The herald., 1895-10-23


These sums were taken from the pub
lie moneys in the custody of the county
clerk about October l. 1894. 1t was done
with the knowledge and consent of Trow-
bridge H. Waru, the then county clerk
Later in the month bills were put into
the beard OF supervisors for the sums
named. Mr. Lowery when be put them
in made a sworn statement that they
were due and unpaid. The supervisors
approved them and warrants were drawn
en- the treasurer to pay the bills as fol-
lows:
Warrant No. ss76, for s55.75, issued oc-
Warrant No. 9544, for S3l0, issued No.
yenlte- I. 1894.
Warrant No. lo2s4 for sis5.S5, issued
Novem Der u, 1894.
These warrants were made payable to
County Clerk Ward. They were give to
Mr.. Luwery and by HIM Endorsed and
cashed. But the money he secured on
them never again saw the cash drawer.
Who got il?
Mir. Lowerysssays emphatically th It be
did not, but declines to state wno did get
IT. He will have to give out this inter-
estipg statement before very many days
elapse, for as far as the books of the
county clerks office are concerned they
show chat he received it and failed to re-
place it where it belonged.
But what motive would Lowery havein
taking this amount? 1t was taaen year
ago. Mr.. Lowery Is a young man of here
tofore unassaied integrity. lie had
loving little wife and taby, a pleasant
home and a res sponsible position in "a To-
cal banking house that paid MIN Sl25 per
month. He had no bad habits.
1t has been said that he speculated on
the Chicago board of trade, but the truth
of this allegation has not been estab-
lished. IHe could easily have raised
$500 or $1,000 and made good any moneys
he had taken, and it certainly seems that
he would have done so had be not some
explanation to make as to what becam
of that 1884. He knew that denoue-
ment was coming. The condition he left
his books in was bound to disclose to the
first expert who examined them that
there was a duplication of charges to the
amount of 1854. 95. He could have made
good the amount, if be knew himself to
he guilty before the experts got hold of
his books. But he did not do so. He
waited, and at last the storm broke. Now
he stands charged with crime, and he
must explain or the penitentiary will re-
ceive him.
81 have absolutely nothing to say
about the matter now," said Mr.. Lowery
tn a Herald representative yesterday.
upon the advice of my attorneys | have
decided to keep silent for the present.
have not as yet fully determined who my
counsel will be. | am sorry that | cannot
tell my friends all about it now. | ask
them. though, to suspend judgment for a
time"
All efforts to induce Mr.. Lowry to ex-
plain the whole matter were unavailing
He looked and acted very much detected
but was firm in refusing the opportunity
offered to present his case.
Trowbridge H. Ward, CLERK of the su-
preme court and in 1894 county clerk. was
almost as firm as Mr.. Loweiy in refusing
TO give any information or explanation.
He said.
Il took Frahk Lowery up when be was
really hungry and provided him with a
position. | have cared for him and taken
great interest in HIM. He has gotten
himself into this trouble and now he
will have to get himself out of it as best
he can.
YES the amounts were taken from the
cash drawer with my knowledge. but
supposed, of course, ttat after Lowery
got the warrants and cashed them that
the money was returned.
when | was called before the grand
jury here was very much surprised to
find out the status of the case. | imme-
diately made the shortage good, for my
bondsm were liable for the amount.
The custom of. taking money from the
cash drawer in my office to pay bills is
one of long standing. Then we would
wait until the first of the month to have
the supervisors approve the bill, get
warrant, draw the money out Of the treas
ury and replace it in the cash drawer.n
This practice Mr.. Ward speaks of, TAX
ing money out of the drawer. does not
meet with the approval of the supervis-
ors. 1t may have been the custom, but
tits not now being done, and three of
tIe five supervisors say that it was wrong.
Supervisor James Hanley said yester-
day: Il had no knowledge that money
WIS being taken out of the cash drawer
n the county clerks Office to nav hills
WI tn prior to the time that those bills
RI approved by the supervisors. Before
hill is p'i the law requires that t
sail be APP roved by the boar and pass
throuoh certain channels-the auditor g
. she treasurer's office, rem aiming in
tie later pace. Mr.. Wa.d was not auth
orized to pay moneys out until the board