The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-07-06
ONE DEFAULTER'S HISTORY.
fHB 1R1AsUR1R OF JACKSON COUNTY
IN 4hf0 BUCKEYE STATE


He essasissAss . Separate RssssAsiA asa
Has . Jelly Ttas with shs Msaey Ia.
trssssa e His-0isa &c ~ Cassht.
COLUMBUS, June so.--The papers Of this
city and OF Cincinnati contained this short para
graph during tho week:
william Q. Keenan,. dsfaultns Treasurer Of jackson
County. was received At the psuitsnsary to-day for
term Of siH years.
This sentenoe has behind II the story ofawsak
and dishonest mans ruin BY an evil woman.
Several other Treasursrs Of this State have be-
come dsfaulters In recent year, but their pecu-
lation was attributed to grain gambling or
other speculation. keenans crime WAS caused
by an ignorant woman.
Five years ago this summer he Was nomi-
mated By the Republicans Of Jackson county
for Treasurer. He WAS popular farmer. who
had taken some part In politics. had been .
good soldier. and had good family connections.
His disposition was sunny. and his manner
obliging. He lived ct Berlin Cross Roads.
six miles from Jackson Court House.
tho county seat Here he had . farm
OF $50 acres. and with . nns large
house overlooking the railroad station.
He had happy family Of eight children and
wifs whose devotion he Was unable to appre-
ciate This Was the state Of affairs when
keenan, was elected. He entered upon his du-
ties In September. 1880. and to all appearances
prospered. He was very popular throughout
the county with what are known rs the buys"
He spent his own money freely. though not
quite as freely as he afterward spent that OF
the people. He drank whiskey with great
gusto. He was reelected In 1881. and then his
companions began to 500 that there was q skel-
eton In his closet. and that 1t worried him. At
times while talking with companions he would
cause ny 81 lis e SORROW i'' n' he''r u''''S'u '"'
lie began to DO q frequent visitor to Cincin-
natl Ho was vol advanced in Masonry. and
o ws
Inv worry Wn. Masonic conVocations. presided
to ruin. ii Her nnme was Jennio Melvin. Her
peopie were poor residents OF Berlin. Sho
married man named Tarr. and ~ him had
servant In thc home Of The Keenans. On one
NIGHT MI this woman sG Ia came home and found Mr.
had gone to bed The woman took on her
tsIs; KeensH threw his vapsr, down; Csw onI ~
Ii: paper and sns
s ,S Sss oSyvsd wss sn pas T Sr
family. roof Without nrousing Mrs. Keenan,.
was sent to CirceviIs to avoid exposure. She
reason.
heenAn nFOnOH9u 8Om0
Cincinnati that his sister In law 10 allowed 10
hoard with them They agreed. and the woman
Was maio a board"r with Jack Weaver and
wife. living on Broadway, in Cincinnati. Here
she Ind n room. which Keenan, shared during
his Visits. This wns during the winter Of 1889
took the women TO theatres and beer gardens.
| Of n prince In August OF lust year Keenan,
came to Cincinnati with ssO.o0O in vaiise.
| lie PROPOSED to run away with it. and take the
woman with him, She knew that he had the
| money. and. In fact took IL 10 keep for him
While he was on a spree. But hs rspented OF
| Ills intantion, and. returning. paid the money
out to tho township TreRsurers and made his
ssttiemont with the state. In the first rar,
| OF September he came to Cincinnati again. The
two prepared for flight. and on sopt. went to
| Cleveland His departure from home was moi
| noticed until almost q week later. He could
not be- found. and his Office WINS closed. Hit
| to capturc tho embeZzler The taxpayers do.
nianded justice. The search for him was for .
| Kssnan and his conpnnion living In Cincin.
natl, WAS made the object OF especial attention
She had friend In. this city with whom she
| kept up correspondence Her letters were
seen. One from Keenan's companion told 4
| fearful tuln Keenan, had left her alone md