The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-07-10
WINCHESTER STIRRED
BY C0RRELL SHORTAGE
Trusted OficiaI who Died Three
Weeks Ago Left Business In
Tangled Shape.

| winchester. Va, July 9.--Mayor j.
f. Ward, of Winchester. has called q
Especial meeting of the City Council for
next Tuesday night to investigate the
condition of the city funds that were
in charge of the late J. e. Correll, who
was commissioner of revenues. Mr..
Correll, who was one of winchesters
! foremost citizens died about three
weeks ago and was buried with un-
usual honor. Soon after his death re-
| ports were spread that considerable
sums of money paid him for licenses
were not turned into the city treasury
and that there was also a shortage In
/ the Handley Trust Fund, of which Mr.;
Correll was treasurer. City Council
will ask the custodian OF the Handley
Trust Fund for report showing the
exact condition of the fund. Reports
in circulation today are that the to-
tai shortage will not be less than $685.
900.
The City Council and the Handley
trustees have been at loggerheads for
some time, and IL Is thought that the
meeting of the council next Tuesday
will be a hot one. A resolution will
be submitted to the council which has
been drawn up by the Mayor. closing
as I0llOWS.8
Resolved, that the board of Hand
ley trustees be and they are hereby
directed to make to the City Council an
itemized report of the present finan-
cial status of Handley Trust Fund,
giving In detail all receipts and dis
bursements, together with certified
statement of all balances in bank.
and showing any shortage in the ac-
counts OF the late treasurer of the
board, If any such exist"
Correll was bonded by the Fidelity
and Deposit Company, of Baltimore,
and one OF their representatives Is
here now aiding In going over the
Handley Trust books. 1t is said the
company bonded Correll for $4,000
Had Faith In Him.
Mr.. Correll had been com lssioner
of revenues OF Winchester for the last
90 years, and of the trust fund for
10 or s years. He had the confidence
10 everyone, and when the discovery
was made that he had not turned In
some license money paid into his
hands. to the city treasurer. there were
few who would believe 1t. Further In
vestigations, however, 1t Is stated,
showed that the license shortage is be-
tween $500 and $4,000. Then came
reports that Mr.. Correll had during
the past IOuI years. CAptitNNN 49,
siderable sums of money on auto
mobiles and chauffeurs. When the re-
ports Of the license shortage became
current members of the Handley fund
began an investigation. and, according
to report discovered a shortage or
from $4,000 to $4,000.
It "a also reported that there are
notes outstanding to the amount OF
another $40, 900. The notes. which are
in the hands of some of the banks
in the city, bear the signatures of some
of the most prominent residents OF the
city, and these have stated positively
that they never signed the notes.
Free With Hts Money.
BEING one of the foremost politi-
clans in the city and one of the
leaders in the Democratic party, ne
was always free with his money, ana
II ia said very few of the poor peo-
pie of the city who came to MIN Tor
aid were turned away.
| Mr.. Correll is survived by widow
and one adopted daughter. Both have
| the sympathy of the entire communi-
ty, and bravely contend that the DOCKS
| Of the husband and father will show
no defalcation. and that 1t will be
found that he acted honorabiy towards
tho men who entrusted him with the
annual license money he was to nave
turned over TO City Treasurer. MRS.
! CorrelI contends that he had for years
received this money and had always
turned IL into the city treasury. and
| that last year could not have been an
exception
The Handiey Fund.
| The HandIey fund is variously es-
timated ut from 81 600, 900 to $A,ooo,-
| 600, and part of 1t has already oeeh
spent for the the new Handiey LII
brary, the erection of which cost aoout
| so5l o0O. Ground has also been pur-
chased for the erection OF trades
scbool for poor white boys, for which
| a large sum is also provided.