The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1877-10-04
MyGTS,thG Tortured" Treasurer, Makes
a Clean Breast Of Il,
He Alleges that j. F. Smith, the
County Auditor, was the Man
Who Burned" Him.
Pleads the "scapegoaW Dodge, and
Claims that Several Prominent
Citizens have Profted
by His Crimes.
The "WOman in the Case Appears"-
She is Minnie Stripe, Smiths
Mistress, and Both are
Under Arrest.

Wapakoneta, o., September 26.-The
following will appear in the Wapakoneta
Bee tomorrow;
Myers made clean breast Of it this
afternoon, and this is how it came about:
He waived examination at the prelimin-
ary hearing yesterday, thereby creating a
feeling of distrust on the part of his rec
ognizers, and they refused to go on the
bond for his appearance at court lie
therefore, could not find men willing to
assume the obligation, which was fixed
at S25.00O, and he was committed to
Jail.
In the Treasury examination Myers
sWore that he had never loaned a cent,
either of the county's money or his Own,
to the several parties about whom he was
questioned, but upon examining them
they testified quite differently, j. II,
Mesoh, the county's Representative, tes-
tilted under oath that he had borrowed
about $1,000 from Myersa different times
during his term of Office, He said, how
ever, that he borrowed it without sus.
pecting that it was county money, and
paid it all back except $49l 80.
M. Mouch testified that he borrowed
five thousand dollars from the Treasurer
the day after he took possession, and hf-
teen hundred several weeks afterward.
Mouch knew it came from the Treasury,
but has repaid the amount except about
twenty-nine hundred dollars. Twelve or
or thirteen thousand dollars thus loaned
out have been traced to prominent DEM
ocrats OF the county, but they have not
not yet been brought before the Exam
iner.
This afternoon Detective Norris and
seven of the bondsmen went to the Jail
to persuade him to make confession
His sons also persuaded him TO tell all.
When he was told of the testimony Of
the men he had favored he weakened,
and told the story of his fall, which we
we will give briefly and for what it is
worth
One day, about eighteen months ago,
he was in his Office with the Auditor, D..
f. Smith. He had occasion to go out for
q moment. and when he returned pack
age of $1,000 was missing from the safe,
which be had left open. Myers, with a
simplicity which seems almost incredible
said little to Smith about the matter, and
never revealed the loss to any one except
his son Lawrence. Smith said he would
cover it up for him, and it was planned
between them to rob the Treasury over
nine months ago, but Myers could never
screw his courage up the sticking point
until the last hour. Had they executed
their plan in August, haul OF about
$4,000 would have been secured.
The Treasurer said he had made up
his mind to be defaulter without rob-
bing the Treasury, but the Auditor would
not let him. No one helped him to rob
the safe on the night of the festival ex-
J.F. Smith. He did notintend to peach
but when he became convinced that the
ring intended to make sCapegoat ofhlm
his intention changed. Mesloh still
owed over fourteen hundred dollars OF
Treasury money, and he Myers had
burned his note for $1,000, for fear it
might be discovered. This places Mesloh
in an ugly position, and he will possibly
be indicted for perjury, as we'll as for
Conspiring to rob the Treasury.
On the strength of Myers's confession
and other strong circumstances OF guilt,
warrant for the arrest OF Smith was put
in the hands of Norris. Smith was at
tending Democratic rally at Lima, and
Norris went after him in buggy, bring
ing him here at eight o'clock this even
ing.
Great excitement prevailed in town,
and among the incensed Germans there
was talk Oflynching the prisoner. Threats
of violence were also made against his
obstreperous attorney, W. V. M. Layton.
Smith was lodged in Jail, and will be ar
raigned in the morning, but he will un'
doubtedly be unable to get bail.
Minnie Stripe, the woman in the case,
was also arrested and put into jail. Min,
ME has been Smiths mistress for several
wears, and it is thought that she has
played no insignificant part in the rob.
berry, as he has squandered thousands Of
dollars annually upon her. This feature
adds to the terrible severity Of the blow
to his wife and family,
About twelve or fourteen thousand dol
lars were taken from the safe on the
night of the robbery, the rest Of the de-
hclency having Deen lOaneuO Oug lOhS O0-
fore. Myers says Smith took the money
and that he (Myers) has not got cent OF
it. The Auditors house was searched
tonight, and the sum of $l.795 secreted
unner the carpet. A guard was placed
around Minnie Stripes house, and it will
be searched in the morning.
The er parte Treasurer's examination
will 90 on until every man who is sus-
pected of having borrowed money from
Treasury is hunted down. In relation to
this matter the next Grand Jury will
doubtless have several primG.tacie cases
of perjury to consider.
There is general feeling of relief now
that the guilt has fastened upon the right
persons. Some of our citizens who have
been unjustly suspected will sleep SCUM
der tonight than at any time since the
robbery. 80.
The briefness of our time and the diff
Guilty in getting at the facts will prevent
US from giving the minute details Of the
exciting affair, but in our next issue the
III I'LL oADaor