The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-03-21
pEMOCRATIC OFFICIAL ApSCONps.
KentucIsy's Trusted state Treasurer Steals
Over 100000.

LOUISVILLE, KY, March 2O.-A special
to the evening Times from Frankfort,
Ky., states that Governor Buckner, this
morning, suspended Treasurer Of the
State James W. Tate. Tate is charged
with defalcation in his office, and it is
said has fled the State. The defaulting
official has been Treasurer for twenty
one years. He was considered the soul
OF honor, and the news will produce q
tremendous sensation throughout the
State. 1t is thought Tate's shortage will
amount to between $50, 900 and $3.50, 900.
\ later dispatch from Frankfort states
that the investigation Immediately on
the recommendation OF General Buckncr
has, up to II o'clock this morning, dis
closed q deficit in Tatc's office OF $50, 600,
and the Irregularities seem to run back
eleven years. The discovery Of Tate's
shortage is the result OF the examination
OF his books commenced some days ago
by nm expert accountant,
The Governor has placed the Treasur-
er'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
deficit to be large and Recommended that
IN immediate Investigation be ordered.
An investigating committee was ut
once appointed and ordered to 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 current ex-
penses, payments, dues, etc, will be met
without interruption or delay,
Treasurer Tate's bond was for $50, 900
and is well covered. He was in Louis
vile Saturday night, when he was OBJ
served to be drinking hard, an unusual
thing for him. Since TINT time he has
not been seen, and his whereabouts are
unknown.
James William Tate was elected State
Treasurer in 1867, having been nomi-
mated by the Democrats. He has been
reelected continuously at each election
since then, making his tenure OF office
twenty years in August last. In the last
Democratic campaign Mr.. Tate had no
opposition for the nomination for State
Treasurer,
DISCOVERY OF TILE THEFT.
When Auditor Hewitt announced his
readiness for the annual settlement,
Treasurer Tate put him of. This thing
has been goingon since January, until
at last the Auditor got urgent. Thurs
day Mr.. Tate went to Louisville, saying
he would be back Friday. He did not
return. His family grew uneasy, as did
also the Auditor. The first intimation OF
the shortage came yesterday morning,
when comparison OF the Auditors
statement of what should be in the
bank showed that such amount was not
there.
Tate never speculated nor gambled.
lie is said not 10 have been extravagant,
but year by year the money has leaked
out. The almost universal theory is
that Uncle Dicks kindness OF heart ran
away with his business integrity,
His wife and daughter are very much
prostrated. A dispatch from Frankfort
to an afternoon paper says; The ex-
perts have not yet gone far enough in
the investigation, but the rumors say
that the defalcation has already run up
as high as 100000, and there are no
signs OF cessation in the discovery OF
startling facts.