Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1891-12-03
Stafford's Treasurer Resigns.

Stafford's Treasurer Resigns.
Co. Treas. Landes, of stafford coun-
ty, resigned his Office under peculiar
circumstances. Joel Miller. the treas
urer-elect, has been appointed to fill
the vacancy. From the st. John Cap
ital we get the following report of the
existing muddle.
ut appears, that the examination by
the commissioners, of the treasurers
books, find the cash account of Treas
urer Landes, of Stafford Co. Kansas,
short about $4,000. The details and
circumstances surrounding the affair
are of mysterious and peculiar nature.
On the Goth, of last October, the com.
missioners met for the purpose of
making a settlement with the treasnr-
er. 1t seems that pending the settle
ment the treasurer in presenting his
items of credit ask credit for certain
coupons and receipts from the fiscal
agency at New York, when the CON-
missiOners instructed the treasurer to
produce either coupons for the whole
or receipts for the. whole, fearing that
some amounts would be credited
double. if receipts and coupons were
taken into account. Hence the exam
ination was continued until October
3Oth. to give the treasurer chance to
straigllten the matter up. AT the fur
ther examination ON the Both, tie COM
missioners arrived at the conclusion
that the treasurer was some 81 600
short. The treasurer insisted that if
he had All extension he could show and
prove he was all right, and the exam
ination was continued till December
first 1891. Now ccmes the mysterious
parts. On Monday morning, Nov. 9th,
Mr.. Landes came to the Arlington
hotel, where Will Cooper, the treasur-
er's clerk boards, and wanted to SIZE
him. Cooper came down to the office
and Landes told him that burglars had
blown the safe open, that is the outer
door, but had not got into the money
chest, neither were there any books or
papers missing. Landes cautioned
Cooper not to say anything about it, as
by keeping quiet they might have a
chance to catch on to something. Either
that day or soon after, Landes told
County Attorney Jennings, and Sheriff
New Williams of the affair, but cautioned
them also to keep quiet, as the burglars
had not accomplished their object, and
1T was not necessary to make an undue
stir in the county. Last week Friday,
Commissioner Estes was in town, and
then the sheriff and the county attor-
ney communicated the matter of the
last attempt TO blow the safe open.
Estes at once ordered that two night
watchmen be procured by the sheriff,
and that the sheriff notify the other
commissioners that the examination be
had last Tuesday, Nov. 18th. instead of
December 1st as agreed at last exam
ination. Mr.. Hagar and Cadman were
the night watches Sunday night, and
they learned by examination, that the
south east window of the treasurers
Office was open. On Monday night at
about 8 O'Clock, the watchers examined
the window found unlocked the night
before, and found it unlocked again,
and on further examination found a
fuse lying in the window, attached
through hole in the outer safe door,
to stick of giant powder inside the
safe. Luckily it was discovered by the
night watch before the deadly work
was accomplished. Will Cooper, the
clerk says, at about five O'Clock that
evening, be locked the safe and win
dOws, and some one must have been in
the Office since. Tuesday morning the
commissioners continued their exami-
nation. Landes then rendered his
resignation as treasurer and the COM
missiOners took charge of the Office.
When the money was turned over to
them by the ex-treasurer, who upon
opening the money chest, told the COM
missiOners, that on the night of the Sth
inst. the burglars had succeeded in
obtaining between 1000 and $1,000,
and that he would be short that much,
but expected I'd make it up with his
property, SO that his bondsmen would
not suffer. Now, our estimate OF S12 900
short is based upon Landes' statement
that $S 900 were stolen from the safe
on the night Of the Sth inst. and the
supposed shortage rs found by the COM
missioners of $1,000. on the 30th of
October. What the people are very
anxious to See cleared up is, why dIib' t
Landes let the people know of tue
burglary on the night of the Sth? How
did the giant powder get i'll the safe on
last Monday night. at such an hour,
without breaking door or window, all
of which were securely closed at i've
O'Clock, by Will Cooper, when he lett
the Office"
THE national congress convenes the
tirst of next week. aud by this time next