Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1885-02-27
EMBEZZLING.
An Embezzling Treasurer of Clay
County, Minnesota,
Exposed. 4.
"a Mob, of Weayers Assault the Phila-
60 :. delphia Police and q
Row Ensues.
An Embezzllng treasurer. !.

:MooRHEAD, Mimi, Feb. 26. County
Treasurer J. G. Fl. johnson confessed to
an embezzlement in 1883, of $1,000 in
'ccxliection and in collusion with County
Auditor Storla, deceased. The defalca-
tion was brought to light through the
administrator Of the estate Il. O. Storla
deceased. It appears that Mr.. johnson
went to the widow of Storla and informed
her that her husband was q defaulter to
the amount of 81, 900 and advised her to
pay that amount to him, so that he could
turn it in and save the good name of her
deceased husband. Mrs. Storla paid
over the money. The administrator of
the estate, Rev. Knute Bjorgo, became
inquisitive concerning this transaction
and instituted an examination at the
court house to ascertain if the deficiency
existed, and if SO, whether the money
was duly applied to payit off. What he
discovered was not satisfactory. He
made complaint to Mr.. Kurtz, chairman
Of the board Of county commissioners,
yesterday. Mr.. Kurtz summoned Mr..
Lloyd, the only other commissioner Gv-
ing here. They together proceeded to
Johnson's Office to see about it. At first
johnson exhibited the books, claiming
that they corresponded with the audi
tors. No deficit existed, but upon be-
ing cornered step by step, he confessed
to the embezzlement OF $2,80O in 1883
He told how it was taken, the manner Of
covering it up. Said he had $1,000 he
would use towards paying the deficiency
and would raise the remainder from
his brother to whom he telegraphed, to
square it all up; The commissioners
thought it was best not to arrest him,
yesterday in order to recover as much of
the defect as possible, but to put him un-
der surveillance, the deputy sheriff keep
ing him in sight all the time. To-day at
about II o'clock, the commissioners de-
cided that they would not wait longer,
and accordingly Mr.. Kurtz made COM
plant against him, charging him with
the embezzlement of $4,000, the amount
he confessed to. This complaint was
made solely on the basis of Johnson's
confession. A warrant was issued, Mr..
johnson was arrested and taken before
Justice Titus. The prisoner asked that
the examination be postponed to Satur-
day, March z. Justice Titus held him in
$4,000 bonds which Mr.. johnson,
secured early this afternoon. Larson,
E. G. Lysted and Andrew Gunderson be-
coming sureties the prisoner was re-
leased. The commissioners shut up the
treasurer's office. The chairman tele-
graphed to the public examiner request
ing him to come to Moorhead and make
an examination of the books and advise
with the commissioners under the cir
cumstances. It is expected that Exam
iner Knox will arrive tomorrow,
when there will be an in
vestigation as to the facts in the
case. johnson was reelected last fall
practically without opposition. After
the release of johnson on demand, the
sheriff returned the keys of the treasury
office 10 johnson. The county commits
sioners were advertised to meet to-mor-
row at 10 o'clock q. m.