The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1883-09-19
DEAR DOC SCOTT.
Please Post This on Your DefaIcatIOn
Book.

Please Post This ON Your DefalcatiOn
Book.
JACKSON, o., Sept. 16.-Milton G. Keen
on, Treasurer of jackson county, is q de-
taulter in the sum of about $4,000, and
has left the county. This piece of startl-
ing and unexpected news was known to
be true at about 10 o'clock this morning,
although the facts which came to light
yesterday showed that there was a strong
probability that he was a defaulter, but
the amount was not known. One week
ago last Tuesday the Commissioners met
and, as the law requires, counted the
money in the Treasury, and accOTdin g
to the Auditors balances it was found
all there. The sum when counted was
something over $1,000. On Wednesday
evening keenan, left town, saying that
he was going to his home near Berlin,
six miles from jackson, to be back
Saturday. 1t was afterward learned that
he went on to Cincinnati. This fact
did not create any uneasiness because
of the many attractions at the city dur
ing the past week, but when he did not
return Oh Monday morning several of
his bOndsmen became uneasy, and upon
Monday evening T. w. Patterson started
to find him if possible, fearing that he
had got on spree and had been fOully
dealt with. He returned yesterday
morning with no tidings of the missing
Treasurer.
#Inquiries were then made at the First
National and Iron banks, and it was
found that upon the day that the Com
missiOnerS had counted the money he
had got 5000 at one and 1000 at the
other and took it to the Treasurer's
office, kept it until it was counted and
Immediately returned it. When this
was known the Commissioners were
telegraphed, and they came at once. As
it was about time of the semi-annual
inspection, Judge Miller appointed j. w.
LOngbOn to inspect the Treasury, but
nothing came of it, because he could not
open the safe.
This morning son of Keenan, was
sent for who knew the combination.
The safe was opened and found to be as
bare as last years birds nest, $40 or $25
only remaining in change.
The people of the county had no idea
of the way business had been conducted.
Several notes, checks, etc, were found
given to Keenan, individually for money
which belonged to the county, signed by
some who have been classed as our best
citizens, one man having over $1,000, a
part of which had been borrowed two
years ago. To-day about $4,000 of this
class of credit given by keenan, has been
liquidated and the money returned to
the Treasury, leaving the defalcatiOn,
as before stated, $4,000.
Besides the amount taken from the
Treasury, keenan, borrowed money
which will aggregate $4,000; how much
he took away is not known, but the
probabilities are that he did not take
away very large amount. The cause
of his ruin is the same old stOry-wOman
and whisky. From all that can be
learned, this woman who cost him the
most money, lived in Cincinnati, and it
Is supposed that she joined him in his
flight.
Keenan, came of good family, was a
soldier and is the father of eight or nine
children; his father, Beverly Keenan,,
being one of the oldest settlers and still
living. Keenan, was serving his second
term. He was genial, clever man,
liked by all, and man in whom most
people placed implicit reliance. The
Commissioners will tomorrow declare
the office vacant, and probably appoint
Mark Sternberger, the Republican can
didate for Treasurer this fall, to the
position. This has been a dark day for
Jackson county, and the people were
dumbfOunded as they listened to the de-
tails. 1t is not known whether any
effort will be made to catch the abscOnd-
ing defaulter, as it is probable that he
has gone to Canada.