The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-03-17
Mr.. WORRELL'S CHARGES
DECLARES THAT HIS CHIEF HAS
NOT EXPENDED MONEY PROPERLY.
Governor Orders an investigation
ade-wen through ThompsOn-s
Desk for His Data.

John Worrell. a deputy in the office of
the state statistician, yesterday filed with
the Governor charges against his chief Of
malfeasancs and fraud in office. These
charges are based upon the assertions of
Mr. WorreIl that the appropriation drawn
by the statistician has not been entirely
expended in prosecuting the work of the
ONCE. >. j. Thompson, state statistician,
denies that there has been a dollar drawn
that was not expended in paying the
salaries or himself and assistants, in pay
ing agents for gathering statistics in the
field and running expenses of the Office.
Until the session of the last Legislature
there was no requirement that vouchers
should be filed by the heads of state depart
ments and accordingly no other vouchers
have been filled by state officers than their
own statement In writing, of the purpose
for which money has been expended
Auditor Daily declared that it would take
the very strongest evidence TO shake his
belief In the honesty of Mr.. Thompson.
whom he has known for a great number of
years, and this is the view expressed by
the rest Of the state officers. Mr.. Thomp-
son also demands an Investigation.
Just before the adjournment of the Leg
islature Mr.. Worrell submitted figures Oh
this subject to Chairman Smith. of the
ways and means committee of the House.
and Senator Self. of the finance committee
or the Senate, and his figures made a diff
ference of over $2,00O between the amount
drawn for the office and the amount ex-
pended in salaries and expenses. Mr..
Thompson was at home ill at this time and
Mr.. Worrell had gone TO his desk and
taken his papers. in order TO figure up the
accounts OF expenditures. These, he says.
were I'm piecemeal. but he was able TO CLEAN
from them the amounts that had been ex-
pended for agents and other expenses.
Messrs. Smith and Self go over the copies
with him and compare them. These copies
he now has in his possession. He ~iustifies
this proceeding by declaring that he looked
thus going through the desk of his chief,
but only distracted papers relating to the
business of the Office. There had been
drawn from the auditors office of the ap-
preparation for the hire and expenses of
agents $500, and for the expenses of the
cred by Mr.. Worrell showed a shortage
In expenditures in the neighborhood of
S2,OO. This matter came up so late in the
session that the members of the Legislature
mentioned felt that they had no right to
make it public without a thorough investi-
CATION, which they had no time 10 make.
Mr.. Worrell finally went TO the Governor
with the matter several days ago and the
Governor listened TO him patiently and sug-
gested that if he had any charges to make
they should be made in writing. Mr.. Wor-
rail- returned with a general charge i'm
writing and yesterday supplemented this
with an affidavit setting out the amounts
drawn and declaring that from the knowl-
edge he had he believed the whole of these
sums had not been expended for the pur-
noses maintained