Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-03-27
ARCHER'S SAD CRIME.
Nobody Knows How Much Mary
lands Treasurer Took.
GREAT EXCITEMENT PREVAILS
Iowa Takes Hold of the Prohibition
Problem.
LEveEs BREAK AND FLOODS INCREASE
THEY SPEAK WE'LL OF HIM.

THEY SPEAK WELL OF HIM.
Old Friends of Mr.. Stevenson Archer
Remember His Firm Integrity.
BALTIMORE. March 27.-The hypothecation Of
sinking fund bonds by State Treasurer Archer
| Is the one theme of conversation today From
what is said on all sides Mr.. Archer seems to
be the very last man that would be suspected
| OF wrong doing Mr.. Marine. the new repub-
lican collector of the port. said today: Il am a
Hartford county man, and this story about Ste
venson Archer is a severe shock to me. Why, if
he had been my own brother 1 could not
feel it more deeply. In Maryland there is no
more kind-hearted man than Steve Archer.
believe the thing is exaggerated. don't be-
lieve he has done anything but what can be ex-
planned. He did not speculate nor gamble and
his domestic relations were of the happiest
kind don't know much of his private af-
fairs but do know that there isn't a man in
Hartford county who wouldn't stand by Steven
son Archer to the very last. repeat believe
this report to be exaggerated"
Deputy Collector of the Port Geo. c. McCo-
mas was as much surprised as Collector Marine
by the disclosures about Archer. He saws: Il
Archer. Why, there is not a man in all Har-
| ford county who wouldn't have trusted him
with every dollar he possessed This thing
has caused me as much grief as if it had been
my own brother. l can ascribe 10 motive
Mr.. Atcher was not speculator
! and he did not gamble. lie led
very quiet, domestic life. Why.
even in the heat of political campaigns he
always managed to slip up to Belar two or
three times week. His integrity was never
| questioned. When in Congress knew that he
refused to take any of the Credit Mobilier
stock. Before he got into politics Mr.. Archer
enjoyed an extensive law practice and had
charge of a large number Of estates"
MR.. ARcHER's CAREER.
His family consists of his wife and two daugh-
| ters, one of whom is the wife of State Senator
Benjamin Silver of Hartford county. All Mary
land will sorrow with them because of their
great grief. If the deficit amounted to only a
few thousand dollars his friends would gladly
have helped him out. The case is a
very sad one-very sad, indeed The
! Mechanics Bank of this city, which.
it was said in Annapolis dispatches of last nigh:
was the holder of considerable paper, is
amply protected by deposit of coupon bonds for
all loans to State Treasurer Archer. He was
elected treasurer in 1866, succeeding John
| Cuttings, the Baltimore banker, who had been
selected 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.. Archers appointment as
treasurer heralded his appearance in the ranks
of the regular democracy. In 1882 he was an
independent candidate for the position of cir
cult judge against the regular democratic
nominee. Judge Fowler, and so great was
his personal popularity that he polled
very large vote. His salary as
state treasurer was $500 wear
Mr.. Archer is also an ex-Congressman. having
been first elected In 1866. He served four
terms consecutvely. His law partner at Belaire
previous to his election to Congress was Col.
T. II. Webster, ex-collector of the port Of Bal
timore. In Congress Mr.. Archer served as
member of the naval and other important COM
mittees.
THE AMOUNT IS SMALL.
ANNAPOLIS, March 27.-No one here seems 10
know just yet the extent of State Treasurer
Archer's difficulties Every one, however. is
willing to believe the amount involved is
small and say that it was an insane impulse
which forced Mr.. Archer to reject
aid. Intimate friends of Mr.. Archer
have known of his troubles since
Monday, and any amount needed to make good
his shortage was offered. One man rendered
$4,000 in cash if necessary and without
security. He rejected all offers of aid. saying
that he himself alone could settle the affair.
When last in Annapolis Mr.. Archer said it
11H Ill L
place. The theory advanced today is that
in moment of temptation he pledged secur-
tiles belonging to the state, but not to
large amount; that he was made to know that
outside parties were aware of his transactions,
and that the dread of exposure drove him in
sane. Another bank in Baltimore other than
the Mechanics bank is said here to hold con-
siderable amount of the Archer paper.
HIS BoNDsNEN on HAND.
The joint committee to investigate State
Treasurer Archer's accounts are Senators Poe
and Smith, Delegates Shaw, Laird and Harden
Senator Silver, the son-in-law of Treasurer
Archer, Joseph NJ. Street,, Murray vandver
and S. A. Williams, who are on the treasurer's
bond, arrived here this morning. They
are close:ed with Controller Baughman.
Neither of them knows anything OF Mr..
Archer's financial affairs. They report that
Mr.. Archer cannot be disturbed. His ply
sician has ordered complete quiet. Nothing
trustworthy is yet known concerning the bust
ness accounts.
HERE'S BUMP on Loo.
BALTIMORE, March 27.-The Mechanics Bank
of this city was asked for a statement in regard
to the report published that it held consider
able Archer paper. The cashier pondered the
request for some time and finally said, II have
no statement at all to make"
QUICK JUSTICE.