Montgomery County AlArchives News.....Treasurer Vincent February 7, 1883 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/al/alfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Kenneth Stacy klstacyfamily@aol.com January 30, 2007, 9:12 pm Microfilm Of The Huntsville Weekly Democrat At Huntsville Library February 7, 1883 Montgomery, Ala., Feb. 4th, ‘83 Treasurer Vincent Dear Democrat: My last letter had not reached you, when the startling developments of last week flashed upon us. I say flashed, because a stroke of lightning could not have been more stunning than was the news of Ike H. Vincent’s defalcation to this City, on last Wednesday morning. The day before, he was in his office at the Capitol, talked and looked, as he always did, a genial, whole souled spirit, which gave him so many friends throughout the State; and not even his most intimate friend imagined the dark secret of long meditated villany locked up in his breast. The legislative committee, appointed to examine the offices of the Auditor and Treasurer on the sixth day of the session, Nov. 20, 1882, had obtained the services of a competent expert to examine the books and accounts of the two offices, had gone through the books and found them correct and their work was drawing to a close, as only the money in the vault remained to be counted. On Monday, the committee informed Vincent that they would proceed to count the money next day. Not a muscle of his face moved suspiciously, nor did he betray the slightest emotion, as he signified his assent to the proposition. Monday night, he was at the rooms of the Magnolia Club, in this City, taking a social game of cards with a few friends, and carelessly remarked, as he looked at his watch, that he expected a friend on the next train, and must go to meet him, left the room, and that was the last seen of him in Montgomery. The next afternoon, his wife carried a note to Crawford, his Clerk, at the Capitol, with $15,000 her husband had left with her, and this first news of his sudden flight was communicated to Gov. O’Neal, about 8 p.m. of the same day. With commendable, but characteristic, promptness, the Governor went immediately to work to ascertain the extent of the defalcation, how and when it had been made. Thus far, the Governor has unquestioned proof that the thefts from the treasury began as far back as April, 1880, and continued till Sept. 30, 1882. That is the period within which the bulk of the stealing was done, as only about $5,000 has been abstracted since then. He dealt heavily in futures through Fred. Wolffe’s bank, here; and during the period above mentioned, the amount of money taken ran over $300,000; but he seemed to have been successful in his Wall Street speculations, and replaced some of this sum. The Clerk in Wolffe’s bank would notify Vincent of any deficiency in his margins, and he would promptly deposit the cash to cover it. He never took less that $1,000, and, some months, his account would run to $10,000 or $15,000. Strong evidence has been obtained to bring a guilty knowledge to Fred. Wolffe, if not a direct connection with these long and persistent drains upon the State finances. It is but just to him, however, to say that he denies all complicity with them. Wednesday morning, the affair was at first, spoken of in vague rumors and ominous whisperings, and Vincent had so fully the confidence of the community that no one was willing to credit the loose statements heard on the streets. Finally, the State Department could keep the secret no longer, and the whole story leaked out, and produced such a startling effect that the public pulse has not yet fully recovered. Vincent must be a man of remarkable nerve to brave with such a bold face this close proximity to a disclosure, that would surely come with the report of the examining Committee, and would as surely consign him to the degradation of infamy and shame, and to the walls of a prison. The Governor telegraphed to all the principal cities of the country a description of the defaulter, and employed Pinkerton’s detectives to assist in his arrest. Under the present law, he was not authorized to offer more that $400 reward; hence he did not offer a reward immediately, but the two Houses have passed a joint resolution to signify their intention to sustain him in a reward of not exceeding $5,000; a bill has, also, been introduced in the Legislature to that effect, and he has offered a reward of $5,000 for his arrest and delivery to the State authorities. All of Vincent’s property in Montgomery has been attached, its present value being $10,000 or $12,000, and, in addition, all of Wolffe’s property in this State has been, also, seized, amounting to about $25.000. Wolffe has been smart enough to cover most of this property with mortgages. Col. E. W. Pettus, of Selma, has been employed by the State as Assistant Counsel with the Attorney General, and not a stone will be left unturned to protect the interests of the State. The law requires all State officers to make a bond within forty days after the official declaration of their election. Maj. Ellis Phellan, Secretary of State, several weeks ago suggested to Gov. O’Neal the propriety of looking after Vincent’s bond, which the Governor did forthwith. Vincent presented him a bond, which he refused to approve, and, then, other signatures were added, and, again the Governor refused to approve it. The Governor had his suspicions aroused, but was assured that Vincent was the impersonation of honesty, and that the wealth of Croesus would be safe in his hands, and feeling confident that under the law, the bond for the previous term would still hold good, and as the sureties on that bond were perfectly solvent, the Governor did not declared the office vacant, but allowed further time to file a new bond. A few days before the meeting of the Legislature, in discussing with the Governor and a prominent member of the House the various appropriation measures before the General Assembly , Vincent with unexampled effrontery declared that that there were in the State Treasury $270,000 in cash. It is safe to say that the State will recover very nearly the full amount of the defalcation, which from the report of the Committee is over $212,000. Vincent was last heard of in Nashville, Tenn., at breakfast, Tuesday morning. Gov. O’Neal’s term of office begins rather stormy; but he has the pluck, determination and executive ability requisite to a wise and safe solution of his difficulties, and all his friends hope this is the end of them. LEGISLATION The House has been busy at work for the past week on the Revenue Bill, and little progress has been made, although it has been made a special order for 12:30 o’clock, each day. This bill will increase materially the license on liquor dealers in incorporated cities and towns. The bill prohibiting the working on railroads and running freight trains on Sunday, has been favorably reported by the proper Committee of the House, and made a special order for Tuesday. Both Houses have passed bills, prohibiting the carrying of explosive materials in any baggage, express or passenger cars of this State, and punishing persons who, by intoxication or any gross, or willful misconduct, or negligence, shall cause the death of a human being or the loss of a limb, in operating any railroad in this State; also empowering the Alabama Railroad Commission to cooperate with commissions of other States, in recommending joint rates to railroads extending out of Alabama; also to empower Railroad commission to recommend joint local rates or freights to railroads; also, to prevent monopolies in freights. The House bill to allow summary judgments against probate judges and tax collectors [provides for suit being brought in Montgomery Co.] was favorably considered by the judiciary committee of the Senate, and a lively discussion sprang up in the Senate, to-day, on the merits of the bill, which was finally indefinitely postponed. A joint memorial to Congress has been adopted by both Houses and approved by the Governor, requesting an appropriation for the improvement of the bar and harbor of Mobile. It is a matter of pride and gratification to the entire State to notice the rapid strides Mobile is now taking towards her proper position as the port of entry of the State. The time is not far distant, we hope, when the majority of the imports and exports of Alabama will be through the harbor of Mobile. This can only be accomplished by getting necessary appropriations from the General Government, and this Alabama, through her Senators and Representatives should insist upon having. Prior to the discovery of the heavy raid upon the State Treasury, a swarm of patriots had gathered at the Capitol to advise and assist the State in a proper investment of the surplus cash, and they, now, look as if the unfortunate defalcation was a grim practical joke at their expense. The representatives of the debt stricken Counties of Chambers, Lee, Pickens, Randolph and Tallapoosa have changed their scheme, and a bill has passed the House transferring the State taxes due State taxes due from them for 1881-2-3 4, pro tempore, in these counties, for the purpose of paying their indebtedness. It will come up probably this week, in the Senate for consideration. The bill, giving the city of Huntsville authority to levy certain license taxes has been approved by the Governor, and is the law. Another bill affecting the city of Huntsville is pending in the House, which changes the present wards, and provides that each ward shall elect its own aldermen; also for a recorder (with power of a justice) who is ex-officio city tax collector, must give bond, and receive a salary of $1000 also, that the Mayor shall be President of the Board of Alderman and receive a salary of not exceeding $500, Another bill has been introduced in the senate providing that defendants, against whom affidavits have been made in the Madison County Court, may have the benefit of an investigation by a grand jury before trial. It is thought the defalcation will not prevent the reduction in the tax rate recommended by the joint committee on that subject. Chiel. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/montgomery/newspapers/treasure1315gnw.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/alfiles/ File size: 10.6 Kb