The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-02-13
A STATE TREASURER SHORT.
HIS BoNDsHEN PAY ss5O,OOO AFTER
HIS DEATH.


Notes OF Former Partner for S245,
600 and Due Bills OF the Treasurer
for SI15.Oo0 Found Among the
state Funds-ChtcnGO banks the
surety ON the BOnd-They MAY Re
cover ss25.OO0 From the Estate
Carlyle. Ill. Feb. i2-Judge Jones Of
Clinton county. sitting as a probate judge
in this city last Saturday. made the claim
Of the bondsmen Of the late Rufus Ram
sey as state treasurer Of Illinois against
his estate. amounting 70 $4,000. pre-
1erred claim Of the sixth class. The bonds
men. who stood in the place Of the state.
took this action 10 reimburse themselves
for having made good the same amount OF
sAorsaee discovered IN the accounts Of
the late treasurer OF Illinois when his Of
nee was transferred 10 his son, Elijah.
last November. The Ramsey estate is
vailed at $4,000. and II the widow does
not enforce her dover rights the bonds
men expect TO realize Sl250lO from s--eir
claim. Judge Jones allowed only one other
preferred claim, amounting 10 few thou
sand dollars
Springfield H.. Feb. Estate Treasurer
Wulff when asked concerning the alleged
shortage Of ex-TTeasurer Ramsey, stated
that SO far as the state treasury was con-
cerned no shortage existed, ana he knows
nothing about a. When he took the treas
ury. every paper Was In its place ana the
cash was. verified to cent the claims
fled at Carlysle are by the banks that
were on Air Ramsey bond and which mold
paper as collateral for the amount due
them. L. =, Ramsey. who succeeded his
father, said that there was nothing new
IL thsmaSter-and that the claims had been
fifed against the state according to law.
Carl Molf, cashier Of the National Bank
OF Illinois, one OF the sureties on the bond
OF the late state treasurer. Rufus Ram
sey, and an appOintee OF Gov. Altgeld as
West Park commissioner. said tonight in
regard to the claim of the bondsmeR
against the Ramsey estate and the re-
ported defalcation: "Ohcers and directors
Of the following Chicago banks were on
the bond of the late Rufus Ramsey. for the
aggregate sum Of S500.0OU divided TN
equally: Chicago National, Corn Ex-
change, Fort Dearborn National, Metro
pofitan National and the National Bank
OF Illinois. These banks were used as de-
positories of state money. When Mr.
Ramsey died suddenly at his home in Car
lyle early last November. Gov Ahgeld ap.
pointed Elijah. the son Of the deceased,
treasurer, for the rest OF the term. The
law requires the presence Of the bondsmen
when any transfer of the treasurer's Of
ice is to be made. So #. NJ. Blount
cashier of the Chicago National Bank. and
myself, representing the bOndsme n, wer-
present in Springfield when the accounts
were examined and the funds turned over
THE startling discovery was made a.
That time that $3.50 900 Of state funds had
been missppropr ated We found notes
Of Henry Zeiter. a banker of Lebanon
and OFallen, III, which aggregated $2i5.
900. The only security attached to the
notes cfonLe n he M &
pany. which owned several thousand
aires Of farm land n III nole we alec
found due bills OF Ramsey for $4,000
He had simply taken that amount "
money from the treasury and left due
bills to show for IT,
The total deficiency was made good a.
once by the banks and when Elijah Ram.
sey became state treasurer Nov. 81 there
was not dollar owing the state. When
the present treasurer, Henry Wuff came
into the office he was not satisfied with
the checks Of the Chicago banks and de
manded currency for every dollar rep
resented by the checks. Cash was a
once sent him and we have his certified
receipt for every cent owing by his pre-
decessor. The report that Z. easurer
Wuln discovered the defalcaton is I'M
true.
Carlyle and his estate Is probably worth
si50Oo0- The bondsmen may get Si25,OO0 Of
that. Henry Setter, who evidently began
borrowing from the state treasury as soon
as Mr.. Ramsey came into possession Of the
funds, was formerly a partner Of the late
treasurer ip the banking business Mr.
Sci ter was in the state Senate for several
years and democratic leader In South
ern Illinois. we made him turn over tc
the bondsmen 500 acres of land which was
in his own name He made an assign
ment last month The bondsmen have
600 acres of land near Mitchell H., 10
realize on We may get altogether, from
the farm lands and the Ramsey estate.
from 100000 10 $3.50 which would leave
us losers of HS5,OOO