Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-03-21

Everybody laughed at the idea OF OPP
posing "Honest Old Tate" He re-
ceived the Democratic nomination for
the tenth consecutive time. His majority
has always stood among the largest on
his ticket, and merry, honest, joke
"Dick Tate has been one of the most
widely known and universally liked men
in Kentucky. In addition to being State
Treasurer, he was Commissioner of the
Sinking Fund, and was one of those in
trusted with the management OF the State
penitentiary.
A dispatch Just received from Frank
fort says resolution was offered in the
House to-day authorizing the offering Of
reward Of $1,000 for the arrest of Tate.
1t is joint resolution and lies over one
day under the rules.
The exact amount of his shortage is
not possible as yet to state, but 1t is any
where from $4,000 to 100000. The
first intimation of the shortage came yes
terday morning, when a comparison of
the Auditors statement of what should
be in the 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, os-
teDslbly for Louisville, caused an exami-
nation to be made, with the result that
the States money was discovered to have
been squandsred in large amounts. Up
to II A. NJ. the books had been ex-
amined sufficiently to show n shortage
Of nearly $4,000. The investigation
was brought about by the strange
conduct of Tate himself. On Thursday
last Senator Wright states he had long
talk with Tate, who questioned him
closely and at great length as to the ex-
act conditions of the extradition treaty
between the United States and Canada,
and also made lengthy inquiries on the
treaty between the United States and
Mexico. At the conclusion of the talk,
which was of great length, Tate thanked
Senator Wright for the information.
1t began to be rumored around the
streets that there was only "A small
amount in the banks to the credit of
Tate, and when the Treasurer was not
seen on either Friday or Saturday Audi
tor Hewitt suggested that an inyestiga-
ton Of the circumstances should imme-
diately be made.
What has become of the money no
one can tell. Tate never speculated nor
gambled. He is said not to have been
an extravagant liver But year by year
the money has leaked ont, the shortage
seeming to run back dozen years. Mr..
Herndon, of this city, who was at one
time teller in the bank at Frankfort,
says that Tate's dedication will involve
parties and State officials OF high
standing. He says that it was
the custom Of many of the State
officers to go to Tate and get him TO cash
notes for them, promising to pay him as
soon as they had their vouchers. When
they secured their vouchers, however,
they would defer payment, and the
good Treasurer failing to push
these claims, accumulated mass of such
securities as by this time must be simply
appalling.
There is no indication that Tate took
any amount with him. The largest part
of the shortage seems to have occurred
in 1886 and 1887. OF course the report
of the investigators alone will furnish
definite light as to when and to whom
Tate loaned money. 1t has been Tate's
custom to settle up every year, and
never till now was there the least hesita-
ton on the part of the Treasurer to COM
pare accounts with the Auditor.
Some say Tate has gone to Mexico,
others TO Canada, and others that he has
not left the State. His wife and daugh-
ter are very much Frustrated. A dis
patch from Frankfort to an afternoon
paper says "Ihe experts have not yet
gone far in the investigation, but rumor
says that the defalcation has already run
up as high as $500, 900 and there are no
signs of cessation in the discovery of
these startling facts"