The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1870-08-05
NUMBER 81.
THE GROWING CRIME.


LAWRENCE, July oath, 1870.
There are some facts in regard to the
robbery of the e. S. Government by ex-
Collector Speer which are within nv
knowledge, and which 1 have not yet
seen in print. Mr.. Speer is an editor,
and does not hesitate to assail political
opponents regardless of the purity of
their private character. His years of
constant assault upon ex-Gov. Robinson,
Robt. S. Stevens, ex-Gov. Carney and
hundreds of other men who were Re-
publicans, but who did not agree with
the caprices of John Speer, are well
known. But here we have, not ques-
ton of politics, but great crime, and
one which casts dishonor upon the Re-
publican party of the State unless it is
expressly and emphatically disowned
and repudiated. Speer has been out of
Office several years, but Republicans
high in office in Washington and at
home have connived at and concealed
his gigantic robbery of the public funds,
and have become sharers in his guilt.
But have no desire to write an essay
or political article. Some things know,
however, and among them the follow
ing:
LIST. Speer stole about 100000.
I'd. He used most of the money him.
self.
Sd. He built two brick buildings with
it, and started daily newspaper.
4th. For two years he paid off his
on the bank where the Government
money was deposited.
9TH. He bought large amounts of pa
per at the Conservative Office in Leaven
worth, which were paid for by Barrick-
| low and others out of the Government
funds.
9th. Sidney Clarke once drew large
amount through Assistant Hard, which
sum was never repaid.
18th. Jim Lane ran one campaign with
some of the money.
Sth. Barricklow and others male
themselves rich from the same source.
9th. Van Horn was the tool who fix
ed the books. With little discretion he
divided the amount that had been stolen
among the different counties, without
using any judgment in regard to the
persons who had really paid their taxes,
but who were reported by him as
dead, "absconded," or "insolvent."
10th. John Speer swore to these state
ments with the fullest knowledge of the
actual facts.
1lth. A Government officer was the
first person bribed by Speer to cover up
|
18th. A friend of Speer got money
and passes to take Van Horn to Canada
when he was needed as witness. Van
Horn said: 81 must either go to Canada,
or Speer and 1 will be sent to the peni-
Tertiary"
18th. Officers of the court shielded
Speer.
18th. W. and E. bought up the grand
jury. One juror was refractory. He
was at once made Deputy Marshal and
sent off to take the census.
18th. Supervisor MARI was removed
and Mcdonald sent here on purpose to
squelch the investigation of speer's
crimes. McDonald's assistant, Colonel
Joyce, came to Lawrence and arranged
the plan of operations.
18th. The appointment of Judge Dill
lon upset all previous calculations. He
has not been corrupted. Horton l do
not envy.
18th. Van Horns permanent home is
to be Canada. Speer gave him his note
for $500, and E. endorsed it. Van Horn
stayed in Washington last year, at
Clarke's expense, to look after this mat
ter. He has been poorly paid for the
voluminous forgery.
18th. l have seen letter from Clarke
in which he says: "Speer is an honest
man.
18th. Worden wants to Ego back" on
Speer and get him out of the Tribune
in which Speer does not own penny
and it is only by sufferance that his
name is retained in it.
Goth. Speer has property "down
South" in his wife's name, and intend:
to remove there if there should be g
failure in manipulating the courts.
21st. Since these facts became known
here nearly all of Speer's old friends
have deserted him.
1t is due to the people of Kansas thai
they should know these facts as fully al
they are known to Clarke and Pomeroy
both of whom have been privy to theil
concealment. The principal organ Of
Clarke is published in John Speer':
name. What can be the character of &
: politician who is sustained by a mar
who confesses that heis defaulter, anG
who can also be proved to be guilty o.
perjury and kindred crimes?
Men who paid their taxes years age
and who have John Speer's receipts in
their pockets, are daily called upon tC
come up to the Collectors Office and set
, tie, the Speer-Van Horn forgeries hav.
ing reported them as ''absconded," Gin
solvent" or dead"
. The stealing was done openly and
} shamelessly. The subsequent attempt
r 10 cover II up, HfsI IN the department a.
Washington, and afterwards through
frauds on deputies and false books, wa
done in bungling way and made 4
botch of by Van Horn and his superi
ors. The books and fraudulent returns
have been seen by Speer's deputies anC
many others, and the leading facts cal
, be proved by scores of witnesses
Would it not be well to summon tn,
hundreds of ''dead," 'sinsolvent" anG
'Eabsconded" to meet with the Stat,
Convention at Topeka? There are TIVE
hundred thousand reasons why the,
should have voice in selecting our pub
lie servants. You will hear from m,
, again.-Cor. LedU. Times.