The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1890-04-18
THE ARCHER INVESTIGATION,
Removed by the Governor and His Success
or Appointed.

On Thursday night of last week detective Pum-
phrey, of the Baltimore police force, made his APP
pearance at Hazel Dell with a warrant for the ar
rest of State Treasurer Archer. He was led into
the room where Mr.. Archer was lying in bed and
read the paper to him. Mr.. Archer listened calmly
and attentyely to the reading and at its conclusion
merely said, THAT is what expected" ttE
A moment afterwards Mr. J; E. Mcguire. the
and read to him notice from the Governor requir-
ing him to appear at the executive department,
of the charges against him.
DR.. Hollingsworth pronounced Mr.. Archer to be
too sick and weak to be removed and officers
Humphrey and Gault watched at Hazel Dell by
turns until Monday. when Mr.. Archer was releas-
ed from custody through writ of habeas corpus
being admitted to bail by Judge Waters.
The writ was sued out by Mr.. Archer's counsel,
Messrs. Cans and Hannah, of Baltimore city. 1t
was signed by Judge Walters and commanded the
officers to bring before him the body of Stevenson
Archer in connection with the cause of his deten-
ton, to the end that bail may be given and that
he may be released from custody
Mr.. Archer's physician declaring that he was still
unable to be removed. Judge Walters heard the
Mr.. J. Edwin Webster. States ATTORNEY. was
present on behalf of the State and Mr.. Edgar HI.
Cans on behalf OF the petitioner. ..t"
The petition, the writ and the return of the Off
GERS were presented 10 Judge Waters without
argument.
Archer was detained by virtue of a bench warrant
issued by Hon. Henry ID. Harlan, Chief Justice of
the Supreme Bench of Baltimore city. A copy of
the warrant and charge was also given.
mtted Mr. Archer to bail in the sum of sos 900 .sfor
his appearance in the Criminal Court of Baltimore
City, on the 18th day of April, 1890 and from day
to day thereafter as required to answer the charge
set forth in said warrant" -,
The amount of bail was fixed by agreement with
Attorney General Whyte.
The bondsmen were Messrs. E. H. Webster. s. A.
Lee. Benjamin Silver Jr., Geo. f. Silver, Jas. F.
McCabe, j. Thos. c. Hopkins and j. s. Richardson.
The bench warrant upon which State Treasurer
Archer was arrested charged him, on the oath of
Marshal Jacob Frey, with embeZZlng or appro-
priating to his own use S9,s3125 of the money and
S11s of the bonds of the sinking funds belonging
to the State of Maryland. 1t was witnessed by
Henry ID. Harlan, Chief Judge of the Supreme
Bench
THE REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE
The charge was formally made by the investigat-
ing committee in their report to Governor Jackson,
in which the committee say:
"They find from sworn testimony of witnesses
summoned and examined by them poblicly, as re-
qured by the act, that Mr.. Archer at sundry times
bonds belonging to the State and held to the credit
of the sinking fund, and of which as treasurer he
collateral security for loans and advances made by
them to him for his individual use.'
The committee continued the examination of
witnesses on Saturday. Nothing was ELECTED to
show what had become OF the missing funds
Among the witnesses were George M. McC0mas,
deputy collector, Geo. r. Cairnes, Secretary of the
ty, Allen Hoffman, Walter Finney cashier of the
Second National Bank of Bel Air, VIM. NJ; Hines.
cashier of the Harford National Bank, of Bel Air,
Benjamin Silver Jr:, Edwin H. Webster, Jos. M.
Street, and Frank E. Gorrell.
Mr.. Vandiver said he was treasurer of the Demo-
cratic Executive Committee; that the intercourse
between himself and Mr.. Archer was very close
in campaign matters, that he knew the source
whence most OF the funds came that were used in
the campaign and that less than $500 was furnish
ed by Mr.. Archer individually.
MORTGAGE AND DEED OF TRUST
On Saturday mortgage was recorded in the Cir
cult Courts for Hartford and Cecil counties from
Treasurer Archer to his bondsmen. indemnifying
them from any loss they may possibly sustain by
being upon his bond. He therefore sells and
assigns them all his real estate in Cecil and Har-
ford counties, except an undivided interest i'm
slate lands in Hartford county conveyed to him
in trust for the estate of the late VIM. Ford
He also conveys to his bondsmen all his personal
On Monday Mr.. Archer also made deed of
trust to 5. A and F. X. Williams, for the benefit Of
his creditors.
1t is stated that if a charge of embezzlement can
be sustained Mr.. Archer will be indicted by the
Criminal Court of Baltimore city, If the charge is
mafeaSance the indictment will be by the Circuit
Court tor Anne Arundel county, at Annapolis.
THE HEARING BEFORE THE GOVERNOR.
hearing before the Governor Of the Charges against
State Treasurer Archer MIR: Archer was not
present at the hearing, but sent typewriter let
ter, in which he stated that his physical condition
was such that he could not leave his home at Bel
Air to come to Annapolis, but he said that he twas
willing to waive all rights which might result by
reason of his non-attendance," and he consented
that "a hearing should take place as If he were
The evidence taken by the committee having
been formally presented to the Governor, he said,
II have determined to remove Mr. Archer as
for removal
Accompanying this order. was another appoint
ing MIR, Edwin H. Brown, of Queen Anne's coun-
ty, as Mr.. Archer'S successor.
The committee failed to find in the Treas
urers office at Annapolis registered bonds
47O.22. The committee will make an effort to
these bonds, the transfer OF which could only be
made upon the books of the Treasurer at Anna
polls, and these throw no light on the subject
The Baltimore SIM says:
1.-THE charge of ENLIGHTENMENT will be made
the order and hand over to Mr.. Brown, as his sue
cesSor, the funds and securities for which he is
bound TO account, and it will be upon this charge
that will be prosecuted.
The Legislative committee continued its work on
"Wednesday, BY examining witnesses. 1t was stat
time MIR. Archer was elected Treasurer of Mary
land he was S1O0, 900 in debt in Hartford county,
He had been paying six per cent. interest annually
on the debt. 1t was also ascertained that within
the past four years he has liquidated the indebted
ness to the s extent Of $4,000 Mr. Williams pro
sion, amounting to 81 $3.50.
G A letter was read from Mr.. Geo. r. Cairnes.
Secretary OF the Mutual Fire Insurance Company
where and of whom the State bonds held by his
company had been purchased together with the
Mr.. John S. Cuttings said he was State Treasurer
from March. 1885, to February, 1886. On turning
over the office to Stevenson Archer his successor:
he took from him a receipt for each individual
State that had been in his Keeping. They met at
the vault of the Safe Deposit Company, each with
witness. The securities were counted, recorded
in book and receipted for in the book by Mr..
Archer. Mr.. Cuttings produced the receipts.
Col. L. Victor Raughman related how the know
ledge of Mr. Archer's wrong doing was brought
to his attention.
The committee will meet again ON Wednesday
next at II A. M. Summons will be issued for the
following 2io'T persons: VIM; IL Dozen, Murray Van
ME o. STREET., Mrs. Margaret Foley. Hollns Nc
Kim. 1t is also proposed to examine the brokers
and bankers of Baltimore