The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-10-19


Endorsed on the back:
j. w. Eller Treasurer Hamilton County.
/ hold in my hand certified transcript of the
records of the Board of Commissioners in this
county made on the 9th day of December 1884
showing that the auditor shall issue the order
read in your hearing as temporary loan, to
pay off the indebtedness of the county heretofore
created. 1t was further ordered that the treas
nrer sell the order for the purpose named. As
evidence of the disposition made of the order by
the treasurer of this county, let me read the aft
6avt of Alonzo j. Brown:
Alonzo J. Brown, being duly sworn, says that he is
twenty eight years of age that he resides in the
50 resided for ten years last past that he is ana
for years last past has been deputy treasurer
Of Hamilton county, Indiana that he was such deputy
on the 1st day Of December, 1854, and recollects
making the loan authorized by the Board of Commits
SOners of said county IN their order of that date that
pursuant to said order warrant of said county
Issued by the auditor of said county for $40 O0OOO
from date said warrant being 10 1867 and that the
same sold by the treasurer of said county to the
First National Bank Of Indianapolis for it's face that
was 50 sod and delivered shortly after its issue in
December, 1884. ALONZO j. BROWN.
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 18th day Of
October, 1886. r. B. PFAFF.
[sEAT"l Notary Public.
So, then, you see. this order became the prop
erty of the First National Bank of indianapolis
The order was dated, as I have shown, on Dec.
~, 1884, and on the Doth day of January, 1885,
John j. Cooper exhibited it to the legislative
committee as assets of the State. If it was true
that the order was the property of the State
JAM ~, 1855, how did she come by it? 1t could
not possibly occur except in way, and that
Is by purchase, of the First National Bank, by
John j. Cooper, Treasurer of State, with the
moneys Of the State; and submit to you that if
it was so purchased the interest it bore was as
much the property of the State as the principal
The order was redeemed and paid eighteen
months after its issue, and bearing per cent
interest. there has been paid upon it In interest
she sum OF 81, 200 If the order belonged to the
State, TO whom did the interest paid belong?
Section $685. of the statutes of this Stale pro-
7ides, referring to the Treasurer of State:
And such Treasurer is expressly prohibited from
receiving in any manner, for his use, any inter
est, premium, gratuity, bonus or benefit whatever,
by the disposition of arising out of any money
property belonging to the State or to any county,
TO any fund or the State or counties, of any loan
obtained for the State for any county, but what
ever is received shall, by him, be fully accounted
for.
By every rule of law, of fair and honest deal
ting and justice, | ask you, if you believe that
Shis order belonged to the State and any interest
was paid upon 1t. to whom did that interest be-
lOng2 l think you will answer, to the State.
The interest was paid, and I hold in my hand
certified copies Of the receipts given for its pay
ment; the originals can be seen in your auditors
Office.
Remembering that Mr. Cooper exhibited this
order on the 10Th day of January, 1885, to the
legislative committee as assets of the State, let
me read to you receipt No. l:
INDIANAPOLIS June 60 1885.
Received of j. w. Eller, Treasurer of Hamilton
county Indiana, four hundred dollars interest from
Dec 70, 1854: to June %, 1885, On Hamilton coun'
BY order No. 1907. JOHN j. COOPER.
$4,000
Let me read to you receipt No. 2:
INDIANAPOLIS. Dec 81, 1885.
Received of A. c. Scott, treasurer of Hamilton
nv sly
months interest, from June %, 1885, to Dec. %,
1885, on county order drawn treasurer of Hanil-
ton county No. 1907, for ten thousand dollars, held
and owned by me. JOHN D. COOPER.
$35O00
You will see that between these two payments
an agreement had been made that only por
cent interest should be paid.
Let me read to you receipt No. 3:
INDIANAPOLIS, June 15 1886
Received of A. Q. Scott, treasurer of Hamilton
sounty six hundred and sixty dollars, interest on
Hamilton county warrants Nos 1908 and 1907. Is.
sued account temporary loan by the Commissioners of
said county. j. j. COOPER,
$4,000 per Conner.
You will discover that in the last receipt an
other warrant had been included l now
put to you the question, to whom was
the interest on Hamilton county order No.
1907 paid9 and you answer, to John
J. Cooper. Again / ask you, how did he
receive and receipt for tin his individual or
Official capacity! and you answer in his indi-
b.. NluudI capacity from GueS0 IacLS you muSG
conclude first: That this order was shown
sets of the State by Mr.. Cooper; second, that he
solicited the interest upon it. and put it into his
own pocket, and to that extent has not &C
counted to the State for the money he has
eetved, and which belonged to the State. While
this committee was in session these questions
were asked Mr.. Cooper by Republican member
OF that committee:
l. Is the States money deposited elsewhere. and,
So upon what as to interest gratuity
Or benefit!
2. Have you received for the States money any
interest bonus gratuiy and ifso have you carried
TO the credit of the State!
Aud these questions were objected to by
Democrat upon the committee, and majority
OF the committee decided that they should not
be answered. | ask you, tax payers OF this
That this Democratic committee would not per-
nit these questions to be answered!
John j. Cooper might have purchased this or
Ger with his own money, and II ne ala ne could
do with it as he pleased and it would be nobodys
business; but if he did that, IL was not part OF
the States assets, and when he exhibited 1t IS
such he perpetrated fraud upon the people of
this State If he purchased it with the money
OF the State, then the order, principal and inter
est. was the property of the State. You
Will remember that in receipt No. that
have shown you, Mr. Cooper says:
County order draw upon the treasurer OF Ham
nton county. No 1907. for ten Thousand dollars.
Dec 81, 1885; was it true or false2 If the order
vas the property of John j. Cooper at that date.
when did he buy it from the Statei and what
right had he at any time, to buy or sell the as
sets Of the State? Again, all this crookedness,
except ae TO the Hamilton county order-and the
1Acts in relation TO it, were not discov-
cred until since--was pointed out, and In open
fe.4 49, 1aaE REPRESENTATIVES,.