Year: 1868

W. Tew has been wrongfuy using the funds of the
State, and that he Is defauter TO the amount OF at
least four or five Thousand dollars. On Friday
subcommittee OF the Finance C0mtnittee with the
Speaker Of the House and State Auditor, visited the
Before they had proceeded far in the examination.
the Treasurer's clerk tainted away when asked
question relative to the state OF the accounts and re-
mained insensble for some time ThereupOn General
Tew after painful scene. confessed TO the commit
tee that he mad been using the money OF the State In
his private business and that he Is defauer to the
amount Of about 1000. The committee were en-
gagged In their investigation Friday night and Sat
urday. The treasurer placed his resignation In the
hands of Speaker Van Zandt and the committee
summoned the former treasurer, Mr.. 5. A. Parker,
from his bed and placed him In temporary charge OF
the office and i's appurtenances until the Governor
and the General Assembly can take proper action in
the case. Mr.. Tew has also requested the withdrawal
OF his name from the ticket for reelection. MT.
Tew's bondsInen will OF course save the State from
actual loss OF money; but the shock 10 the moral
sense OF the community when such man swerves
from rectitude cannot be measured by pecuniary
considerations.


INTERESTING PARTICULARS OF THE DEFALcATIoN OF


GENERAL TEw.


The first suspicion excited against General Tew
was during his examination before the sub-commit-
tee OF the Finance Committee Of the House OF Repre-
sentatives In Providence last Wednesday, and In
When asked to produce his cash book he said ne
hadn't any, and when asked what interest the Aquid
per cent but tar afterwards said to MT Adrcn that i
was four per cent. The committee, upon comforting
together agreed that there must be something wrong





and State Auditor. General Tew also stated
at this time that there were $595 worth OF
H%aors oas in S 0 the and ss @
statement was taken down In writing The books OF
the auditor and treasurer have had more searching
examination than 1t has been customary to give them
heretofore Another very strong point exciting sus-
pcion was the large deposit that General Tew made
banks-the North America and the Aqudneck Na-
tional-in order to make up his books for the exami
nation OF the committee. The committee could not
coo uhnnA fhn tvooo onvAr that
amount Of money. and they questioned him
about It, but he still persisted in the statement.
@ fy charged With ne aa q the
tors and treasurer's accOunsA comprising Messrs.
Ell Aylesworth and B. B. Adams, OF Providence and
Speaker and the State Auditor, visited Newport and
had an interview with General Tew. At that time
checks in the 4quidnecK Bank although S the COM
mtee had his previous statement In writing to the
contrary before them. When the clerk Of General Tew
question concerning certain depositsyz., where the
money came from that he deposited that day In the
away and remained insensible for some i've
minutes The struggle between his conscience
and his feeling Of obligation to his employer (who
the question in the afflrmative) had proved too
much for his physical system. The committee finally
asked General Tew to allow himself to be put under
oath. This he positively declined doing. The same
question was put to him without the oath, and he
did not answer 1t. It was put again three times,



answer was obtained when General Van Zandt told
him that his refusal to answer would prejudice his
Whole story were told. General Tew took General
Van Zandt out into an adjoining room fell upon him
weeping, and sad:-"My God, am ruined man.
Van Zandt then went back into the room and ad-
vsed the committee to suspend the examination.
street to try to find Mr.. George II. Norman, one Of
General Tew's bondsmen but ascertaned that he had
gone to New York. They then found Postmaster
bon NJ 40 hon and aoRa i'm
for his views. At this time General Tew was 80 agi-
tated that he could not say anything, and could
hardly walk. Mr. COggeshall and General Van Zandt
advised him to make clean breast OF 1t to the COM
mittee and resign his office forthwith. The form Of
resignation was then drawn by General Van Zandt
and signed by General Tew The party then returned
to the Aquidneck House and told the whole story to
the committee. Mr.. Collins and Mr.. Adams went to
anty consented take charge Of the General Trea-
surers ONCE and OF the accounts OF the State for the
present.


The following Is a record Of the testimony given
Saturday morning by Mr.. Brownel, the bookkeeper,
under OATH as taken down BY one OF the members Of
Q. When did you first have knowledge that AFFAIRS
were wrong In the Officer A. May IS. 1867.


at the time he drew the check' "A. He drew check
FOR $780, he said he took 1t for his own business but
INTENDED he,, to to return return u n a few days.


q Did he tell you that he wanted you to keep quiet
and not tell any onei A. No, sir; don't know that
use: wrote the check and he signed 1t. THE $3.50
was drawn from the Aqudneck National Bank.l


q. Did you keep memorandum OF the money
checked outs A. did not except upon the margin
Of the check book


O. Did you reckon up the amount In making your


0. How often did YOU balance your cashs A.
Whenever the bank book is made NJ: ! Know now
the cash stands [rhe account was made on the mar


Q. Have YOU and Mr. Tew both key 70 the safe.
A. We beth have access to the safe.


Q. When die Mr.. Tew make forced balance On the
Am A


q. Was that the first time you knew that he meane
10 deceive the committee2 Yes, sir. have always
fell and do feel that Mr. Tew intended to replace the
amount.


q. Tell just what occurred March !, when this bal
ance was made up, what was said and what was
done. A. General few came in and brought slip OF
paper, half an envelope, with few figures on It,
showing how he stood with the State-this was on
saturday-viz, bills for SIS II, q check for s23o 20
on the Rhode Island Union Bank and check for
s34o7 80 on the Bank of North America, which, with
the above amounts make the sum deposited In the
Aqaidncck Bank March !, viz So, 749 81 When he
brought in the slip OF paper ! first knew the
extent OF his Indebtedness to the State. He
stated that he wished to up his Indebtedness
from the Committee and meant to make it
up soon as he could. now find that there Is an
Indebtedness Of S625 more, which Is shown by Gen.
cral Tew's handing TO lion. Pardon stevens the re-
turn of the town treasurer OF North Kingstown.
This was dated last December We have kept In the
safe small amounts of the money, say $500 or $780,
and checks for larger sums drawn to the order OF the
General Treasurer. Tney were not endorsed until
deposited. The first deposit made In the Rhode
Island Union Bank was January ii, 1857, amount
$40 0J8 IS, which is the amount Of the State tax Of
the city Of Newport. The reason given for leaving
this amount was TO help the bank, the bank paying
no interest on 1t. He drew $4,000 the same day,
and deposited It in the Aqnidneck National Bank Of
Newport, and then he checked February Sl5,0S5.
There was account opened with the Rhode Island
Union Bank, either Of the banks, the journal.
He balanced his cash by the bank books. No one
deposits money In the banks OF Newport to
the credit OF the State, except General Tew and my
self General Tew. on his return from Providence
on wednesday last said the committee attempted TO
compare the accounts with the bank book, but
failed that the committee then compared the bottom
line OF the book with the check book and said they
found II all right. He talked with me about the
money deposited In the Rhode Island Union Bank,
and said he wished to keep that deposit from the
committee After the arrival Of the boat with the
committee the General said he was afraid II they
made thorough examination they would ind the
deficiency. and wished to be instructed Rs TO the
mode OF opening the safe. After tainted told the
General II was no use 70 try and keep the deficiency
frcn the committee, aud he said he should tell the
The whole Story when he went hack To the