Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 65, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 April 1898 — CITY’S FUNDS MISSING. [ARTICLE]

CITY’S FUNDS MISSING.

Sim Francisco Treasurer Accused of Eiubcizling $160,000 Novel Method of Stealing. San Francisco, April 21.—Augustus C. Widber, treasurer of the city and county of San Francisco, is accused of having embezzled $160,000 of the municipal funds. The suspicion of other civic officials that something was amiss in the treasury department was aroused Tuesday night, and Wednesday Mayor Phelan and Auditor Broderick began an investigation, which resulted in some startling discoveries. The sealed bags of gold in the city treasurer’s vault had been surruptitiouely opened. Care had been taken not to break the seals, but the string had been deftly cut and gold extracted and silver inserted, to leave the weight of the bags unchanged. Then the coin sacks had beer fastened and the several ends of the string concealed in the natural folds of the canvas bags. A search was made for Treasurer Widber, but he could not be found in the city. He was finally discovered Wednesday evening at his ranch near Walnut creek, in Contra Costa county, 60 miles from San Francisco. He was arrested by a constable, the officer starting at once for this city with his prisoner. Widber refused to make any satement.