The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-11-28
INDIANA AND ILLINOIS NEWS
a Shortage of $4,000 in the Accounts
OF a Democratic EX-TreaSurer.
Church Jubilee at Peru-A Bloody Fight Be-
tween Four Young Men-Escaped from
Joliet Prison-Gleaning
INDIANA.

Democratic Ex-Treasurer's Accounts Short
to the Extent of S27 900.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
CANNELToN Nov 27-The late Democratic
treasurer of Perry county. Mr.. j. Madison
Combs, is in a sorry plight just now-he can't
settle with his successor. His Office is muddled
He held it two terms When his first term ex-
pired he had little trouble in settling with him
self, but when a new man came in the situation
was embarrassing; nor were the County Com
missioners competent to deal with an affair OF
this magnitude. In fact, they could scarcely be
made to believe good Democrat would carry off
the peoples money, consequently they had to be
urged and entreated by strong public sentiment
to examine into the outgoing treasurers &C
counts. They had no training or aptness them
selves for the undertaking, so they
employed two experts, Mr.. Simeon Joseph, of
Evansville and Mr.. John Miner, of the Indian
apolis Sentinel and late auditor of Perry county,
to conduct the investigation. Their examination
lasted week before they reported, and their es-
innate of Mr.. Combs shortage was 1927, 900.
There is evidence. ALSO that he has handled
county orders to his own benefit, which is in
violation of the State law. The statutes are
county treasurer dealing in orders,
Perry county is settled mostly by German PEG
pie, who have small farms and no great riches.
These disclosures concerning the ex-treasurer
have aroused them very much. About Camel
ton and Tell City small groups of men may be
seen talking over the affair." very much excited
with indignation. They understand that the only
visible assets Mr. Combs possesses are a So 500
interest in a chair factory in Tell City and a
81, 500 house he built down there and moved into
this fall. There are lO7 bondsmen to reimburse
the county for its loss most of whom are able
to pay Nevertheless, several of these bonds
men are beginning to transfer their property
hoping thereby to escape payment. few Re-
publicans his bond. who grieve over
the fact, promising themselves never to do so
again.
Mr.. Combs is about forty five years old. with
interesting family Of wife and five or six child
rem, wholly dependent on him for support He
has been generous to them, ministerng
every want, and bestowing indulgences
that, now the crash has come TO their
home, will hereafter make it hard
to bear. Such misconduct, If it does not
open the door of the penitentiary to him, will
bring most signal reproach that will ostracise
them from social advantages, and alternate
friends Mr. Combs is pleasant and agreeable
man, popular with the masses. He is a fine
worker at the primaries of Democratic meetings
where reformers are conspcuously assembled.
He likes to go out with 1.-The boys" aud have
good time. 1t is no longer a surmise or secret
among the people of Cannelton that
the county is being plundered by set of hang
erson about the Offices. 1t is notorious that the
cormorants are lowering about that vicinity,
and the people are being robbed in various ways.
The court expenditures have become exorbtant
and excessive. Not long ago sitting of the
court for a term had to be adjourned on account
of the illegal and informal manner in which the
docket made out by incompetents about the
clerks office The people were put to much loss
of time and expense by these blunders.
MIR. Watkins and His Tickle Wife.