The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-02-08
TREASURER HANWAY,s SETTLEMENT.

TREASURER HANWAY'S SETTLEMENT.
Our amiable contemporary, the Sentinel,
appears to be very anxious that the Journal
should give it some information in regard to
the adjustment and settlement of the ac-
counts of Mr.. Hanway, former county treas
urer. The Journal does not speak by au-
thority for either Mr. Hanway or his sureties;
still, it will endeavor to crafty the yearnings
of the Sentinel by statement of NJ. Han
ways case as it appears, or at least should APP
pear, by the records of the treasurers Office
aud those of the Board Of County Commits
sioners
Mr.. Hanway's term of service expired Sept
4, 1879. Several weeks prior to that date the
County Commissioners appointed two expert
accountants to 60 through the books and du-
plicates Of the auditors and treasurers Offices,
and to ascertain and establish the amount due
the various funds from MIR. Hanway. These
experts and the county auditor made a full
and careful examination, and stated the
amount due in detail and in the aggregate on
the day of the expiration of Mr.. Hanway's
term. Mr.. Hanway promptly, on that day,
turned over to his successor, as required by
law, every amount, to the very last cent, that
was so found to be due from him, and
closed. The books of the office
were surrendered to his successor, DR.. Loftin,
thoroughly honest ard reliable man, man
against whose integrity no truthful word can
be spoken. But, unfortunately, the books
were in the custody and subject to the
handling and manipulation of certain other per-
sons whose integrity and honesty are not above
grave suspicion. After several months an al
legged error was claimed to have been discov-
cred in the settlements. This being brought
to the notice of Mr.. Hanway, he prop
erly and truthfully avowed his entire
but proposed to the Commissioners that they
should appoint one expert accountant, familiar
with the method of book keeping and system
of the treasurer's office; that he would APP
point one, and, they two failing to agree,
should appoint third member, and these
three should 60 over the books and records of
the Office, and that he would abide by their
decision; should they find him in any way or
sum, indebted to the county he would
promptly pay the amount so found to be due.
This proposition the Commissioners re-
fused to accept; but instead, desig
mated two men to again 60 over his
books, both Of whom were so unfriendly to
Mr.. Hanway that they were not on speaking
terms with him, nor Vas Mr. Hanway allowed
to be represented even at his own expense
during such examination. These two alleged
experts made their report Mr.. Hanway de-
clined to accept their finding as either i'm
partial or truthful, and declined to pay what
they found to be due from him. When,
under order of court this remarkable brace
of experts submitted bill of particulars, more
than twenty thousand dollars of the alleged
| sums were, by memory, without any refer
ence to the books at ALL found to have been
wholly accounted for by Mr.. Hanway in his
settlement. 1t is also to be said that the county
has had good deal of experience with Eek
perts;" that no two sets of them everreached a
similar verdict after examination of the same
accounts, and that the county has never re-
ceived anything like the amount of money
| that has been expended for the serv-
ices of these special accountants It would
be a very unsophisticated man, indeed, who
would pay $4,000 or 100000 or any other
amount of money. upon the ipse dixit of any
expert" especially after he had made full,
complete, and, as he had good reason to be-
| lieve, final settlement of his accounts with
the county.
| The Journal has to say that, from the facts
as they appear to be from its investigation,
and from all it can learn about the matter,
Mr. Hanway has fully paid all that was due
from him. At least the matter is now before
the courts, and by the Judgment Of the
courts the decision of the matter must abide.
THE TELEPHONE SCANDAL.
| Tho administration, as reflected by its