relat-
ed to Mr. Martin that rlimors had
reached him from unofficial sources
that some tampering had been done
with the city's books, the two made a
preliminary investigation.
Mr. Martin quickly notified Mr-
Burns of the discovery.
The latter sent for his attorney, n.y.
Stokes, and they called Upon Ollie
Williams, safe expert, who has been
left In charge of the opening OF the
safe since the disappearance Of the
original books was first -,ade public.
Deputy Sheriff ]. M: Allen and few
others were then called in aud in the
presence Of these officials the 'investi-
cation was completed.
Careful examination Of the mutilat-
ed stubs strengthened the 3pinior or
Mr.. Stokes that the ostensible pur-
pose of the depreciation was to reflect
further upon MIR. Burns character
1t was decided to MAXI the matter
public at once, counsel for the accus-
ed former comptroller agreeing that q
public investigation might be -produc-~
tive Of better resai,s than one con-.
drcted privately.
Mr.. Stokes and : lie ". @. Cherry
Joint attorneys for Mr.. Burma, held
long conferences Mondsv night ana
announced they would make de-
cisive move shortly It Has not learn
ed whether they would appear before
the city commission today to present.
officially the new discovery. ~