The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-03-17

hcDdIlIutll. 3l,SJU. l0e accounts as gain
cred by Mr.. Worrell showed a shortage
in expenditures i'm the neighborhood of
1900. 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-
poses mentioned.
DOCUMENTS IN THE CASE.
This affidavit was as follows
John worrell being duly sworn on his
oath says that he has received information
and verify believes that all the 1850 drawn
by the chief of the Bureau of Statistics for
once expenses from the 5000 appropriated
for that purpose for the year ending Oct. 81,
1896. was not used for the purpose for which
IT was appropriated and was allowed to be
drawn; and that a large part also OF the
$3.50 drawn by the chief of the Indiana
Bureau of Statistics for salary and expens-
es of agents out of the $1,000 appropriated
for that year for that purpose was also
not used for the purpose for which it was
appropriated and was alleged to have been
drawn, and has not been expended as con-
templated by the law.
And affiant says that he is informed and
believes that a portion of the appropriations
for the fiscal year ending Oct. 81. 1895. was
not used for the purpose for which such
appropriations were made, but has been
of Statistics"
This was signed by Worrell and sworn
to before Hattie Moore, notary public.
Upon this Information the Governor last
evening directed the auditor and attorney
general TO make an investigation by issuing
the following order:
THE attached affidavit having been filed
in my office. charging Simeon j. Thompson,
properly account for all the money appro-
priated by the State to his office, you are.
therefore. directed TO proceed TO investigate
THESE charges and report your findings to
this Office"
What justification Mr.. Worrell will have
Tor his charges remains to be seen. He
declared yesterday afternoon 10 a Journal
reporter hat there was no question bait
that a portion OF the money drawn by Mr..
Thompson had never been expended and
said that he had the data to prove it. His
charges caused vast surprise, partly from
the fact that through a long life nobody
Mr.. Thompson and partly from the fact
that he has been unusually kind to Mr..
WorralL: During the whole of the last cam
paign Mr.. Worrell was given leave of alb
sence from the office while his salary went
on be was out on the stump with his
expenses paid by the Republican state
during this time. His son, Clar-
ence Worrall. has also been employed by
the department as one of it's field agents.
Even since these charges were first
preached by Mr.. Worrell Mr.. Thompson
has shown no disposition to discharge him
from the office.
MR.. WORRELL'S STATEMENT.
MY suspicion was first aroused" said
Mr.. Worrell last evening, "long ago when
the report was made up. showing a por-
ton of the appropriation turned back to the
treasury. Mr.. Thompson then remarked
that a person in the building had told him
that he was a chump for turning anything
back. 1 had been put forward two years
ago TO ask for the appropriation from the
ways and means committee and Mr.
Thompson again had me go before the
committee this year. 1t then occurred to
me that l ought 10 know what was done
with this money asked for and L sat down
and began TO figure. / knew how many men
had been employed and for how long IA time
and knew what the salaries in the office
We're. The sum of $3.50 had been drawn
for bureau expenses in the ofice for the
year ending Oct. 81, 1896. and $3.50 for the
pay and expenses OF agents. AS soon as /
began to figure it struck me that nothing
like that amount had been spent for these
purposes and L would have been ready to
swear that il had not. Mr.. Thompson was
in the habit of leaving his desk open and
L had occasionally worked with him at il
as he worked at mine. He had frequently
sent me To IL for stamps or papers. In
order to satisfy myself on the matter L
went to his desk and succeeded In finding
certain papers showing the expenditures. 4
paid no attention TO the letters and private
paters in the desk and could not tell YOU
now what they were. / consulted Il. Wilson
Smith and Senator Self. because 1 felt that
the General Assembly should know these
things and together we went over these
papers and verified my figures. These gen.
tlemen identified them thoroughly, so that
even If they should be spirited away they
can testify TO the correctness of my figures.
Governor he was very emphatic I'm declar-
ing that If there was anything wrong il
should be ferreted out. IL was upon the cir
cumstanceS i have related that i base the
charges made. / could find nothing else To
Indicate what the expenditures of the Of
flee were. There was no book kept showing
the expenditures of the office"
Mr.. Thompson. when asked for "A state
ment last evening. said: An Investigation
will be made and will do my talking then.
All i care TO say Is that the money drawn
was paid out for the work of the bureau,
rency. IL may cost me some time To make
an itemized account. for the expense book
disappeared from my desk during my alb
sence. i do not know who took IL. but have
my views. However. i have no doubt that
L shall be able TO account for all moneys
drawn. though there may be a few items
such as postage-which Is a heavy expense
with us-fOr which / have no vouchers. mi
/ doubt IL any other officer has vouchers
for his postage or like office expenses"
The state GeOIogist's Expenditures.
The charges made by Mr.. worran recall
another little investigation that was made