Wichita eagle., 1889-01-30
A COUNTY TREASURER ASSIGNS.


INDIANAPOLIS, Jan. 27.-The city was
treated to another financial sensation this
afternoon in the assignment of John Z.
Sullivan, clerk of this (Marion) county, to
Phillip n Gapen, as trustee for his cred
itors. Sullivan has for many years been
one of the most prominent Democratic
politicians in the city. lie says
his liabilities are only $4,000 and
that his assets are worth $4,000. The
assets consists principally of farm
property, all of which is Hlortgaged TO
County Treasurer Loftin to secure 81 900
due the treasurer and is also mortgaged to
secure his bondsmen. Sullivan's Office as
county clerk yields large revenue, in the
reighborho)d of SIS, C00annually. He claims
that his campaign to secure his election
cost him $4,000.
Sullivan dates the beginning of his
financial troubles to the time of his in
dictment with Councilman Coy and At
torney Bernheimer, charged with commit
ting the celebrated tally sheet forgeries in
1886. Coy and Bernheimer are now serving
sentences in the Michigan City penitenti-
ary Sullivan $ case was never tried,
but it cost him great deal of money. as
he is commonly reported to have furnished
the means to defend Coy, Bernheimer aud
the other indicted parties. He also bet
pretty heavily on the late presidential
election, and his losses in this respect
added to his embarrassment. As county
clerk he is the custodian from time to
time of large sums of money paid
in by order of the court to be
divided among heirs to estates, etc,
How much, if any of such funds Sullivan
has borrowed from it cannot be ascertain
ed tonight
His Indictment seriously affected his
credit and rumors of his financial embar-
fx-ir nd fnr
al months.
His failure does net deprive him of his
lucrative Office, the income from which
for the balance of the term is estimated at
SIS. zoo.
During the late campaign certain news
papereorrespondeut went to General Har-
rison one day and told him that he had
positive knowledge that Sullivan was I'M
able to meet certain trust payments due
to estates and that he (the correspondent
believed if he should publish all the facts
within his knowledge. it would result in
driving Sullivan from Office and his loss to
the Democracy would surely result in the
Republicans carrying Marion county.
To this information General Harrison
replied, Publish it. expose him if you are
sure he has used trust funds" But hold
on" said the correspondent, there is an
other feature to the case. II l expose him
now he will be unable to make good the
loss TO small estates belonging TO minors
and children, but If let him alone for
while he can repay these loans and thus
save the estates from loss. 2"
If that's the case" said the general,
'then don't print it; we can better afford
to lose Marion county than to have those
orphan children suffer a loss that would
affect them through life.n
The exposure was not published by the
correspondent and the estates that were
10, av1d hi m has
money have since been paid, as the cores
pondent predicted they could be-
Sullivan took an active part in part in
the local campaign aud is an admitted
power in politics. General Harrison lost
his own county by 397 votes.