The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-04-03
GEN. BRADFORD'S REPLY
Explains Statements Emanating
From the Appellate Court
Concerning His Book Keeping
That is in Controversy.
Mr.. Bradford Says an Examination
VIII Account for Everything and
Show That He is Still En-
titled to 81, 200.
o the Editor Of tbe State Journal:

To the Editor of the State Journal:
In a recent number of your paper you
have an extended article concerning
my official conduct when clerk of the
court of appeals, which is misleading
and in the main part absolutely untrue.
assume that your information
comes from the present clerk Of that
court, and when you see that you have
been misled you will be willing 10
print a correct statement Of the facts.
No formal demand was made on Inc
for a statement showing the exact
standing of all accounts when / went
out Of Office. as stated in the article,
neither by the court or the clerk
] made a statement of all moneys re-
ceived by me from all cases decided
and concluded up to the time of my
going out of office, and had it approved
son, and filed it with the state treas
urer before going out of office.
In each new case commenced in that
court. while I was in Office, an advance
fee of five $50 dollars was deposited IN
accordance with the rules of the court,
and that fact was noted on the appear
ance docket.
The fees earned by me in all of those
cases were also entered on the appear
ence docket SO that man can discern
at a glance how much money I have
received and earned in each and eve
ry case commenced after came into
office.
Any judge. clerk. reporter, or ether
person can see by turning TO any one
case whether I have earned all of the
deposit fee or more in any case.
The appearance docket is the place
provided by law for ascertaining the
condition of the case, the amount of
cost paid or unpaid.
The law nowhere provides for keep
ing a cash book or ledger account with
parties in that court
The animus of this whole matter
probably lies in the fact that Mr.
Thompson is disappointed in the re
ceipts of the office. For some time aft
er Mr.. Thompson went into the office,
the only fees that were paid in belong
ed either to Mr.. Brown of the supreme
court, or to me, and probably not
enough came to him to pay his expen-
ses. He collected some fees belonging
to me. and finally intimated that
wanted some money: checks would come
to me, and were by me endorsed to
him, so that knew as a matter of fact
that he had received money. After
waiting some time he stated that if I
would make out a statement, showing
the amount due me in each case, that
he would settle and check off the cases
as he settled. I prepared a statement,
giving the number Of each case, the
amount deposited, and the amount of
costs due me, had it compared with the
appearance docket and verified as to
correctness. l went to his office and
handed it to him. He said that there
was d case in which $35 had been de-
posted instead of a bond which had
tie that case, that there were three 9TH
er cases in which IS each had been de-
posted, and I had only earned SIPS in
each, and that he wanted to settle then.
I agreed that he might keep the I'M
earned portion of the $35 and the S11.25
unearned in the three cases out of the
money in his hands belonging to me.
This was two or three days before 1
started for the Territory. He said he
would not settle by the list, that he
would reserve the right . make chang
aS In n n If no would
not settle by the list I would not leave
it, and picked it up and put it in my
pocket. He then for the first time
served a written demand on me for SIS
and some cents, and said that by pay
ing that amount that IJWould still owe
the office 80 cents. I went out Of the
office and in few days came to the
Territory.
The records show that have receiv-
ed something near 1400 from all sour
ces and that there is still due ne, when
collected, between $1,000 and ST, 300.
I presume that the clerk has need of
the fees in his hands belonging to me,
evade the paying out of the same.
have no serious objection to Mr.Thomp-
son, the clerk, keeping the money a rea-
sonable length of time, but the office
owes me 81, 200 which I expect to get
assuming that Mr.. ThompsOn's bond is
a good one.
I will be in Topeka between the 18th
and 25th of April, and will be glad to
show any Judge, clerk, reporter, or ed
itor that everything I have stated is
absolutely correct. and that all the
books required by the rules of the
court, and the law creating the court
that were found necessary by the court
to be kept, were kept by me, and that
there is no attempt to evade, or in any
way to interfere with the business of
that court by me. That the statement
to which I have referred is now in the
hands of my son in Topeka, and can be
seen by the judges if they desire.
S b BRADFORD.