St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-06-24
COUNTY AUDITOR BURNS.
MANY APPLICANTS FOR THE EXPECTED
YAcANcY FROM
ANTICIPATED RESIGNATION,

The Events Which Have Led Up
to This Probable Result-Print-
ing Bills Certified Which, 1t Is
Alleged, Do Not Exist-Salary
Hypothecated Up to Next No
vember-A Peculiar Condition
Of Affairs Developed.
Anum5er of aspirants for the office
of county auditor are besieging and
importuning the members of the board
of county commissioners to elect them
to the Office at the meeting of the board
to be held Monday morning. The
candidates seem to be going upon the
presumption or rumor that the present
auditor will resign.
James H. Burns has had very
stormy career during his lncumbency
of the Office, and there have been stand
ing candidates for his shoes almost
since the first month he went into the
Office. He was indicted in connection
with printing affairs shortly after going
into the Office, but the matters then in
dispute we're adjusted to the satisfac-
ton of the coupty after trial on one OF
the indictments and a disagreement.
After that came the Investigation be-
fore the governor Instituted by T. Rear
don, and which resulted in stand-of.
Claims have been made lately that the
affairs OF the Office are not running in
smooth stream. and for the past few
days there have been rumors of resig-
nation. Mr.. Burns was asked for an
interview yesterday, and replied:
..Wait until Monday and l will give you
an interview" When asked if he con-
| templated resigning, he turned away
| and declined to reply. His attorney,
Henry Johns, also declined to give any
statement for publication.
Hearing rumors as to the condition Of
| the affairs of the Office, GLOBE re-
porter made inquiries that elected the
following facts:
In April last r.sBurns certified over
his signature as auditor Of the county
| that there was due to the Herald (of
| which paper he is understood to be the
owner for printing, etc., the sum of
s1,SOO.S0. He then assigned this amount
1
assignment was taken to the county
treasurer and notice of the assignment
served on Treasurer Nelson. This
amount, it was claimed, would be due
May g. During the month Of April
another certificate was made by Mr..
Burns that there was due the Herald
S1,100, and this account was assigned to
the Union bank.
D. A. Monfort. president of the
Second National bank, was asked about
the matter in so far as his bank was
concerned. but said that he would
rather not be interviewed for puhlica-
ton on the subject.
Maurice Auerbach, president of the
Union bank, being asked about his
banks connection with the affair, made
a request not to be quoted. 1t has been
learned Oh good authority that the paper
alluded to had been discounted by the
banks respectively.
The county attorney was also asked
for an Interview, but declined to say
whether or not the matter would be
considered by the grand jury. which
meets Monday afternoon. Mayor Smith
and County Treasurer Nelson were seen
about the general subject. ard were
10th to discuss the matter. None of the
parties seen denied that the facts were
true, and all admitted that the docu-
ments spoken of are in existence, and a
: GLOBE reporter saw some of them. 1t
is also ascertained that there was moi
due the Herald from the county in
| nrii Lar fhn ~ ~, &c @;
In addition to the above matters II
was learned that j. II. Burns assigned
all the money due him as county au-
ditor for the month of June, amounting
to S., ZOO, to L. g. Clemus, and by a
writing authorized !. J.. Mahan to sign
the name of Burns to the voucher for
that amount. This assignment and
power of attorney was dated May 25,
and was filed with the county treasurer.
/ Another assignment Of the July sal
AIRY for $1,000 was dated May 2l, and
turned over the salary as county audi
tor to A. J. Wampler.
| Further inquiry Of ex-Gov. Merriam
disclosed the fact that the salary OF
|lBurps.as county auditor. for the months
OF August. September and OCTOBER,
smounting to $1,000 for each Of the
three montns, had been assigned to the
Merchants NatiQpal bank, This was
done a Week Or two ago.
| A statement of the facts as CLEANED
by the reporter was laid before County
Treasurer Nelson, who gave the infor-
nation that he had been served with
notice of the assignments to the Second
National bank and the several assign.
money on ACCOUNT Of any Of the assign.
ments, and declined to issue warrants
| {of the fssfghHe6ts Qt the accounts
l!sssIt.l 3 = DC " Hsfals