Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1870-03-17
Another Democratic Treas
ury Thief
ABOUT siao 900 MISSING

From the Columbus Journal.
Some time IN February Information
was forwarded 10 Hon. James III. God
man, Auditor of Stale, that the funds in
the Butler County Treasury were being
wrongly used. This finally resolved it,
self Into petition, which, under iate OF
February l7th, 1870, recites as follows:
rrhe udersigned, citizens of Butler county,
res espectiully represent that they have reason TO
believe that the funds of the county have been
removed from the vaults OF the County Treas
uTy. and have been loaned by the Treasurer
contrary TO law, to men IN this city (Haniluon.) }
and elsewhere, and that the amount OF money
belonging to the county thus illegally in the
hands OF unauthorized persons Is not less than
S75, ,0oO."
After stating that the persons to whom
the money was loaned are not in condi-
ton to repay the same, aud that it IS
Impossible. to arrive at Il true knowledge
of the condition of the co .nty finances
from the fact that the Treasurer is in
formed at what tlme,an exaniRation of
his books and vaults will be made, and
lis enabled to prepare therefore, the petit
TONERS request the Auditor of the State
to appoint an inspector, who, without
previous notice To the Treasurer, shall
count the moneys in the vaults and
safes and compare the same with the
books of said Treasurer.
The State Auditor took such steps as
to gain all necessary information,' but
advised the postponement of the special
examination, until after the settlement
with the County and the State Auditor
when the books would show the exact
state of affairs as they should be.
The settlement with the State was
made on Wednesday, March =, and the
money due the State, paid into the State
Treasury.
OnFriday, March 4, Charles Reemelin
was appointed Inspector, in accordance
with the law covering such cases. and
on Monday, March I, he proceeded to
the case up to this day, so that no means
of information would be open to the
friends of John G.. Lindley the default
ing treasurer, in Columbus.
On Monday at noon, Mr.. Reemelin tel
egraphed the Auditor as follows:
Treasurer claims to be sick, declines to come
to the Office, and has SO far refused to give me
combination necessary to open inner safe.
What shall do If he persists"
To this the Auditor says:
Hold firm possession of The Treasury by
proper guard. II the combination is not deliv-
cred by tomorrow morning get a mechanic or
safe maker to open the safe Be firm and be
vigilant you will be sustained"
At1I:45 A. N. on Tuesday Mr.. Reem-
elm telegraphed that the investigation
was progressing, that TIE inner safe was
not open, that he was in possession OF
the Treasury and keys, that the Treas
ury had been guarded all night and that
he had sent to Cincinnati for man to
open the safe.
At noon, on Tuesday, March s, Mr..
Reemelin teleg:aphed:
"The Treasurer has sent me the combination
but so far We have failed TO get the vault open"
At $40 p NJ he telegraphed that the
safe was open but there was no money
in it.
At o'clock p. NJ. Mr. Reemelin tele-
graphed:
at looks now as If the defaIcation would be
about Sl20.O0D. Will report as soon as possible.
The Treasury has resigned"
The Auditor telegraphed Mr.. Reeme-
lin on Tuesday to swear the County
Auditor, have him produce the last set
Element sheer, state how much OF each
fund should be in the Treasury, and to
swear any one else who might know the
uses made of the money, all testimony
to be taken in writing.
No official information was received
from Hamilton yester lay, only to the
effect that the investigation was in pro-
gress. Hon. l.. ID. Campbell, of the
Senate, is one OF the sureties of Mr.. Lind
ley. and he returned from Hamilton,
expressing satisfaction with tile course
Mr.. Reemelin had taken.