Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1892-04-22
A DEEP LAID PLAN
To Remove County Treasurer
Bradley.
The County Commissioners Trump M
a"shortage" Charge, and
Appoint Doc. psirce liz his Place.
But it Don't Work and Bradley Holds
the Fort.

was his determination to take no parti-
san stand with either Of the factions,
that for reasons best known to them
selves, had engaged in an unpleasant
strife for some time past. The ad-
vancement and upbuilaing of Hot
Springs is, and shall be the guiding
principle in the policy of the STAR.
In our determination to keep aloof
from the Factions that may have
heretofore existed, we did not expect
to close our eyes and ears to what
might t%ranspire in the future, but to
endeavor to be faithful to the best in
terests of the people of the county, and
of the city, in exposing wrong doing,
and UNFOLDING that which Is right.
This conrse is one of the many ways
by which the STAR will make an effort
toward the advancement and upbuild-
ing of Hot Springs.
The editor acknowledges allegiance
to no nan nor to any set of men. His
soul is his own, and IN order to hold his
position, he is not compelled to submit
to the lash of any individual or indi-
viduals. He is here to do dirty work
for no one, nor does he propose to see
upright and honorable men traduced
and DETAINED without at least stating
the other side of the story. Every fair
minded man, whose opinion is unbiased
by pre- ndice, must admit that the
treatment treasurer Bradley received
at the hands of the county commits
s%ioners, as told over his own signature
in these columns, was, to put it ex-
tremely mild, the most fragrant piece
of official ane that ever came to
our notice. The treasurer had de-
posted the surplus funds of the county
in the First National Bank, where
they We're perfectly safe. Do people
expect a man to carry $4,000 or $50.
600 around in his pants pocket? The
commissioners, evidently with an eye
to the result: made a demand upon the
treasurer to count the money, which
they had a perfect right to do. The
authorities at the bank stated that MIR.
Bradley had a certain amount de-
posted to his credit, which fully
covered what his balance called for,
but the money could not he produced
forthwith; that most of it was with
their correspondents, upon whom drafts
for the amount of treasurer Bradley's
deposit might lie issued. or that the
money could be brought here within
a day or two. But the commissioners
didn't consider either proposition. In
stead. they order the auditor to bring
suit against Mr.. Bradley and his bonds
men, while the Herald comes out in
bold "scare heads announcing that
treasurer Bradley is "$1S,0OO short"
Then, forsooth. Mr.. Bradley is "short'
in his accounts! and is summarily re-
moved from his Office. Granting that
in the matter of looking after the funds
of the county, the commissioners have
only performed those duties authorized
by law, their action in attempting to
disgrace a faithful, efficient and honest
officer, will meet with general condem,
nation. Because ali act is legal does
not necessarily make 1t right. There
is a higher law than a board of com
missloners. The fair and manly action
for the commissioners would have
been to allow Mr.. Bradley reasonable
/. time in which to procure the money
But this effort to blacken and defamt
a character in every n above re
: proach will certainly react upon tht
: instigators. That MIR. Bradley is hon
: est no one questions. The people o.
this county have the utmost confidence
in his uprightness and integrity. Th,
e STAR has no interest in the matter ex
cept to see justice done. What ha
f been said concerning 1T is not becaus'
e Mr.. Bradley needs defending at home
but rather to remove a wrong impress
S sion that may have been scattere,
abroad by insipid and venal mer
d cinaries.
u "A Full Statement by County Treasure
Bradley.
a Up to the present time l have no
felt it necessary to make any statemen
over my signature as treasurer of Fa'
River county, either since my %electio
or during the unfortunate court hons
fight; nor would I now but for the 10,
and dirty attack made upon me by th
IS men now. unfortunately constitutin,
our board of county commissioner
Perhaps, in order that the citizen
and voters of Fall River county VII
d elected me to this Office, may know til
al position { have taken since this coul
sr house fight has been going on, it woul
lie not be out of place for me as count
e. treasurer to make q statement regard
d ing it. and then leave the matter wit
T. them, content to stand OF fall by thei
sr decision.
N When I was asked to accept the nom
l. nation for the Office of county trea.
At urer at first positively refused.
IL had a good ranch and it needed IN
fe personal attention all the time, but a.
\. ter repeated urging | consented to al
ID low myself to be named and became
,e candidate. l was elected. ] took til
l. Office in January, 1891, and when til
er money was turned over to me | foun
ii it had been kept in the banks of Fa
g, River and Pennington counties, tn
7e county not having the proper facilitie
st for its safe keeping. and understoo
s