The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1879-08-28
THE SPALDiNG AFFAIR,
The Developments Yesterday The
steps in Prosecuting the Late City
Clerk for Embczzlement Inter
views with Various Parties,

views WIN df1DuS Hart1eS.
The Spalding matter yesterd 4y wss a still
more sbsor bling topic than il was just a week
previously-the day after his disappearance
from the fact that the defaulter had return
ed the previous night, and had been arrested
by the authorities snd lodged i'll the city
| jail.
The facts of his return and the pl aces he
visited in his absence, are substantially as
stated in THE TIMES yesterday morning, the
only mistake being that he says he only
went as far east as indianapolis.
HIS REss Ns FOR RETURNING.
He says that v nile he was away he bad no
communication whatever with his friends
here; but that he had been continually re-
fiectipg about the matter, and was also wor-
rIed about the condition of his wife and Sis
ter; SO he uaaI y concluded 10 come back
and
GIVE HIMSELF UP,
have an Investigation made into his affairs,
claiming that he can count for many of the
seeming discrepancies, and that he might
thus be freed of the cont nual worry which
was harrassing him. He claims further that
the sickness o. members of his family had
prevented him from Eeeping up his books
thoroughly, so that IT, affairs were In such a
bad shape when Mayor Fortscue came down
upon him, that he concluded to leave as he
did, but that his absence was
ONLY A TEMPORARY ONE.
He says that when The Mayor demanded a
settlement, and he set an hour therefor, that
he came down town, drew the $50 hereto
fore mentioned, went By back streets to the
river, crossed it and then went to Kansas
connection for Danville, Ills, at which point
ne remained ten or twelve hours, sending
500 TO his wife He then went by way of
Springfield to indianapolis, and remained
several days. He then went direct TO Chica-
go, remaining one day, and left the next
night on the Rock Island road for this city.
Tue remainder of the affair, so far as he is
concerned. 1, well known.
WHAT THE MAYOR WILL DO.
Mayor Fortescue was met AT [ e court house
by a TIMsE' representative yesterday after.
noon. At the time he was about to make
out conn laint against SpaIding and was
very busy, bat said:
Il shall sifi the matter thoroughly and
leave no stone unturned 1 believe there is
crime, OF which he can be convicted IL rigid
enforcement OF the law Is brought to bear
upon the ne mss Dol been gullfy
of anything criminal, what is the use OF
having city government i would be In
favor of dsbanding the city organiz alton at
once If did not think anything could be
done in this matter. have not the slightest
doubt IN Il he In guilty OF a crime. ana while
tue 0uty Is an unpleasant one, have sworn
to perform my duties 10 The city fearlessiy,
ana will do 50 in bis case"
THE COMPLAINT.
The complaint, sworn TO by the Mayor,
reads as follows:
"That on the 18th day OF August, 1879, Fred
NJ. Spa ding was en- and there an officer of
the city of Leavenworth, a corporation duly
organized aud existing undo the Law of the
State OF Kansas, to-wit: The City Clerk OF
said city Of Lssvenworth, duly elected and
qualified, and legally suthorized and EN- INV
cred 10 perform all the duties OF kaid office
that the said Fred VI. Spalding as s,ch officer
and Clerk of said city, did then and there
have In his possession and under his care by |
virtue OF his sald ONCE certain public mon |
dollars of the moneys belonging to said city |
OF Lesven~orth. and OF the value of City swo
hundred dollars, and that the said Fred M. |
Spaiding did then and there fraudulenuy /
EN- bezzle and convert TO his own use With
out the assent OF the said city of Leaven-
worth, all OF the same public moneys afore
said, with tie custody and care OF which, he L
the said Fred NJ. Spalding, was then and /
therein as Aforesaid intrusted and then and /
there did have and hold, by virtue of his
said office OF Clerk OF the city OF Lesven-
worth all contrary I, the statutes in such
case made and provided, etc.,
WHAT THE CITY ATTORNEY SAYS.
E. l. Carney, city attorney, on being asst ed
whether he thought 1t was possible to con-
vict spalding on the charge Of embezxle-
nent, said "While he may not be proven
.uilty Of embezzling $500, there IL certainly
uouRh to show that he has embexzled sufii.
lent to make it q felony and send him to
he peniteutiary.r
1t is understood that IL the proceedings
III to convict him on the above complaint,
hat proceedings will be instituted on the
barge Of obtaining money under false pre-
enses; IT being alleged that just prior 10 his
eparture be went to several parties and COL
ected money from them on licenses. Id
sPALDING VISITED.
About i've O'Clock last evening Q TINES re-
orer went To the city jail 10 talk to spal- !,
ting In tho police court room ne found
layor Fortesrue, City Attorney Carney and
councilman Beer, and in . conver1ation
vhtch followed. Mr.. Wilson. who hadjust been
own 70 80 spaldinG. aid thas ne saad the
mountg stosen, = saated BY The papen, Vag0
Deog5eck "Yes," nd tho Nayoe, sthW