Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1896-05-30
SATURDAY, MAY 90.
THE cROWELL INDEBTEDNESS.
From the Stnr-Courier May 7th.


ED. COURIER: In regard to the
communication which appeared In
last weeks Courier on the subject
of Mr.. II. II. Crowell's indebtedness
to Cherokee county. wish to say
on the part of Mr.. Crowell's trustees
that the information asked for by
your correspondent is proper for
him to know, as well as all other
citizens of the county, although i
do not like the tone of the inquiry,
because of the manifest willingness
to find fault and reflect on the
actions and motives of the officials
whose business il is TO look after
this matter. At the time Mr.. Crow
ellis contract expired as county
depository for the funds of the
county our whole country was in
the throes of financial disaster.
Banks were suspending and clos
ing all over the country; our Oldest
and strongest bank here in Column
bus had to close its doors, simply
because the bank could not collect
its outstanding paper. Mr.. Crowell
was in the same condition; he
could not collect his outstanding
paper. And right here let me say
to your correspondent: if the citi-
zens of our county who had Mr..
Crowell's money, or the county
money he had loaned them; if they
had paid their notes promptly,
when due, Mr.. Crowell could have
paid the county and this thing
would not have occurred so, while
Mr.. Crowell was legally responsible
to the county, our citizens were
legally and morally responsible to
him and responsible for his inabil-
ity to meet the demands of the
county commissioners. AT the
expiration of his contract, the
board of county commissioners
called upon Mr.. Crowell for settle
ment. After making every possible
effort to collect his outstanding
paper, Mr.. Crowell informed the
commissioners of his efforts and
made statement of his financial
condition.
The commissioners notified each
bondsman to appear before them
on certain date and make good
their agreement as Mr.. CrowelPs
sureties.
The bondsmen, with Mr.. Crowell,
met the commissioners, in fact had
several meetings. The whole sub
ject was discussed and every point
at issue was talked over. Mr.. Crow
ell offered to turn over all his prop
erty, and the board of commission
ers, like honorable, honest and
worthy men, saw at that time that
to sue the bondsmen and enforce
the collection of the amount due
the county, would completely break
up and ruin every man on the bond
because at that time money could
not be had, property could not be
sold without ruinous sacrifice, and
the agreement was made for Mr..
Crowell to turn over all his prop
erty TO his bondsmen. Three trus-
tees were appointed, David Crow,
Ira c. Perkins and +. A. Scammon,
to take possession of his property
and turn 1t into money as fast as
possible and pay II to the county.
Mr.. Crowell, like the honest man he
is, turned over to these trustees by
deed and assignment, every dollars
worth of property he had, consist
ing of real estate. bonds, notes,
stocks, etc, and the trustees took
possession of all his property and
have managed II since, and have
sold and paid to the county $4,000
The amount due the county was
So, 200. The assignment was made
for $33,275, but afterward there were
credits due him to bring the
amount to the above figures, and If
the trustees can sell the balance of
the property at the same rates they
have obtained for that sold, 1t will
pay every dollar due the county
aud leave a small nmount to be
turned back TO Mr. CrOwell, save
the bondsmen from ruin and the
county from loss. lido not believe