The Van Buren press., 1874-12-22
The State and Stoddard's Bank.

dard 5 bank at the time ofits suspension
The rumor proved to be correct. Th'
report gives the exact amount-abou
S26,0 in currency, and about S32,O0
in state scrip. These sums were left a
the bank 10y the county collectors ofreve
nue., and checks given to the treasures
for the amount Gen. Newton knew no
thing Of these transactions, his deputy
Mr.. James A. Martin, having cemplet,
control OF the Office. Nr Martin neve
informed the treasurer Of these matters
as appears below in an interview between
q Gazette representative and Mr.. Martin
last evening:
Reporter--Mr Martin: you have. doubtless
heard of the report OF tie senate committee IN
reference to the states deposits at Stoddard',
hank Did Gen. Newton, the treasurer, know
anything about it?
Mr.. Martin-No, sir; nothing whatever.
received the checks from Stoddard in the set
tlement of collectors, without the knowledg,
Of Gen. Newton
Reporter-Dd you not know it was vio-
| lation OF law?
| Martiu-No. did not until after the nau-
guration OF Gen. Churchill, when he called
my attention to it. Gantt's Digest had not
then been printed, and did not know OF any
such law.
Reporter-Why did you not inform Gen
Newton?
Martini don't know. had no reason for
not telling him. | supposed it was all right
Reporter-And you say Newton had nc
knowledge of the matter whatever?
Martin-None. lie knew nothing OF it dur
ing his entiy'~imlnistration.
| Reportcr&PYee the checks were given in
4 . cf Al
draw money on them?
Martin-Wheneyer wanted money | would
send one OF the checks to the bank and il
would be paid. | never had any trouble in
getting money on the checks. | demanded
of Stoddard at one time the nine United
States bonds referred to by the committee in
their report, when he said he had not pur-
chased them
Rcporter-Why did you not draw tn,
Martin-Because | supposed it was al
right.
As soon as Gen Newton and the gov.
crnor learned how the matter stood, in
the absence of Attorney General hughes
Maj. Geo A. Gallagher and Col. II. A
Howard were retained on behalf Of the
state, and Gen. Newton, to commence
proceedings at once against the suspend
ed bank, in order to secure the state.
Last evening the states counsel filed 6
bill Of complaint in the Pulaski chancery
court, setting up the facts in the case
and praying that receiver be appointed
TO take charge of the property and asset:
of Stoddard Bros & Co, to preserve the
lien OF the state for any Indebtedness
thereto. The court. upon the face Of tht
bill, and exhibits, ordered that tempo
rary receiver be appointed H. II Rotta
ken, sheriff of Pulaski county, was ap
pointed receiver, and, by order of tn,
court, Lave bond in the sum Of twenty
thousand dollars to faithfully perform
the duties of said receiver
Sheriff Rottaken took charge Of tn,
banking house and business and propert,
Of the said firm. in obedience to the sale
order.-L. R. Gazette
Mr.. Martin, Chief Clerk in the Treasu
ry Department, says above that he die
not know it was a violation Of the law tC
receive checks in settlement with the col
lectors of taxes. Now, we believe ther,
is not a ten year old boy, that has rea(
the Democratic papers OF the State tn,
past three or four years, but who ha'
read repeatedly the charge, that collec
tors of taxes were making settlement
with the treasurer by this process o
checks, contrary to the law which make
it obligatory on the treasurer to receiv
none other than the funds collected unde
the various assessments. No collecto
of taxes could justly settle with the treas
urer, without making affidavit that he ha
paid over the same money as collected b,
him. If Mr.. Martin is as ignorant as h
processes to be, he should be kicked ou
of Office at once. This corruption on tn
part of the collector and treasurer, ha
been one Of the charges for the past fou
or five years against the out going ad
ministration, and for a Democratic re
form administration to be following il
the wake Of 80 barefaccd violation of tn
law, has no excuse or paliaton at ou
hands.
We hope the Legislature will prob
this matter to the bottom, as we fea
something rotten will be found. To sa.
the least, Treasurer Newton was derelic
in his official duty.
Since the above was in type, we hav
received the Little Rock Gazette contain
inc n card from Gen. Newton, in repl'