The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1891-09-02
THE RECORDED FACTS.
How the Taxes We're Absorbed by the
Cox Dynasty.

Oox OvndSty.
Through the courtesy of the receiver
of the Merchants State Bank the GLOBE
scribe has been permitted
to make thorough examination Of that
defunct institution. and the memoranda
therein made by Mr.. Cox himself, and
his employees, most emphatieally verify
the very worst that has been even sus-
pected by the writer. Space will not
permit US this week TO give the data in
detail, but We have the dates and items
carefully preserved for future reference.
We will this week briefly summarize the
situation, giving fuller details later on
in the campaign.
In November. 1887, Geo. 3. Cox was
elected county treasurer for the first
time. over c. y. Van vlier. who was
deputy treasurer under r. NJ. Wright.
In October. 1888, Mr.. Wright turned
over to Mr.. Cox. his successor. every
dollar Of public funds entrusted to his
care as such treasurer, with the books in
perfect order. Otto Mueller was in
stalled as deputy by the new treasurer,
adj has remained in personal supervis-
ion of the Office until recently, in COM
munication by letter between himself
and Mr.. Cox, he suggested that the lat
ter return and take charge, while he,
Otto, shall make the campaign for
election this fall. This suggestion was
acted upon and is now in operation.
After taking control Of the Office, Mr..
Cox, who was president and principal
stakeholder Of the Merchants State
Bank, made an arrangement, which is
permitted by the statutes of this State.
whereby his bank was designated by the
board Of county commissioners as the
depository for county funds. on n secu :
Iity bond filed with the county clerk and
approved by the board. MIR. Cox gave
AS such bond his own name and that of
one other stakeholder and director of
the bank, whose stock, together with
that Of Mr.. Cox. soon constituted a good
working majority Of the bank shares
After this. when Mr.. Cox had occasion
to use money in his private business, or
desired to favor friend or political
striker. he could drop into the bank in
his official capacity "a county treasurer.
deposit the cash collections of taxes
with Geo. b. Cox, banker. Then Geo.
B. Cox, the business man, could write
his check or promissOry note. leave it
with Geo. B. Cox, the banker. and take
the money to use as pleased him best.
This state of affairs continued till the
fall of 1889, when the bank had cashed
about rs much paper bearing the Cox
autograph Us that gentleman was appar-
emily worth. Then, by herculean effort,
and the lavish expenditure of money,
he was Reelected against L. Sims, the
regular republican nominee. With a
new lease of power, Mr.. Cox now delved
deeper than ever into the treasury vaults.
In the spring of 1890 the bank held
much more paper against him than his
entire visible assets could be made to
sell for in cash. But as county taxes
came in he continued to deposit them in
the bank and borrow the money for his
own use, and although hopelessly insol-
vent. took no less than thirteen thousand
dollars in addition to what he already
owed. The other stock holder who was
on the bond to secure the county, was
ere this hopelessly involved, notwith-
standing which fact he must be provid-
ed for, as he had worked tooth and nail
for the election of Mr.. Cox. Hence he
was permitted to take eight thousand
dollars Of good money. These two hauls
left the bank utterly unable to meet the
demands Of the county. city and school
district depOsitors. and the bond on
file with the county clerk having become
worthless by the insolvency of the sure
ties, (whO in reality constituted the prin.
cipal on whose behalf the security was
given,) the taxpayers of Ford county
have nothing to show for about thirty
thousand dollars paid Into the treasury
as municipal taxes, except the possible
ity of slender dividend which the clos
ing out of odds and ends of unsaleable
property left in the wreck of the col
lapsed institution may realize. All this
money will have to be collected over
again in addition to that needed for fu-
ture current expenses of the county. Old
Ford is one of the best counties in the
state aud by prudent administration of
her affairs hereafter. will soon recuper-
ate her wasted resources. but woe be
unto ills if we again renew the power Of
the vampire Which has so greediIy alb
sOrbed our revenues in the past.
-WANTED: To correspond with some
man who would like <tO put in small
grain for himself. or who would break