The daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1889-1890, 1889-09-28
THE BOND ROBBERY.
BURKE GETTING READY TO
COME HOME.
NOt at Present I'm a Condition to
Give Full Information Concern
Ing the stale of Affairs at New
OrIeans-In Feeble Health.

LONDON, September PA representa-
tive of the Associated Press called upon
Mai Z. A. Burke, of New Orleans, eX-
treasurer OF the State of Louisiana, at
his hotel this morning. Maj. Burke was
very busily engaged in the dispatch Of
necessary business preparatory to his
departure for America on the Etruria to-
morrow. When asked if he desired to
make any statement i'll regard to alleged
irregularity in connection with the State
bonds when he was treasurer of Louis
lana, Burke expressed regret that he
was not in condition to give full intor-
nation He had no knowledge Of the
charges that had been made, or of the
present situation at New Orleans, except
such as had been conveyed to him in Il
few brief cable dispatches. These were
not adequate to enable him fully to ur-
derstand what allegations have been
made, nor upon what ground. He had
gathered from them, however, that the
situation was of sufficient gravity to
make it highly eXpcdient for him to re-
turn to America at once. This would i'll
volve the abandonment for the present
of important business interests in Lon
don, which would bc likely to result i'll
serious pecuniary loss. But he did not
hesitate to make the sacrifice, tor he ielt
That he must haStcI! home i'll order to
meet at once any question that might
arise touching the administration OF the
office of the State treasurer during the
nine years ol his ucunbency.
For two years of the period that he
had the office, his time and attention
were almost wholly absorbed in the
work OF the International exposition at
New Orleans. During all this time, the
affairs of the State treasurers office were
left almost entirely in the hands OF men
in whom he had absolute confidence. At
the time when he surrendered the Office,
an exhaustive inquiry into its admins
tration was made by a legislative COM
mittee, aided by experts from five banks,
and from the commercial agencies of X.
G. Dun & Co.; and BradstrectS report of
this committee. issued i'll July 1887.
makes the position OF coupons perfectly
clear. Burke emphasized the fact that ii
was at his special request that a com
mittee OF inquiry examined singly every
coupon that had been paid. He denies
that he ever paid any invalid coupons.
\ small number Of coupons, he declares,
These are now in his possession, and will
show for themselves. He expressed the
determination on his return to go fully
into the whole matter as he realizes the
seriousness of the situation. But he
thought it undesirable, if not imposs-
bic, to discuss such involved questions i'll
telllgently in London. He preferred to
wait till he reached home, and have the
light of full information. In conclusion,
Burke said, with emphasis: lift can be
shown that am indebted to the State
of Louisiana in any way am ready to
make the Indebtedness good"
Burke'S health is feeble. He has been
undergoing severe surgical operations
during the past four months. Mrs.
Burke also, has been prostrated with
illness.
Burke said his intention had been not
to sail for America until October 3; but
his dispatches show that the situation
of affairs at New Orleans is SO urgent
that he had no alternative but to bring
to sudden termination the business which
had brought him to London.