The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1888-03-28
THE KENTUCKY STATE TREAS
URER A FUGITIVE FROM
JUSTICE.

JUSTICE.
FRANKFORT, KY March 22.-Gov Buck
ner this morning suspended Treasurer of
/ State James w. Tate who is charged with de-
IA alcation III his office, and it said has fed
the State. The deflUlting official has been
Treasurer for twenty-one years. lie was
considered the soul of honor, and the news
will produce tremendous sensation through
ont the Safe The investigation immediate
ly instituted on the accommodation of Gov.
Backner has disclosed deficit in Tate's
office of sl50.OO0 and that the Irregularities
seem TO run back eleven years. The discov-
erysof Tate's shortage is the result of the
examination of his books commenced some
days ago by an expert accountant.
The Governor has placed the Treasurer's
office in charge of Attorney-General Hardin
In his message TO the Legislature Gov.
Buckner says ne has reasons for believing the
deficit to be large and recommends that an
immediate investigation be ordered. An in
vestigating committee was at once appoint
ed aud ordered 10 prosecute an investigation
in connection with the officials in charge of
the office. Pending the investigation the
office, of course. will be closed The State
has abundant resources at hand, and all cur
rest expenses. payments, dues. etc. will be
met without interruption or delay. Treas
urer rates bond was for $4,000 and is well
covered He was in Louisville Saturday
night, when he was observed to be drinking
hard-an unusual thing tor him. Since that
time he has no; been seen and his where
abouts is unknown.
Governor Buckner in a message to the
Legislature announced the suspension OF the
Treasurer. \ committee was appointed to
act in conjunction with the State officials in
prosecuting the investigation
STRANGE CONDUCT OF TATE.
The first indication of the shortage came
yesterday morning, when comparison of the
Auditors statement of what should be in
bank showed that such amount was not
there. This, coupled with the fact that the
Treasurer had not been seen since Friday
morning. when he left osteusibly for Louis
vile. caused an examination to be made
with the result that the states money was
discovered to have been squanderei in large
amounts. Up TO II \. u. the books had
been examined sufficiently TO show a short
age of sl50.000
The investigation was brought about by
the strange conduct of Tate himself on
Thursday last Senator Wright states tina; he
had a long talk with Tate, who questioned
him closely and at great length as to the ex-
act provisions in cxtradition treaties between
the United States and Canada, and also
made lengthy inquiries on the treaty be-
tween the United States and Mexico At
the conclusion of the talk. which was one of
great length, Tate thanked Senator Wright
Tor the information. 1t began to be rumor-
ed around the streets that there was only 4
small amoun; III bank 10 the credit of Tate,
and when the Treasurer was not seen on
either Friday or saturday Auditor Hewitt
suggested that an investigation of the cir
cunIstanees should be Immediately made
What has become ofthe money no one can
tell. Tate never spcculated nor gambled.
He is said not to have been an extravigant
liver, bat year by year the money has leak
ed out. the shortage seeming to run back a
dozen years II is said that Mr.. Tate set his
son-in-law. Alfred Martin. up in business
a few years ago, which business proved un-
profitable, but this could not have cost over
$4,000. The almost universal theory is tina,
Uncle Dicks kindness Of heart ran away
with his business integrity.
STATE OFFICIALS INVOLVED.
Mr.. Hcrnoon, Of this city, who was at one
Taics defalcation will involve parties and
State officials OF high standing. lie says
that it was the castom Of many Of the State
officials to 20 10 Tate and get him to indorse
notes for them promising to pay soon as
their vouchers were received. When they
secured their vouchers. however, they would
defer payment. and the go,d-natured Treas
urer falling TO push these claims aocnmula-
ted a mass of such securities as by this tine
must be simply appalling. There Is no in
dieation that Mr.. Tate took any great amount
Of money with him. II is said memoranda
in the Treasurer's Office show a loan of S25,-
00o to the Yeoman Company, and another
of sJ00G) TO a certain whisky trust. These
statements cannot be verified or proven false
until the Auditor and Secretary of Stale
complete their work, nor can it be ascer-
tanned whether or not these amounts, if bor-
rowed, were ever returned. II has been Mr..
Tate's eustoEi to settle up every year. aud
never Till now was there the least hesitation
on the part of the Treasurer 20 square ac-
counts with the Auditor This time how
ever, there was delay and procraslina-
ton.
DoDGING 4 SETTLEMENT.
When Auditor Hewitt announced his
readiness for the annual settlement Treas
urer Tate put him off, His cash-book was
not all entered up. then other excuses were
made. This thing has been going on since
January, until at last the Auditor got urgent
Thursday Mr. Tate went to Louisville, say
ing he would be back Friday. lie did not
return. His family grew uneasy, as did |
also the Auditor. Telegraplsic correspond |
ence eIicted the fact that Mr.. Tate had paid |
his bill and left the Louisville Hotel FRI /
day morning. taking a Cincinnati train. |
Then Auditor Hewitt ordered a balance of |
his vouchers, which was compared with the |
banking balance, and Il was found that there |
was In the hank S13I OsO less than the /