The Penn's Grove record., 1923-05-11
Treasurer Mitchell
Got Two Years
Salem's Defaulter of $4,000 Got
Off Easy. No Trial Held

Alfred D. Mitchell, former City
Treasurer of Salem, who was to go to
trial on Wednesday, put one over on
the morbid curiosity seeker when he
walked into the old Court House, IN
Salem, at 1910 ?. NJ, assuming an
air of disinterestness before the
breathless throng who had been wait
ing six months for grand display
of legal manouvering and strategy by
the giants of Blackstone and barris-
ter, like Daniel Webster-Beckley.
Deputy Attorney General William
A. Newcorne, of Trenton, arose ana
moved the indictment charging Nit
chell with converting to his own use
five Salem City School bonds to the
amount of $500, held by City Ma
tional Bank. c.,-
Irving P. Parsons, of Atlantic City,
counsel for Mitchell, addressing the
Court stated that his client, VINO
sat beside him, desired to change ms
plea on this indictment from not
guilty to non vult, which stripped OF
latin veneer is a modest way oil
pleading guilty. Judge Mecum ac-
cepted the plea. ....,,oa 20
Attorney Newcorne then moved TO
nolIe pros the other two indictments
In other words he meant that the
State Prosecutor would proceed no
f,1,tber on the greater crime OF haV-
mo bvpothecated ST. 800 other bonds'
Mr.. N5wcorne moved for sentence.
.h1doe Mecum ordered Mitchell TO
stand nm. Mitchell arose quickly and
the Judge pronounced the sentence OF
at least two years and not more IMAM
three in State Prison.
That was the sentence he imposed
the dav before on two Penns Grove
Italians who stole $400. Mitchell got
$4,000. Mitchell's crime was simple
misdemeanor. The Toney's was ron
berv. Salem City's property owners
had not paid the cash, but Will IN
few years in taxes. .. CO...
The Prosecutor and attorneys 1of
Mitchell had a consultation for some
minutes before Court opened ana the
nroceedings showed all the indications
that the proceedings had been ar
ranged for a speedy disposal.
All the old officials OF Salem VINO
We're In office when Mitchell was
treasurer from 1924 had been SUD
noenaed and old records We're piled on
tbe court room tables. Some had the
annearance of CONSERVATION on their
cnnn+enances and if the records haa
heen eXposed in court, it is reported;
that many personal wounds "oaia
have been made of dereIictlon IN Guy
affairs. The laxity of administrator
in Salem City affairs has been cur
rent for many years, not only Ill
finance but in the water department.
Story of The Bonds
CITY Solicitor w. A. w. Gr1er gave
the following report to Salem City
Conncil: He found that pursuant to
a resolution of that body adopted Oc-
tober I'd, 1912, bonds were issued
hearing date the first day Of Decem-
her, 1912. and that these bonds were
stoned bv the City Treasurer, Mayor
civ Clerk, and on the reverse slde
was the signature of the President OF
the CITY National Bank that the seal
and SIGNATURE were genuine. Inc
bonds were numbered from l to loo
inclusive. in denominations OF 9ooV'
rate of interest Az per cent. and -FOUR
Of tbe bonds to be payable each year
hnginning December 1st, 1913. Some
of these bonds were sold locally and
that when a block of them was offered
70 +he State of New Jersey, exception
was taken to the proceedings undef
which thev were authorized, with the
reenIt that the resolution of OCTOBER
ID 1912. was rescinded and new one
adonted March 5th, 1913, which re-
cited the entire wording. New bonds
Irora nrinted. numbered the same as
the first and as far as layman1 could
discover. identical as to form. 1t was
found however, that all were properly
ayecnted bv the city officials with the
eXcention of an issue of 1000 that
we've purchased by the State OF New
ToreaT that did not contain the sig
1,atnre of the President of the oank.
After +he second issue had been put
o,,t the holders of the first issue We're
oupnosod or to turn them in for eN-
oIpp obppon and some did, While othefs
cin;a5ed ] thev were never notified
.aTbe first issue was supposed ~ 70
,,,a he hoon ~ DESTROYED by Mr.. Mitchell
Haae thon Civ Civ Treasurer" the Solicitor
s'119U Wr Mitchell received $1,000 year
WOO curpr and at the same Tune Was
a. +be clothing business IN oaletli' en-
- ~ of+er his term expired he lelC oa1
1o 9ooh ,,ooved to Merchantville and Ven !1n
ie4a ie.i,' +be brokerage business IN fillla .a
~ i,1,;a ;n Among other business ven
pn aelpiiiS,, [.os a partnership in the Denny Denny
tures lt " boat line between -, rem, lllo
Grove Grove and Philadelphia e1elId He ~iom put the the
dI Wlai, H,ith different banks as seG91ooy IIdn,;,
6ollds ,os Ms' How he was able TO niool1i ~
fot t .oa,1' ns fnancier and broker was "o'
suTplcioiretfb, The financial slump in 192l15 l15
bd not make 5s loans n g40d on So tbe the market
6IJ citT the ReD%y Dh%yypothecation became p"0l'''
Antonio zamgino and s!.1sl Ant9ni9 g" Tues- Ca:
gs'o G2 q ssa, c q Fo42ssg ii 7s sd Sd
Sef stsEs SESss June ast sh on 1922 Tuesday
The trial, WHICH enc ehfGG bv be both Henry