Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1915-10-16
.TH0S, F. RYAN'S
INDEBTEDNESS
Multi Millionaire Said 10
Owe State Half Million
Dollars
COMPROMISE REPORT
Amount Due Not So Large as Was
First Supposed-Rcport Endorsed
by Circuit Court.

Richmond. Oct. I6-Thomas For
tune Ryan, Of Nelson county ana
! New York, is delinquent in his re-
turns for property for taxation to the
aggregate amount OF $54,315, 600 for
the last ten years.
Mr.. Ryan will have to pay to the
State S24j.025, while to the county
of Nelson. including the district as
sessments, he will have to pay $685.
375.
These are the figures taken from
! the report of K. H. Drummond, eX-
aminer of records for the county Of
Nelson. for the last ten years and
cover bonds, money, shares Of StocL;
and the income therefrom and is
! separate from his real estate holdings.
The matter has been under ad-
justment for several weeks past, John
l.. Lee, Of Lynchburg. being employed
/ by Examiner DrummOnd N connec-
tion with the task. Congressman Il.
. Flood, of the Tenth District, Il
close personal and political friend Of
Mr.. Ran, is generally understood to
have counsclcd MIR. Ryan in the pro-
/ cccdings. Within the last two weeks
I Mr.. Flood ami Mr. Lee paid a "isit
20 New York and went over some re
cords in inat city Following Their re-
turn the report Of the examiner was
made M.
The showing Is distinct surprise
to The general public following SEN
Sational publications and reports.
/ Mr.. Ryan was held to be ,re TO the
State more than 4 million dollars in
! BACK taxes. and he was said to have
omitted rs much as $500 100000 in
some instances.
The report submitted has the ap-
! proval o. Judge Bennett 7. Gordon,
! Of that circuit. of the local board Of
"cvew. and also Of the commissioner
! Of the revenue.
I It stated that 50 far as, tie AT
! Gitor Of Public Accounts was con-
ccrned the report would DC accepted
! rs correct. r. there is TO he any cor
rect ion Of any sort-cither on the
, part of Mr. Ryan or on the part Of
! the State--it will have to bt made II
the Circuit Court for the county of
/ Nelson.
The State is entitled TO an appear
in the matter as we'll as AIr. Ryan.
The report makes some interesting
! disclosures It shows that for at lea:
ten years back Mr. Ryan has fail
ed to make Il proper return for taxa
ton. Just how much more he might
have been found "short" IS open to
speculation. 5ua the examiner did
not 20 back for more than ten years.
Under the laws of the State the ox-
aminer had right to 90 back to
! 1876. but that has never been done in
any case 50 far. If the examiner
! should make another report, after
going back still further. it is possible
he could add much more to .he State :
exchcquer.
III making the calculations it vii!
he shown that the State will not get
al that is quoted above. Tie reason
is that the tax on money, since 1919.
and including that year, is twenty
cents on each 500. That makes II
difference of $57j.0G0, the amount Of
cash on hand when the report should
have been made That will be incon-
sequcntial when the figures as 4
whclc are considered.
This is TIE biggest sum any eXami-
ner has yet returned for an Individual
case. II also means that the State
will receive more money from this
+. ore case than from any two others
which have so far Leen reported.
An interesting point will be raised
;, before the matter Of examiners re-
ports are completed. The law directs
, them to 20 back as far as 1876, but
this has never been done. The exam-
t mers have used discretion, the idea
. being to have property owners male
reports that are correct. -