Edmund "Ted" Harvey

1845 - 1923  (77 years)

• Name	Edmund "Ted" Harvey
  Born	13 Aug 1845	Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  Gender	Male
  FindAGrave	https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/217502168
  Occupation	1891	Guelph City, Wellington Co., Ontario, Canada
  	city treasurer
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-488315
  Died	29 Jul 1923	Guelph City, Wellington Co., Ontario, Canada
  Buried	Woodlawn Memorial Park Cemetery, Guelph City, Wellington Co., Ontario, Canada
  Person ID	I488315	Generations
  Last Modified	30 Sep 2024

  
  

  Father	Mayor John Harvey,   b. 19 Jun 1813, Truro, , Cornwall, England ,   d. 15 Jun 1884, Guelph City, Wellington Co., Ontario, Canada  (Age 70 years)
  Mother	Harriet Hearle,   b. 11 Sep 1803,   d. 14 Aug 1887, Guelph City, Wellington Co., Ontario, Canada  (Age 83 years)
  Family ID	F299947	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Photos

  Harvey-Edmund-001b-RayRuddyCollectio.jpg Edmund Harvey 1844-1923 - Ray Ruddy Collection

  
  

• Notes

  GUELPH-Edmund Harvey, one of Guelph's well-known residents, died suddenly on Sunday afternoon while seated with his wife on the verandah. He had not been in good health for some time past, but the end came suddenly, due to heart failure. The Windsor Star Tue, Jul 31, 1923 Page 6 ________________ Guelph, July 10. - Edmund Harvey, one of Guelph's well-known residents, died suddenly on Sunday afternoon while seated on his veranda. He was born in Galt 79 years ago, and, with the exception of ten years spent in Toronto, had lived almost all of his life in Guelph The Hamilton Spectator Tue, Jul 31, 1923 Page 4 ____________________ CIVIC FRAUD IN GUELPH THE CITY TREASURER SENT FOR TRIAL FOR EMBEZZLEMENT The Result of an Investigation of the Civic Book-keeping by Special Accountants- Treasurer Edmund Harvey's Arrest and the Reasons for it (Special Correspondence of The Journal.) Guelph, Ont., Sept. 20.-The case against ex-City Treasurer Harvey has now reached the point where he is formally committed for trial on charges of falsifying civic accounts and embezzling public monies. The circumstances have dragged over a considerable period of time, and it may not be superfluous to summarize them. Edmund Harvey became city treasurer in 1884 on the death of his father, who had held the office before him. For many years Harvey held the office without a breath of suspicion against his integrity. He was energetic and embarked in various enterprises in addition to his duties as city treasurer. At different times he has been interested in the heading and stave factory; in a lime kiln at Limehouse; was an active partner of the Guelph Lime Co., had a share in a pressed brick business, and was reported to have more or less Interest in various other enterprises. His salary as city treasurer was only $700, it is true, but if any suspicion ever arose as to his living beyond his means it was at once silenced by the thought that his salary was materially augmented by the returns from the various outside concerns in which he was interested. He was also an active member of the Church of England, and, with Police Magistrate Saunders, was a short time since the leading spirit in forming a new parish and erecting a new and handsome church. Suspicions Aroused. Several years ago, however, the suspicion of some members of the council was aroused, and it was suggested that an expert auditor be employed. The suggestion met with the usual reception in such cases, and the proposer was ridiculed for venturing to harbor such a thought, and denounced for insinuating aspersions on the treasurer. The kickers in the council kept at it, and at last Mayor Lampfrey insisted on appointing an expert accountant to act with the local city auditor. Mr. W. Powis, of Toronto, was employed. As the result of an examination of the books, he reported that something was wrong, although, owing to the system of book-keeping being faulty, the absence of a balance ledger and the complications due to the various sinking funds extending over periods of years, he could not say that the inaccuracies were intentional. Another Investigation. After much discussion in the council, Ald. Calvert who had been looking into the books on his own hook made formal charges of fraud against the treasurer, and another investigation was decided on, it being admitted that the reports of the local auditor, who had always reported that things were allright, were not trustworthy. The council then engaged Mr. George Edwards, chartered accountant, Toronto, to make another examination. Mr. Edwards in June last presented a report stating that there existed the most conclusive evidence of wilful misappropriation of funds in and about the items under the head of "Water- works Revenue," "Sales of Debentures," "Payment of Coupons," and "Dog Taxes." He placed the amount which he had positively ascertained to be unaccounted for by the treasurer at some $5,000, but he said much more than that was undoubtedly gone. He gave detailed cases amounting to that sum. The Treasurer Arrested. Mr. Harvey in consequence of this report was arrested on August 15 and taken before Police Magistrate F. W. Saunders, who postponed action until last week. Much influence was brought to bear to get a compromise, Harvey having many influential friends, but there was also a strong public sentiment that no compromise should be permitted. So, on Thursday last before the police magistrate Harvey was committed to stand his trial at the next court of competent criminal jurisdiction on nine charges of embezzlement of civic funds. The Charges. The Crown laid such charges as it thought would require the least trouble and expense to prove, regarding the accessibility of witnesses, etc. The right was expressly reserved, however, of laying further charges. In the proceedings on Thursday Mr. Wallace Nesbitt, Q. C., of Toronto, the counsel chosen by the city, appeared for the attorney general of Ontario, under instructions, and conducted the case, assisted by H. W. Peterson, C. C. attorney, D. Guthrie, Q. C., city solicitor and Mr. Hugh Guthrie. Mr. A. H. Macdonald, Q. C., appeared for the accused. The first item taken up was that contained in the fifth information in which the ex-treasurer was charged with fraud in omitting to account for $500 received from H., O'Hara & Co., brokers, Toronto, on 19th Sept., 1893. The Evidence. The evidence presented in support of this charge was that of Mr. Mitchell, city clerk, who identified Mr. Harvey's signature on the $500 cheque, and his writing in the cash book and letter book and in sundry letters and papers regarding this debenture transaction; of Mr. H. O'Hara, broker, Toronto, who sent the marked cheque accompanying a tender for debentures, and who, when paying for the debentures after his tender was accepted, treated the marked cheque of $500 as cash paid the city of Guelph; of Geo. Edwards, chartered accountant who has been auditing the books, and who testified that there was no entry of that cheque in the cash book or anywhere else that he found, that a less amount had been entered than had been received, and that there was a shortage of $500 in regard to this transaction; of J. M. Duff manager Canadian Bank of Commerce agency at Guelph, who swore that that $500 cheque was paid in cash or credited to some other account, but was not credited to the city account; and other bank officials from Toronto, who testified concerning the course of the cheque. Committed for Trial. His Worship considered the evidence sufficient to justify him in committing the prisoner for trial. Under sec. 601 of the Criminal Code he did not see how he could grant bail, in view of the gravity of the offence charged and its punishment. Mr. Nesbitt took the responsibility of allowing satisfactory bail in $10,000 on the understanding that the accused would waive examination on the other charges preferred and allow them to go on to the higher court for trial without further investigation. This was agreed to. Mr. Peterson agreed to accept the former bondsmen Dr. Reed, C. L. Nelles, and Miss Harvey in $10,000, but there is likely to be a delay owing to Dr. Reed's absence in the Maritime Provinces. He is not expected home until next month. In the meantime Mr. Harvey will remain in custody, or until another bondsman is secured to take Dr. Reed's place. Action on Guarantee Bond. Messrs. Guthrie, Watt and Guthrie have, on behalf of the city, commenced a civil action against Edmund Harvey to recover $20,000 on a personal bond made by the ex-treasurer and dated June 18th. 1884. The Future Probability. As the case now stands, Mr. Harvey may elect to be tried by the county judge, or have the case go to the Assizes. The latter course is hardly likely, as his counsel will not care to go before a jury in the present state of public feeling round here. It has been said that the county judge will request the Attorney General to be relieved of trying Mr. Harvey, but this is not definite. All through this case the mayor has been in favor of securing a settlement In money on condition that the criminal prosecution be dropped. This was almost accomplished, the council being inclined to accept $10,000 cash, which some considered the limit of the ex-treasurer's resources, and leave the Crown free to do what it liked, but the public sentiment zin? The city was such that the aldermen had to go back on this proposal and demand the amount of the discovered shortages, over $12,000, with interest and expenses of audit, etc., making in all some $19,000, and commit themselves to no abatement of the criminal prosecution. The citizens take the view that the council already has some $8,000 security, with a chance of some more from the Guarantee Co., so far as the financial aspect is concerned, but the predominant feeling is that such persistent and continuous stealing and fraud as appears to be shown against the ex-treasurer by the special auditors' reports should not be compromised or allowed to go unpunished, no matter what the social position of the offender. There has been a feeling, too, that the officials of the law were disposed to treat him with a consideration which they did not show to other offenders. The Ottawa Journal Wed, Sep 23, 1896 Page 6 rdrbrdrsrdrw30rsp20 Guelph's New Treasurer Guelph, Ont., Nov. 19. The City Council at its session this evening passed the by-law appointing a City Treasurer to succeed Edmund Harvey. Although Mr. T. J. Moore got the vote on the ballot for the position, Mr. David Scroggie had the majority in the open vote on the by-law, and he has been duly appointed. The new treasurer has been an alderman for ten years, and has more than once been chairman of finance. The salary is to be $800 and the security is $10,000. The council put itself on record in the Harvey case by unanimously adopting a resolution, moved by Ald. Calvert and Sully, expressing its dissatisfaction at the result of the criminal proceedings against Edmund Harvey, and of what they considered the inadequate sentence imposed on him in view of the seriousness of the offences to which he pleaded guilty, and that a committee consisting of the Mayor, Ald. Penfold, Dowrie, Hartnett, Sully, Mahoney and Calvert, be deputation to wait on County Crown Attorney Peterson and the Attorney of the province, and request them to lay new charges against Harvey and take such other steps as they may consider necessary to attain substantial justice in the case. The Daily Record Fri, Nov 20, 1896 Page 1 _______ ED. HARVEY'S CASE. A Committee Selected With a View to Settling the Case Against the Ex-Treasurer of Guelph. Guelph, Ont., Sept. 29. (Special.)- On Tuesday night at a special meeting of the City Council the Harvey case got another airing, especially to settle the civic suit against the ex-treasurer. After considerable discussion, the following motion was put and carried: "Moved by Ald. Coffee and Taylor,- That the mayor, the chairman of the Finance Committee, Ald. Coffee, the City Solicitor and Mr. Wallace Nesbitt be a committee without further reference to the council to negotiate for and conclude a settlement for such amounts and on such terms as they may consider wise with the late City Treasurer, Edmund Harvey, and the Guarantee Company in respect of all the city's claims against Edmund Harvey and the company, and in respect of the other securities held by the city in connection with such claims." Ald. Calvert strenuously opposed the motion, and held out that if full restitution was offered then the council would consider the offer. He was also dead set against any dickering in the matter and that the council should get their just claim in a proper way. He also commented strongly on the impropriety of one of the auditors, Mr. A. A. Fitzgerald, assisting Mr. Mitchell in the Treasury Department. As auditor he would be simply auditing his own work. The business will be again taken up at the council meeting next Monday night. The Daily Record Thu, Oct 01, 1896 Page 3 _______ ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE. It would be a serious matter if in this country an impression should go abroad that two kinds of justice were administered, one to the rich and influential and another to the poor who were without friends or influence. And yet on occasions we get examples that suggest such a condition of affairs. The Guelph Herald points out that while Edmund Harvey, the city treasurer, who stole $11,000, received three months' imprisonment, other lesser offenders were by no means treated so leniently. It instances the following cases: William Macdonald, theft of a fur cape, November, 1895, 1 year and months, Central Prison. Edmund Ellis, stealing raisins from G. T. R. car, one year in Central Prison, 1895. William Chambers, 12 months in Central Prison, assault, October, 1894. William Gray, stealing mouth organ, 5 years, April, 1894. The Windsor Star Fri, Nov 13, 1896 Page 2

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 13 Aug 1845 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - city treasurer - 1891 - Guelph City, Wellington Co., Ontario, Canada Died - 29 Jul 1923 - Guelph City, Wellington Co., Ontario, Canada  = Link to Google Earth