The City Goes After Its Missing $5,381 — and the Bondsmen Who Signed for It

The suit of Corporation Counsel Scott and Assistant Corporation Counsel ... against ex-City Treasurer William L. Ames and his bondsmen for the payment of the balance of $5,381.74 collected by him for street and special assessments was handed to Bailiff Brooks for service yesterday, but Mr. Ames is absent on Whidby Island and service will probably be had by publication.

In addition to Ames himself, the complaint names as defendants John H. McGraw, Amasa R. Miller, David T. Denny, [H.] West Wheeler, Alexander B. Stewart, Edward O. Graves and Jacob Furth, among others, who were his bondsmen in $10,000 each. It alleges that Ames was elected city treasurer on October 1, 1890, and served from October 14, 1890, to March 19, 1892, and gave bond signed by the parties named, who qualified in double the amount of the bond. It also says that he collected or received from his predecessor on account of street improvements and special assessments a sum out of which he paid out $11,799.68, leaving a balance of $5,381.31. Of this sum he is alleged to have turned over a portion to his successor, leaving a balance unaccounted for of $5,381.74. The complaint says that Ames failed to faithfully perform his duties by not paying over this sum, and that, though frequent demands have been made upon him, he has failed, neglected and refused to pay it over.

Therefore judgment is asked for against him and his bondsmen for that sum, with interest from March 21, 1892, and costs. The amount sued for is the shortage found by George H. Robinson and J. P. Agnew in checking up the books of the city treasurer's office from the beginning of Ames' term to the accession of the present administration.