Source:Paisley-dead
"Paisley dead: Former superintendent of highways passes away at Newport News, Va.: Local officials surprised: Has suffered constantly since he left here months ago—had been employed by the city for fully 25 years." Pittsburg Post, July 6, 1900, p. 1. Newspapers.com 86435490.
Samuel T. Paisley is dead. The former superintendent of the bureau of highways and sewers of Pittsburg, against whom there was a charge of embezzlement of $52,000 of the city funds, died yesterday afternoon at Newport News, Va. The first information of his demise was received at 8 o'clock last night by Roger O'Mara, superintendent of the bureau of detectives, who has been hunting Paisley for weeks.
Mr. Paisley went on May 26, direct from Pittsburg to Virginia Beach Va., where he was confined to bed by sickness all the time, until he left for Newport News a few days ago, where he gradually grew weaker until the hour of his death, which occurred at 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon.
Superintendent O'Mara, as soon as he received the telegram announcing Mr. Paisley's death, notified Samuel T. Paisley, Jr., a son, who is now in the East End. The word received by Superintendent O'Mara was vague and only stated that Paisley had died at 4 p. m.
Superintendent O'Mara said last night that he had no idea how long Paisley had been at Newport News, but thought he went there directly from Virginia Beach. Shortly after Paisley left Pittsburg O'Mara says he received information that he was somewhere in the vicinity of Virginia Beach, and Detective Thomas McQuaide was detailed to go after him. The detective upon arriving at that place learned that Paisley had been there but had left. A closer investigation disclosed the fact that he had left Virginia Beach four days before the information for larceny had been made against him in this city. While at Virginia Beach, Paisley did not stay at any of the prominent hotels, but remained in a quiet cottage with his wife. After leaving Virginia Beach he was lost sight of and the detective returned to Pittsburg without his man.
Each day since then Superintendent O'Mara has received reports from the Pinkerton men, said to be working on the case, but the news of Paisley's death was a great surprise to him. The message was signed by an officer, but not one of the men on the local force. The name of the officer was not given out here.
Superintendent O'Mara said that he was perfectly satisfied that Paisley had been ill during all the time after he left the city, and that while at Virginia beach [sic] his condition was gradually growing worse, as he suffered much from hemorrhages, while his physical condition was much weaker than when he departed from the city. The superintendent had not heard anything definite relative to the arrangements for the funeral, but thought the body would be brought to Pittsburg for interment.
Mr. Paisley was 54 years old. He was in the service of the city in different capacities for 25 years. He was a telegraph operator, and during the war of the rebellion served in the Union army in that capacity. After the war he resumed that vocation here. many years ago he superintended the construction of the telegraph lines of the city of Pittsburg and was the first superintendent of the bureau of electricity until succeeded by the present superintendent, Morris W. Mead. He was in the bureau of highways and sewers from 1888 until March of this year, when his resignation was demanded and received by Director Bigelow on account of the discovery of irregularities in connection with his financial dealings with the city.
Mr. Paisley was a prominent Mason and a member of other secret orders. Until the letter disclosing his irregularities was sent by Director Bigelow to Controller Lewis on March 6, there had never been a suspicion of crookedness or any conduct in any way dishonorable or dishonest concerning him.
After the exposure of Paisley's shortage, when he was still ill at his home, an investigation of his accounts was conducted which revealed the fact that defalcations at first supposed to amount to only a few thousand dollars were actually over $50,000 in amount, according to the council committee's finding. Then, before any prosecution was commenced, Paisley left the city on the night of May 26. Since then, while his attorneys, Murphy and Hosack, stated that he was at the seashore, no definite information concerning him has been made public until the announcement of his death came last night.
Under arrangements now practically completed all the money that the city could collect by legal process of the amount which Samuel T. Paisley is accused of having obtained improperly is to be paid into the city treasury. While the amount of defalcation of the ex-superintendent of the bureau of highways and sewers was reported by the Council committee to have been over $52,000, it is claimed that half of that amount cannot be recovered by the city on account of its collections being barred by the statute of limitations.
Under the arrangement being now completed it is expected that the city will collect $27,000 without the expense and delay of litigation. City Attorney Burleigh, as stated in "The Post" last week, postponed his proposed civic suits against Paisley and his bondsmen, expecting a settlement to be made in a few days without the necessity of suing. The amount to be paid is to be determined after a complete investigation of the books and vouchers in the controller's office, now being made by a representative of ex-Director E. M. Bigelow and the bondsmen of Mr. Paisley, who are responsible to Mr. Bigelow, the bond having been given to them.
