The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1878-03-08

T. P. Bancroft Discovered Embszzliag
Normal School Funds.
ID. seheol oa. Ase.. .1o .ooo.eo.

AZ bnem, ana We propose now 20 86aBo
nothing but facts: In 1872, he was ap-
pointed, under = law passed that year for
the sale OF the Normal school lands a.
agent for their sale. Although the law
provided that he should give security,
there is no record OF any having been CIV
en- by him. There was universal conf
dence at that time In his honesty. Be-
sides this nearly all these lands, ct that
time, were believed to be OF little value,
and all previous attempts to sell them
had failed. No sales were reported by
him. Last March IL was discovered, by
the application of the purchaser for .
patent, we believe, that he had sold q
quarter section OF land in February, 1876,
for 81, use. When asked about IL he made
some excuse for not paying over the mon
ey, and then paid it. The sequel proves
that he had been selling lands at various
tunes, commencing In 1872. This land
was sold on = certificate from Bancroft,
when, according TO the law IL shonld have
been given by the secretary and treasurer
OF the Board OF regents. In this way he
Kept knowledge OF the sale from the
officers. About tWJ months ago, atten-
ion was again called to the fact that sales
nad been made, by the purchasers apply
eng to the governor for patents. Upon
this state Of things Senator CrichtOn. Of
Lsbette county, . member Of the Board OF
Regents, was appointed to Investigate the
whole matter. he spent some two weeks
Ia Saline county, going upon the lands,
and getting the facts directly from the Oc-
cupants, when 70 his astOni shment, he
fund that all Of the ten sections Of the
lands in that county except two quarters
bad been sold and were oecupien.
Mr.. Bancroft in April last was order
ed by q committee OF the Board OF Re-
gents not to sell any more Of the lands, IS
they desired TO make . re-appraisement
Of them. Yet he kept on selling the
lands, some of his papers being dated az
ter that. This same committee asked him,
At that time, for = report Of his doIngs.
He reported that 1898 acres had been sold
and paid over 81 ,s2S.6s. 1t must be I'M
derstoOd that the land was sold, under
the law, on time, only 10 per cent. being
required to be paid down. This q, S26.66
was principal and interest money. The
committee made unfaVorable criticisms,
Ia their report 70 the board, on has mode
OF conducting the business, asserting
that he had recklessly violated the law,
and At the next meeting IN June he was
deposed Of his agency, and Van R.
Holmes appointed in his place. His sales
continued though. up 70 aS late as Janua-
~ OF the present year. On the return OF
Mr.. Cnchton from Saline county, . meet
ing Of the Board OF Regents was called In
this city last saturday. Before this meet
ing Mr.. Bancroft was ordered to appear.
De obeyed the order, and produced what
he said was q full and complete report Of
his transactions in the sale OF the Normal
school lands. Senator Crichtoa compar-
ed this report with his own, after thor
ough investigation, and finds that Of Ban
croft very nearly correct. According TO
the figures made from the papers by us
we find the following: Amount collected
for lands sold by the agent, and interest,
$15 ,Sl6. 10. Amount paid over b HIM as
various times, $5,943.46, leaving the
amount embezzled or misappropriated,
d, 572.55- The report caused something
Of fiutter in the Board. Bancroft stated
that owing to the hard times he had been
In financial trouble, and had used the
money expecting to be able to return 1t.
He virtually confessed the whole thing,
stating he had nothing to reserve. When
inquired Of what he proposed to do, he
said he thought he could pay the inter
est as it fell due, and that he could pay
the priuclpal, II he had good luck In his
business, within two or three years. 1t
was ascertained by the Board that he
could give no security, and after full con-
sultatioDs Governor Anthony and State
Auditor Bonebrake being present at the
meeting, the session lasting till after mid
night, IL was decided to commence &C.
tion against him. The information was
filed by Regent Crichton, and Sunday
afternoon he was taken In charge by
Deputy sheriff Irwin. He was permitted
to remain at his rooms over the night,
aud during Monday till O'Clock, when
ne was taken before Justice Bachelor.
rhe prosecution was conducted by Sen
ator 9illett, and Mr. Crichton. aud the de-
feuse by 3. II. RuggIes and w. W. Scott
The examination lasted about three hours
REGENTS CrichtOn, Murdoch and Wright
were the witnesses, and the proof of his
guilt was overwhelming. Senator Glilets
asked. on behalf Of the State, that the
bail b. ffxed at $4,000. Alter brief dis
cu-sion the bail was fixed at that amount.
An unsuccessful effort was made to OBJ
tain the bail, only about half Of It being
raised, and Major Bancroft who had been
an honored citizen Of Emporia for TWEEN
ty-one years, went to Jail.
LATER.-Up TO this Thursday morning
all efforts to obtain bail have failed. and
Mr.. Bancroft remains In jail 70 await
trial.