Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-01-02

Scott Was Short About $4,000 In His Ac-
counts, but by Continued Appeals Kept
Out ofJaIl--Taken Prisoner and Carried
on by Frenzied Farmers.
O'NEILI. Neb., Jan. 2.-The defaulting
treasurer Of Holt county, Barrett Scott, Is
supposed to hayo been hanged by q mob.
He was captured about midnight in q
lonely part of the county north Of this city.
He was returning. with his wife, baby,
hired man, named John Schmidt. and q
Miss McWharter, from a trip to relatives
about IS miles from O'Neill when six
masked men sprang from the roadside.
where they had been concealed. and cover
ing the carriage with winchesters ordered
Scott to surrender. Scott seized the reins
and attempted to drive over the men.
The masked men then fired into the
carriage killing the horses and shooting
Scott in the neck and wounding Miss Nc
WharteR though not seriously. The first
party WINS then Joined by q larger force,
which had been placed across tho road
farther On to intercept the carriage had 1t
escaped the first volley.
Scotland Schmidt We're taken from the
vehicle. blindfolded and thrown into g
wagon, and the ladies were told to 60 on.
Scott Did Not Come Back.
been taken to q sodhouse in the northwest
part of the county with Scott Schmidt
was released, with the injunction to get
out of the country. 1t is believed that
Scott has been hanged, as the farmers of
the county are terribly incensed over his
work.
Scott,s defalcation as county treasurer
Of Holt county, his flight 20 Mexico. his
subsequent arrest, the strong fight mado
against his extradition, his return in
irons, Incarceration, trial, conviction, SEN
tence, appeal and release on bonds two
weeks ago have been told at length from
time to time since year ago last August
when the discovery Of his crlminality was
first made public.
SCOTS troubles began in January, 1899,
at tho close of his first term, when he was
asked to allow the commissioners to see
the cash that his books showed TO DO in
his hands. Scott did not have the money
on hand, there being but 81, 34S In the
vault when the commissioners made their
| first visit They then gave Scott ten days
| in which to make the showing. and money
was secured from Omaha for that purpose
When the borrowed money was shipped
out the next day and the board learned Of
| It, and that SIS was paid for the use of
it. an Investigation was started, and Scott
was removed from Office.
1t was ascertained by the commissioners
in June of that year, some time after the
beginning of the litigation, that a number
| IF the sureties on Scott's bond were trans
| ferring their property, and he was noti-
| fed that he must secure additional bonds
| This he failed to do.
When the board met again, it declared
the Office vacant and appointed r. J.
Hayes, a Republican. to take the place in
| and Hayes began mandAlnus proceedings
| to get possession Of the office but the case
| went to the district court, where il was
hung up for a year awaiting the decision
| of the supreme court in the case started a
| few months before, and 1t was not def
nitely acted upon until after Scott had
| gone TO Mexico.
Was Out on RAIl.
Judge Marshall Of the Fremont district
was invited by Judge Kincaid to pass
upon II, and no declared Scott removed
| from office
| When tho Holt County bank failed on
June ?, 1892, Scott asserted that there was
about $40, 600 Of the county funds there.
but after statements were made by the
bank officials he gradually modified the
amount to SEQ, 900: Tho statements OF
| the bank examiner and receiver were to
1
and Of this amount 81. 900 was deposited by
Scott to his private account
After SCOTT had been Jailed at O'Neill
machinery was set in motion to effect his
release. Habeas corpus proceedings failed.
His bail was originally fixed at els, 600,
but was later raised by Judge Kincaid 20
| $75, 600. This amount was asserted to be
excessive, but the court refused to lower it.
Recourse to the supreme court gave no
relief, and finally after Scott had boon
noIninally in Jail for several months he
was liberated on bail His case was taken
4 to Antelope county on a change of venue.
i and the last of September resulted in his
j conviction and sentence to five years i'm.
prisonment. Pending appeal his bond
was fixed at go, 900. This he could not
1 secure, and the matter was taken to the
state supreme court. On Dec 6 that body
decided that the bond was excessive and
reduced tho amount from $40, 900 to &4U,
900. In q day or two Scott secured the
necessary boEdsmon and was released on
bail. Upon his release Scott returned &c
Holt county