The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1890-03-29
SENSATION IN THE LEGISLATURE.
with MisapproprIation of Bonds-In-
vestIgat ion of HIS Accounts Asked by
the Governor,

state Treasurer Stevenson Archer Charged
with Misrepresentation of Bonds-In-
vestIgation of HIS Accounts Asked by
the Governor.
ANNAPOLIS. March 20 "A bombshell
burst in the Senate Chamber to night.
Governor Jackson, at 1890 sent a mess
age to both Houses as follows: 'Ol
Monday evening, Oath instant, | received
from the comptroller of the treasury
communication as follows:
"Frederick, Mrch %, 1S90.-Tp his
Excellency, L. f. Jackson-D,ar SIR:
1t becomes my painful duty to inform you
that information reached me i'll Frederick
on Saturday evening last, which con-
vinces me that there has been misappro
priatIoD of the State securities III the
hands of State Treasurer Stevenson
Archer. | believe that at least two OF
the banks of Baltimore city hold notes
of Mr.. Archer, secured by bonds OF the
kind belonging to the State sinking fund,
one being secured by Piedmont and Cum
berland bonds, another by treasury re-
lief bonds, and that another loan was ne
gotiated by Mr.. Archer and Frederick
city bonds we're deposited as collateral,
UtdTluS but SdIuo 40 o''bo W.
the bonds belonging to the state sinking
fund The gravity of this information
is such that it becomes imperative upon
me to communicate it to you at once IN
order that an immediate investigation
of the account Of the State treasurer may
be made, and such further action taken
as may be necessary to protect the States
interest. | am very respectfully.
: NrrTnD R.I-nIIMAN CnmntrnllRr
As soon as this letter reached me l
endeavored to communicate with the
treasurer but have been unable to do so,
and it has been reported to me that he
is critically i'll at his home in b lair. L
feel it my duty, without further delay, to
make known to you the information
conveyed to me by the comptroller. that
your honorable body may take prompt
action to investigate the affairs OF the
office of the treasurer aud ascertain
whether the State securities are intact or
not. | have the honor. H.,
"ELIHU E. JACKSON, Governor"
No sooner had the message been read
than both houses adjourned.
AN INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE.
In compliance with the Governors
suggestion, President Brattan appointed
Senators Poe and Smith on the part of
the upper house to act upon the execu-
tive's message. Speaker Hubner did
not announce the names of the members
who will act iontlv in the matter with
Senators Poe and NTH
Attorney General Whyte has been
here all day, ami 1t was in Conference
with the states legal officer that the
message was prepared. Comptroller
Baughman. General Seth. Ex-senator
Tunis. Attorney General Whyte Walter
w. Preston. and hosts of other warm
friends of Mr.. Archer were at the Gov
ernor's to night, all talking in whispers
as if death lowered near about them
Colonel Baughman's sadness was visible
on every line of his face. He eyes were
blurred.
A SHOCK TO EVERYBODY.
The message from the Governor came
like a shock to the members of the Legis-
lature. The presdi z officers and some
of the Senators had been previously sent
| for by Gov jackson and were told of the
affair Secretary of State LeCompte car
ried copy of the message into each
house, and when the business then up
was disposed of it was read. The scene
| in the House, which was full of people,
was almost indescribable. Members fell
back in their seats speechless for the time,
aud it was "a strange sight to see strong
men crying like children. An uufouuded
report was circulated during the excite
ment that telegram had been received
| from Belar stating that Mr.. Archer was
dead, but this was soon contradicted.
THE NOTES AND SECURITIES.
Comptroller Baughman reiterated the
| substances contained i'll his letter. He
said: 1.-TWO of the notes that l have
traced are for So 900 aud 50, 700 respect
lively. do not know the character or the
amounts of the securities. The safe de-
post vault at Baltimore stands in the
name of the State treasurer and no one
else can have access to it. On Monday
was in Baltimore with the Governor and
attorney general. We sent kilograms to
Mr.. Archer and waited his coming, but
his illness stopped proceedings. II was
my duty as State comptroller to lay the
| facts as far as | knew them before the
| Governor, and there was nothing else ioI
me TO do. IL Is not possible to know
/ what is the condition of the State securi
ties, because they are locked up in the
safe deposit vault. | cannot say anything
as to the probable amount involved in
the affair."
MIR. ARCHER's ILLNESS
| A dispatch was received by the Cover
nor late tonight say ing that Mr.. Archer's
| condition was much easier His sou-in-
! law, Senator Silver, will come to Annap
Oils on the early train tomorrow. Mr.
Silver early to-day received dispatch
! from Belair asking him to come home,
as Mr.. Archer was very sick. The news
| spread rapidly, and there were expires
sions of regret from all sides. The bond
of the State treasurer is $4,000 His
sureties are Murray Vandiver, Edwin H.
Webster, Joseph Nj. STREET., Henry W.
Archer, Jr., S. A. Williams, Allen Hoff.
man, J. Thomas, c. Hopkins and Patrick
81. Howard. The involvment of the name
OF State Treasurer Archer with an illegiti.
mate use of the funds of she State was so
, unexpected to every Que that his friends
are not yet able to fully realize it. What
ever the amount of the deialcation the
State is secured.
HARTFORD MEN DEMoRALIzED.
The Hartford legislators were utterly
demoral!zed to night. Walter Preston
said that Mr.. Archer could have obtained
any reasonable relief at home, where he
is loved. Therefore he fears the defalca
ton is serious. OF course, as Mr.. Archer
is 4 lawyer, there is talk about trust es
tates and similar things i'll Hartford.
MR.. ARCHER ILL AT BELAIR
A SPECIAL dispatch last night from
Belair says that Mr.. Archer is quite i'll
at his home, near that place. HIS con
dition at noon was 50 alarming that his
son in law Senator B ,njamin Silver, Jr.
was summoned by telegraph to his bed
side from Annapolis. His family and
friends were concerned very much about
his condition. At late hour last night
Mr.. Archer's condition was much i'm
proved.
Mr.. Archer was first elected treasurer
i'll 1886 succeeding Mr.. John L Cuttings
the Baltimore banker, who had been Sc
lected to succeed Mr.. Barnes Compton,
who had been elected to Congress Mr..
Compton had held the office for many
years, his predecessor being the late John
W. Davis. Mr.. Archer's appointment as
treasurer heralded his appearance in the
ranks of the regular democracy. In 1889
he was an independent candidate for the
position of circuit judge against the reg
ular Democratic nominee, Judge Fowler
and so great was his personal popularity
that he polled very large vote, notwith-
standing the fact that the usual Demo-
cratic majority in his circuit is very large
In 1857 he succeeded Senator Arthur