The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-03-21
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A STATE BADLY SKINNED
KENTUCKY'S TREASURER SHORT
$l6O,ooO TO 100000.

Inc Detaulter Had Been in Office
Twenty-one Years and Was Known
as Honest Tate"-ais Crookedness
Known to Have Been Going on at
Least Eleven Years.
LOUISVILLE, KY, March 20.-A special
to the ECening Times from Frankfort,
KY, states that Gov. Buckner this morning
suspended the Treasurer of the State.
James w. Tate Mr. Tate is charged with
defalcation in his office, and it is said he has
fled from the State. The defaulting official
has been Treasurer for 81 years He was
considered the soul of honor, and the news
will produce tremendous sensation
throughout the State.
A later dispatch from Frankfort states
that the investigation Immediately jnsti-
tuted on recommendation of Gov. Buckner
has up to II o'clock this morning disclosed
deficit in Mr.. Tate's office of $3.50, 900. and
that the irregularities seems to run back
eleven years
HOW 1T WAS DISCOVERED.
The discovery of Tate's shortage is the re-
suit Of an examination of his books, conf
nenced few days ago by an expert ac-
countant. The Governor has placed the
lreasurer's office in charge of Auditor
Hewitt and Attorney General Hardin In
his message TO the Legislature Gov. Buck
ner says he has reasons for believing the de-
hcit to be large, and he recommends that
an immediate investigation be ordered
In the House committee was at once
appointed and ordered to prosecute an in
vesugation In connection with the officials
in charge of the Office. Pending the inves-
tigation the office will be closed
THE STATE NOT EMBARRASSED.
The State has abundant resources at hand.
All current expenses, payments, dues, ETC.,
Will be met without interruption or delay.
Treasurer Tate's bond is for $500, 900 and
the shortage is well covered. He was in
Louisville Saturday night, when he was OBJ
served to be drinking hard-an unusual
thing for him. Since that time he has not
been seen and his whereabouts is unknown.
A CLEAN SWEEP.
James William Tate was elected State
Treasurer in 1867, having been nominated
by the Democrats He has been reelected
continuously in each election since then,
making his tenure of office twenty years on
Aug. 81 last. In the last Democratic cam
palgn Mr.. Tate had no opposition for the
nomination Everybody laughed at the
idea of opposing "Honest Old Tate" He
received the Democratic nomination for the
tenth consecutive time.
ALWAYS NEAR THE HEAD.
His majority has always stood among the
largest on his ticket, and merry, honest.
jockey "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 sink
ing fund and was one of those entrusted
with the management of the State peniten-
tiary.
A dispatch Just received from Frankfort
says n resolution has been offered in the
House authorizing the offering of a reward
of $1,000 for the arrest of Tate. IL is
joint resolution, and lies over one day, under
the rules.
MAY REACH 100000.
The exact amount of his shortage is not
possible as yet TO state, but it is any where
from $l50,000 to 100000. The first inti-
nation of the shortage came yesterday
morning when a comparison of the audi
tors 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 ostensibly for Louisville, caused
an examination TO be made with the result
that the States money was discovered to
have been squandered in large amounts
strange conduct of Tate himself
THINKING OF HIS PLIGHT
On Thursday last Senator Wright states
that he had long talk with Tate, who ques-
toned him closely and at great length as to
the exact conditions of the extradition
treaty between the United States and Cam
ada. He also made lengthy inquiries on
the treaty between the United States
and Mexico. At the conclusion
of the talk which was one of great length,
Tate thanked Senator Wright for the in
formation. 1t began to be rumored around
the street that there was only a small
amount in the banks TO the credit of Tate,
aud when the Treasurer was not seen
on the street Wednesday or Saturday, Au-
ditor Hewitt suggested that an investiga-
ton Of the circumstances should immedi-
ately be made.
NO CLEw TO WHERE THE MONEY WENT.
What has become of the money no one
can tell. Tate never speculated nor gam
bled. He is said not to have been an
extravagant liver, but year by year the
money has leaked out, the shortage seeming
TO run back dozen years.
Mr.. Herndon OF this city, who was at ont
time teller of the bank at Frankfort, says
that Tate's defalcation involves 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 as soon as they had
their vouchers.
FAILED TO PAY UP.
When they secured their vouchers, how
ever, they would defer payment, and the
good-natured Treasurer, failing to push
these claims accumulated such a mass of
such securities that at this time it must SIM
ply be appalling. There is no indication
that he took any amount with him. The
largest part Of the shortage seems to have
occurred in 1886 and 81. The official re-
port Of the investigators alone will
furnish definite light as to when and
to whom Tate loaned money. II has been
Tate's custom TO settle up every year, and
never till now was there the least hesitation
on the part Of the Treasurer to compare
accounts with the Auditor.
NO ONE KNOWS WHERE HE is.
Some say Tate has gone TO Mexico, others
to Canada, and others that be has not left
the State. His wife and daughter are
very much prostrated. A dispatch
from Frankfort to an afternoon paper
says: "The experts have not yet gone far
enough in the investigation, but rumor
saws that the defalcation has already run
no as high as $4,000 and there are no
signs of cessation in the discovery of these
startling facts"