Omaha daily bee., 1891-06-27
LIVERINCHOUSE ON THE RACK.
The Hastings Asylum Steward Examined
BY toe Investigating Board.
He ADMITS DUPLICATION OF VOUCHERS
Some Peculiar Transactions Which
He Failed to- Account For-Goy.
Th yer Urges That the In
quiry BE Thorough.

LINCOLN, Neb., June 26.--fSpecial to THE
BEE The investigation OF Steward Liver
inghouse aud Superintendent Test Of the
asylum for chronic insane at Hastings COM
menced this morning in the Office of the
secretary of state, before the state board of
public lands and buildings, all the members
Of which were present. Governor Thayer
was also in attendance.
Governor Thayer said he desired to state
that he was not, as had been intimated, III
favor of a secret investigation. He had made
no such suggestion 10 any member Of the
board and asked the members of the latter TO
state If that were not the case. None of the
members denied the statement. He con-
tinued that on the contrary, he was in favor
of the fullest investigation. If frauds had
been committed he wanted them exposed In
making his conclusion. however, he would
not be satisfied unless q full examination
should be made, going back TO the opening
of the institution to see in what condition 1t
was in at the time the present management
had taken hold of it.
The governor made another explanation, in
which he and Secretary Allen differed as to
a minor matter.
Attorney Darnell said he wished to have
his client, Mr.. Liveriughouse, purged of the
charge that he had acted disreSpectfully to
luc DOdIu III NO. appearing ISAOio ~ w uOi ~
was alleged he was summoned. The latter
had received letters, it was true from the
secretary of state, but they set no time Tor
him to appear before the body in question
He had thought it would be advisable for the
board to 20 to Hastings TO pursue the invos-
tigation.
Attorney General Hastings said that that
was not a matter of argument and Treasurer
Hill claimed that the fact in controversy
could be ascertained later.
Mr. Allen wanted to know II the statement
called for had been brought.
Mr. Darnell hastily jumped into the breach
and said that Mr.. Liveringhouse had re-
ceived the notice to appear at O'Clock on
Wednesday evening and had had only till 5
O'Clock today to prepare the statement He
had, however, brought the books of tho instl-
tuition and some certificates; but, in the
haste, he thought some of the vouchers had
been overlooked.
Attorney General-Has hu the prepared
statements
Darnell-He had to work all night and 1t
may not be statement such as you desire
| don't want to be captious, but | think the
proper thing is that the suggestion of the
governor ought to be respected. The books
ought to be gone through with TO show what,
II any, fraud had been perpetrated during the
two years before these men took hold Of it..
Has there been any complaintiled except the
notice which has been servedi
The attorney general said there was none,
produce his books.
Daruel then SAID that if this was trial it
was rather irregular for the defendant to be
compelled TO produce the eys,tfnce.
The chairman said it was simply court OF
inquiry, and the attorney general said that if
1t were court of impeachment charges
would have been made, but it was only n
court of inquiry.
After some more talk Secretary Allen
called for the cash showing and the latter
was presented with draft Tor SS7l.03, repre-
senting the amount on hand. Mr.. Hastings
suggested that the draft be endorsed by MIR.
clearinghouse and turned over to Treasurer
Hill.
The steward then said that the draft was
really for greater sum than was to the
credit of the institution ana did not want 1t
to be deposited with the treasurer beyond his
reach because it would be injurious to the
asylum.
He was assured there would he no diff
Guilty on that score whereupon, with some
nervousness. he endorsed the instrument and
Treasurer Hill took it ana SAID that he would
hold it us state officer pending the inves IT,
cation.
Darnell then vouchsafed second time that
the showing was not owing TO the limited
time, perhaps rs correct as it should be.
The attorney general said they did not pro-
pose TO take advantage OF him or any other
man. He also asked again for the vouchers
and was given the reply that all of them had
not been brought along.
As "a matter of fact, however, not a single
voucher was presented during the session.
There was no year marked for the cash
showing, and IN reply to Secretary Aliens
objection Mr.. clearinghouse corrected it by
showing that it extended as far back as 1888.
Mar. n. Mcdowell, bookkeeper in the sec
retary's office, was called and sworn When
about TO testify to the duplicate vouchers
discovered in the Office, Darnell jumped up
and SAID that If it was to that feature of the
case testimony was to be given, he would ad-
nit for his client, the duplicating of vouch-
ers to the amount of $500 and that Mr.. Liv-
eringhouse stood ready with his books to
show how and why 1t was done.
clearinghouse then arose with his books
and said that during the last session of the
legislature, as was well known, there was Il
deficiency in the sum for the
which to run the institution. Things
consequently cost a great deal more than
they would If money had been available.
Merchants did not want to sell because they
were in doubt as TO whether au appropriation
would be made to wipe out the old indebted
| ness. They had called upon the old board of
public lands and buildings TO 20 to Hastings
and make some arrangements there with the
merchants for the purpose OF purchasing
! goods for the asylum. They were told to see
| the merchants and do the best they could
under the circumstances With the prospect
| of building two additional wings to the
| asylum, and accommodating perhaps four
hundred patients instead OF lOO, Dr. Test
told him they could not afford TO
90 before tho legislature with a
| deficit. If they did they would be told that
| another deficiency stared them in the face.
| Unless they should make good showing
| they would be charged with mismanagement.
| Consequently they deCiued that they would
| not take any money out of tue cash fund.- but
| that any money they could take out of any
| other fund they would put into the casn fund
| The appropriation ran out in September, and
| when the employees were discharged they
| were paid, some of them, out of the defend
| ants own funds. When those gave out ht
| put in those duplicates.
| Mr.. Liyerughouse then presented banl
| book showing the deposit mentioned
| In response to questions by Secretary
| Allen, LiveinghouSe admitted the following
duplicates clearinghouse, S}l; Kelley
| S43 80, Cleary, Sl5; clearinghouse, 300
| Linborg SS105: Margrove, 81; Sparhom
s9339; Bulger, S}!75; Robinson, $40, Total
| S5Si6!,
1t was here shown that there was dis
| crepancy of month between the date Of tn
warrants and the date on which the paymen
took place,
| Liveriughouse explained by stating tina
when the warrants were issued IL could no
Do ascertained until n north later out o
| what fund the money was 10 come, ana 70
| that reason the warrants were retained tina
| length of time.
Attorney General-The voucher for you
own pay 500, you made second time your
self
Liyeringhouse sir.
| Did DIR. Test certify 10 iti