The herald., 1895-12-16
It Is Claimed 1t Was Originally
Seven Thousand Dollars
FIVE THOUSAND is PAID
Inside Facts About the ex.Chief Deputy
Comfy Clerks Shortage
II First Came Out When Making Up the Ac-
counts to Turn the Office Over
to 1r. NewIin

There is a new story about the Lowery
embezzlement in the county clerks office,
and If the facts are as alleged there will be
an opportunity for explanations all along
the line. Mr.. Newlin will have chance to
say something. Mr.. Ward may consent to
make statement, and even Mr.. Lowery
may be induced to unbend and throw some
light from the inside on what certainly
looks like very remarkable transaction.
Ever since the Indictment of Frank e.
Lowery. who was Mr. Wards chief deputy
during his last term as county clerk, there
has been strong feeling among those who
have given any thought to the matter that
the whole truth had not come out. and that
something had been kept back. This feel
ing has been emphasized by the peculiar
conduct of the parties interested. Frank
Lowery, though charged with felony of
which he says that he is innocent, has re-
fused to give any information on matter
of the most vital Importance to himself,
and, aside from trying to take advantage
Of technicality by attacking the grand
jury, has preferred to stand before the
community under cloud rather than to
clear himself; Mr.. Ward, even, the man
who during his four years. service as county
clerk admits to having paid out practically
his entire salary making good the short
ages of his subordinates, is strangely reti-
cent; in fact, all along the line there is
general disinclination to discuss this inn
portant matter, and further investigation
might have been suspended pending the
regular legal examination but for an incl
dent last week that awakened interest, and
HERALD reporter started out on an inde-
pendent inquiry to follow the lead to con-
clusion.
The incident referred to was the an
nouncement that Mr.. A. W. Seaver, one of
the assistant deputies in the county clerks
office, and apparently one of the most
trusted, would resign his position on the
first of the month to engage in some other
line of business. At first it was thought
that Mr.. Seaver had received some good
offer from a private firm which would
justify him in giving up his pleasant and
lucrative clerkship, but when that gentle
man, in answer to direct inquiry, said
that he had nothing definite in view, the
statement caused a genuine shock. 1t is
a well-known. fact that but few
ing their terms of office, and
that none ever resign. consequently the
idea that Seaver, who has been SO long in
the county clerks Office as to be regarded
almost as fixture, had deliberately step
ped down and out, of his own free will and
oCCOAus was IckdTuCu dS PE0ROStckOuSs
There must be some motive for his unpre-
cedented action. but just what it was, was
not learner until late on Saturday evening.
Mr.. Ward, it may be remarked, has been
in the city for several days past, and he
has unbosomed himself much more freely
on this last visit than at any. time hereto
fore. He is smarting under what he regards
as the tngratitude of those he has befriend-
ed in the past, in not coming to the front
and bearing their share of the burden, and
on more than one occasion has INDUCED in
some pretty strong talk.
Among other things, Mr.. Ward is quoted
as having given out the following intorma-
ton, and it he has been correctly reported,
will probably give the grand jury some
thing more to work upon:
In brief, then, Mr.. Ward is quoted as
saying that the first he knew of Lowery's
shortage was when they were making up
the accounts to turn the office over to Mr..
Ward asked Lowery if the cash came out
all right, TO which Lowery reported that it
did not, that it was short. When asked
how much he was behind, Lowery, it is
claimed, said about $1,000. Ward was
shocked, and exclaimed. "My God, Frank,
in reply, said he had been dabbling in
stocks, and had lost the money. Mr..
Seaver, who by the way is a personal friend
of LoWery's, and occupied a responsible
position in the office, it is said, was stand
ing near by, at this time, spoke up and
said, "Mr; Ward, l am afraid am partly
responsible for getting Frank into this
trouble. as told him about the stocks,"
etc., at the same time remarking that he,
too, had dabbled a little in stocks. These
revelations were in the nature OF complete
surprise to Mr.. Ward, and he did not know
what to do, as he had been making short-
ages good ever since he went into the office.
mtg vxyoo hnI nv11 in,
some way. just how is not known, the busi-
ness was adjusted, and the transfer
made. Lowery. it is said, raised
something over $4,000. which
he turned over to Mr.. Ward, and the mat
ter was hushed up. Mr.. Newlin entered
thing ran along serenely until the bomb
shell was exploded nine months later by
the indictment of Lowery by the grand
jury for embezzling something over $500.
Now assuming that the above statement
of fact is approximately correct. and there
is no reason to doubt it, as the authority is
friendly to both Ward and Lowery, it will
numerous explanations are in order. So
to begin with, Mr.. Ward should explain
why when he knew Lowery was defaulter,
he should have offered him place in the
supreme court clerks office. as he is cur
rently reported to have done, but which
WAS uecllleu Dy LOWery W dccept place
in a national bank in this city.
Then, Mr.. Newlin should explain how
the. transfer was made, ,and how it was pos
sble to conceal the defalcation for
months until it was dug up by grand
jury expert. a
Then the district attorney might explain
why no action was taken, tell whether the
matter was brought to his attention, and if
it was not, what influences stopped it.
And lastly the grand jury should explain
in their final report the entire history of
the whole matter, and, il necessary, pre-
sent q special report giving the history of
all the defalca,iOls which to make good