The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1876-02-10
T.c DeviI Broke Loose.

County of Comanehe; and he represented that
County in the Legislature of 1874. Comanche
has not had a Representative since that time, not
having the requisite population, and it is proba-
ble the organization of the County was bogus.
During The session of 1874, Mowry sold to the
School Fund Commissioners the bonds OF two
School Districts in that County, to the amount
of 81 600 each. These bonds have been found I"
he bogus. A cummittee at the present session
was directed to investigate the matter, and ihey
discovered sufficient to warrant the arrest Oh
Mowry. The latter heard of it, and on Thursday
night he left Topeka ON French leave, for home.
the Sheriff of Shawnee County followed IN hot
haste, and Friday evening had tracked Aowry
to Palermo. Mowry succeeded in dodgins him
and the deputies whom he employed to help
them. They hunted through the brush and
about the town, very often being so near Mowry
that they could have smelled his breath. II he
had been taking something to warm him up.
Finally they satisfied themselves that he had
crossed over to st. Joe, and was hiding III the
brush below that city. Perhaps they have beat
EN- down the brush in that locality, in the vain
effort to find him, while. perhaps Mowry has been
watching them from his peep-hole. Such dodg-
ing between Palermo, Waihena and Elwood,
night and day, as has been done for the past few
days, was never before seen.
Persons who have seen and talked with Mowry,
inform us that he stated, when he came home,
that he came for witness, who was of import
auce to him, and intended returning TO Topeka
Immediately. He did the witness, and, we
nnderstand, sent him to Topeka. 1t was when
returning from the house of this man, only about
two hours after his arrival, that word was
brought him that the Sheriff was there for him
the Sheriff of Reno County, as they un-
derstood it. That was a movement Mowry had
not thought of, and did not understand. Not
knowing what accusation had been brought
against him, or where they were going to drag
him to, he got out of the way. He stated to his
friends that he did not mean to be taken by any
Sheriff. but that after they gave up the hunt, he
intended going back TO Topeka, to answer to the
Legislature; and if the thing had to be thor
oughly overhauled, the lightning would strike
Others besides him. some of whom are or have
been in high position. The Governor has offered
a reward of 500 for Mowry's arrest.
This thing has a bad look for Mowry. As there
will be plenty of persons eager for the chance to
kick him when he is down, we shall wait for the
evidence, hoping that he may be able to put
better face upon the business, when his side is
heard. But we would like to ask, what kind of
officers are the School Fund Commissioners that
buy everything that comes along purporting to
be school bonds, without knowing anything
about their genuineness, and then raise great
rOokery, and have somebody else arrested for the
blunder, after it is found outf
we suggested that the present Legislature should
make a general overhauling of State affairs-es.
pecialy of the affairs of the Secretary of State for
several terms back. There is something rotten
there. For year or two past, there had been
hints of fraudulent bonds, and other irregulari
ties in the Office. Last Winter, effort was
made to investigate the Office, but packed com
mittee smothered it. If Mowry disposed of
fraudulent bonds, he had help in high place.
We do not know where it is, but thsre suspi
cous circumstances in the case. Mowry was
sent by somebody to organize Comanche County,
for a purpose. W. H. Smallwoad was Secretary
of State and his Office was n vital place to help
along a fraud OF to kill it, bofh in organizing
Counties and selling ,bonds. Smallwood was an
old neighbor and a particular friend of Mowry.
manche County, and named Smallwood City
Smallwood was one of the School Fund Commits
sioners, and the officer whose duty it is to keep
record of County Clerks and their seals. These
points having been pronounced all right and reg
ular by him. the vigilance Of the other officers
would be relaxed. We would like TO see a COM
plete overhauling of the whole matter, in view
of the foregoing supicious circumstances
1t is said that Sam. Wood, the immaculate
"Reformer," is implicated in the Rice County
bond fraud, and will probably be arrested.
We understand there is disposition on the
part of some members to censure the entire Dom
iphan County delegation in the House, on Now
Iy's account. 1t will hardly be of much force.
The delegation, if they believed Mowry yinnocent,
would naturally stand up for him. but if he is
found guilty, they will go far any to punish
him. No man whose opinion is worth much,
will condemn them because of the misconduct
of another member from the same County,
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