The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-12-09

1t isn't very often one finds man
who viii refuse to accept 100000 IN
cash, but Salt Lake is noted for hav-
ing what no other city in the United
States can boast of, and there is
gentleman living here who yesterday
declined $1,000 and when the messen-
ger delivered it. went right to the man
who sent it and compelled him to take
it back, declaring that he did not want
it, and what was more would not
have it.
The name of this singular person is
w. P. Lynn, and he is the treasurer Of
this county. The party giving him the
cash was John D. Spencer, the county
collector. He sent the check up by his
clerk, Mr. Corbs, and Lynn, after look
ing it over and noting that it was
properly made out and all that sort
OF thing, placed it in his vest pocket, as
though it was common for him TO nave
s1O0 coo checks in that portion OF his
wearing apparel, and walking down to
Spencer's office, told him he did not
want the money; that he was better OIL
without it.
The check represents the state tax,
or a portion of it at least, collected by
the county collector during the harvest
of taxes which has just closed. Ac-
cording to an opinion of the attorney
general, directed to the state auditor,
the proper man to take charge of the
funds, under the law. until some time
next year, when the new law goes into
effect. is the county treasurer. Mr..
Lynn and his attorney do not agree
with the view stated, and when the
check was received yesterday w. 2.
ambled down to Spencer ana sald:
Here. 1 am not the man TO take
charge of the states cash; l am under
no bond to the state; don't want its
money, and although there is nothing
TO prevent me getting this cashed and
skipping by the light of the moon, or
any other light l may select, L do not
want to do it, because l have several
little schemes on foot, which L believe
viii net me more money, Which l do
not care to let go of at this time L
know that you will say that bird
in the hand is worth two in the bush,
and ali that sort of thing, but 1 cannot
do it, John, indeed I cannot. Here is
your old check; take it and be happy.
But replied Spencer. the check
must go to you. That is the advice l
get I cannot keek the money. It isn't
mine to keep. L am not the custodian
of the funds. L am merely the collector
Please keep the cash
as l love you and ali that sort of thing,
[ must decline 1 don't want the cash.
What is more, John, by the rood, l VIII
not keep it. Take your check"
Lynn was about to walk away when
Spencer called him. Lynn" said he,
in a tone of earnestness, Il do not want
to be harsh with you. But this check
has to go to some one and l supposed
that some one was yourself. Since you
decline so positively to accept this
trifle at my hands for safe keeping for
he state, and as 1 have no right to il,
tell me- will you; oh, will you, suggest
some one who win take it. 7 do not
want TO rush around with 100000 in
my pocket any more than you do. Sup
pose 7 should be held I'D while going
home. SuppOSing, you know Christmas
is approaching. that Mrs. Spencer
should take a notion to go through my
pockets at home and and get this
100000 and blow it all in for slippers
and cigars for me and a present for
each of her friends, and donate a whole
lot for charity; in short scatter the
works to the four winds. as it were.
What would become of me? How
could I face my friends again. knowing
all this? 1 appeal to you to help me
get rid of this 100000. Do it for the
sake of aud lang syne, if nothing else
Lynn pondered a moment and then
said, John, I viii go you one
The two men then locked arms and
went to the office of the state treasurer.
He wasn't in, so they began search
for him. In the meantime it became
time for the banks to close. They were
terrified. Every man on the streets
seemed to realize they had 500, 900 in
their inside pockets. Suspicious char
acters eyed them with looks askance.
Policemen and detectives in plain
clothes Swallowed them from point to
point. Every acquaintance who met
them asked them what in blazes made
them look so worried and fretted
But finally relief came. They found
Chapman. and he agreed to take the
cash until such time as the matter
could be legally adjusted
They were saved.