The new North-west., 1888-03-30
"HONEST DICK TATE.u
The State Treasurer of Kentucky Heavy De.
faulter.

FRANKFORT, KY, March 20.-Governor
Buckner this morning suspended Treasurer
of the State James W. Tate. Tate is charged
with defalcation in bis Office, and, it is said,
has fed the State. The defaulting officer
has been Treasurer 21 years. It is thought
Tate's shortage will amount to between
$50, 1000 and $4,000
Investigation Immediately instituted on
the recommendation Of Governor Buckner,
disclosed before noon a deficit in Tate's
Office of $150,00O. The irregularities ran
back II years.
The discovery of the shortage is the result
of an examination Of Tate's books COM
menced some days ago by an expert account
ant. Tate's bond was for 100000, and is
we'll covered. He was in Louisville Satur-
day night, when he was observed to be
drinking hard, an unusual thing for him.
Since that time he has not been seen and his
whereabouts is unknown. Tate was elected
State Treasurer in 1867, having been nomi-
mated by the Democrats. He has been re-
elected continuously at each election since
then, making his term of Office 20 years on
August S1st last. In the last Democratic
campaign Tate had no opposition for the
nomination. Everybody laughed at the idea
of opposing "Honest Old Dick Tate" he
received the nomination for the tenth con-
secutive time. His majorities have always
stood among the largest on his ticket, and
the merry, jolly, honest Dick "Tate" has
been one of the most widely known and
universally respected men in Kentucky.
LOUISVILLE, March 20.-Mr. Herndon, of
this city, who was at one time Teller in the
bank at Frankfort, says Tate's defalcation
will involve State officials and citizens of
high standing. He says it was the custom of
many State officials to get him to cash notes
for them, promising to pay as soon as their
vouchers were due. When they secured the
vouchers, however, they would defer pay.
ment, and the good. natured Treasurer fail.
ing to push his rightful claims, accumulated
q mass of such securities as must by this
time be simply enormous. There is no in
dication that Tate took any money with him.
It is thought the report of the Investigators
will show when and to whom Tate loaned
the money. It is said q memorandum in the
Office shows loan of $4,000 to certain
whisky trust and $25,OOO 20 a Louisville
Company. -.... ~
FRANKFORT, Ky, March 23.-This morn.
ing the two Houses of the Legislature sus-
pended the rules and passed q resolution
agreed upon at the Democratic caucus call
ing for an immediate and full investigation
Of all State officers. At a secret caucus of
the Democratic members of the two houses,
q resolution was adopted directing the com.
mittee to call upon Governor Buckner and
ask of him that he stop Auditor Hewitt from
taking further part in the investigation of
Treasurer Tate's affairs and the status of the
State Treasury. This was done, and the
Governor promised the committee that the
Auditor should be kept from the Treasurer's
office. There was no hesitation ON the part
Of the assembled Legislators in declaring
that Auditor Hewitt's action has impeded
the investigation of Treasurer Tate's &C.
count, and some went so far as to implicate
the Auditor in the defalcation. It was a.
most the unanimous opinion of the caucus
that the investigation will develop more
rottenness than is yet seen.