Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-02-27
CHARGES PADDING
OF C|TY'SP ROLL
Board Suspends Clay Drewry
for Alleged Gross Irregu-
larities.
POLICE DEPARTMENT TO ACT
Head of Hands and Carts Force
Said to Have Collected Pay
Of Discharged Men.

Clay brewery. manager of the First
District of the city hands and
carts force, and for many years
trusted member of the inspection divi-
sion of the Engineering Department,
was sumnarily suspended from service
yesterday by the Administrative Board.
following nquisition which de-
vclopcd evidence tending to show that
lie has been guilty OF gross irregulari-
ties In connection with the making up
OF his pay rolls.
Specifically, the charge was made
that Drcwry kept two men, y. -. Tate
and Richard West. on the city's hands
and carts force pay roll for tho fort
night ending February u. although
neither of the men had worked, and
were not entitled TO pay. Further
more. It was charged. Drewry told First
Assistant City Engineer T. i. Talia-
ferro that he had paid Tate the s29.25
due him and mailed a similar amount
to West. but that he actually did
neither. keeping the money himself.
UNCERTAINTIES REFERRED
TO POLICE DEPARTMENT
On the basis OF these charges. at
tested to by "a number OF witnesses. the
board unanimously adopted motion
made by Elbcn G. Folkes. suspendinG
Drcwry from the city's services. and
directing the City Engineer to take
the matter up with the City Police De-
partncnt and the Commonwealth At
torney. for the purpose OF establish
ing the irregularities charged. and de-
tcrmiring whether or not Drewry has
been guilty OF uttcring n forgery or
misdirecting any of the city funds
placed In his Keeping.
Detective Gordon l.. Smith. OF the cen
tral Office. WAS witness to the inves-
tigation. and conferred with Mr.. Boil
Ing at the conclusion OF the hearing.
The motion of Mr.. Folkes authorized
City Engineer Boiling TO call in the
services OF the City Auditor and City
Accountant to aid him In checking up
Mr.. Drewrys accounts.
1T Is with great reluctance that l
have TO make this motion" said Mr..
Folkes. The matter Is not personal
one. II 1T were, we might make an
effort to adjust IL without taking
drastic action. But the city and the
public arc directly concerned, and our
duty is plain"
DETECTIVE VISITS DREWRS.S
ROOMS At FAIR GROUNDS
Though no warrant had been placed
in his hands. Detective Smith visited
Mr.. Drewry's rooms at the State Fair
Grounds last nigh; and found them
vacant. The detective had received in
formation, he said, that MIR. Drcwry
left the city on the afternoon or night
Of Thursday. II seems assured. 80 far
as the Police Department knows, that
Mr.. Drewry is not in town.
Detective Smith says that il IS
probable that hc will swear out a war
rant for Mr.. Drcwry's arrest. lie did
not swear 10 warrant last night be-
cause OF the insuGiclcncy of direct ev!-
doncc In the hands Of the police to
connect Mr.. Drrwry with the crime
charged against him. The hearing by
the Administrative Board lasted so late
that the detective had Time 10 visit only
ono cmployc out Of the twcnty-one who
arc listed rs having knowledge of the
alleged defalcations To-day he Will
make effort to visit all who are con-
cerncd.
According 10 section 37i7 OF the Vir-
ginia Code, the misappropriaticn or
misuse OF public funds is felony
punishable by Il term OF from one to
ten years In the penitcntiary.
FELLow-wORkMAN CALLS
ATTENTION TO DISCREPANCY
Tho fact that Tate and West had
bcen carried on the "ay roll for two
weeks. although neither was entitled
TO pay, was nrst brought 10 the attcn-
ton OF the City Engineers office by
James Michael, n fellow workman lie
impaired the information to G. G.. Blake
ly, accountau. and paymaster In the
city Engineers office, on Tuesday.
Blakely reported at once to Mr..
Taliaferro, who is the operating head
OF the hands and carts force. Within
few minutes City Engineer Boiling
was informed of the alleged irrcgu-
larity. and he at once began an inves-
tigation. Mr.. Boiling told the board
yesterday that he saw Drcwry on We'd
nesday. and asked him for an explana-
tion. Drewry. he said. admitted that
he had made an error in keeping the
two men on the pay roll. and that he
was ready and willing to correct It,
UNABLE TO LOCATE DRENItY
AFTER TNNO-DAY SEARCH
AT Mr.. Bolling's suggestion. Drewry
agreed to report with him Thursday
morning at the City Hall for tho pur-
pose of making a full explanation to
The Administrative Board. Mr.. Boiling
told the board of efforts on tho part
Of himself and his assistants to locate
Drewry all day Thursday and ycstcr-
day, without success. Inquiry as to
his whereabouts among relatives met
with the reply that they had not seen
him since Thursday, and did not know
where he was.
The investigation and subsequent
summary action stirred official circles
as no development has In recent years.
IT has been the oft-rcpcated boast OF
the city that the municipal govern
ment was absolutely free from tho
faintest suspicion OF misdoinK. The
apparent discovery Of n deliberate pad.
ding of n municipal pay roll almost
within the shndow Of tho City Hall
rudely dispelled this fair Illusion.
DREwRY'S FRIENDS EXPRESS
THE GREATEST SURPRISE
Friends Of Mr.. Drewry expressed
tho deepest surprise yesterday at tho