The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-03-27
REPORT OF INVESTIGATORS.
Recommendations of the Auditor and
Attorney General.

The report of the investigating officers
filed with the Governor yesterday is as fol-
lows:
We beg to report that pursuant to the
directions contained in your favor of the
18th inst. we proceeded to investigate the
charges contained in the affidavit of John
Worrell with respect to the onduc of the
chief of the bureau of statistics. In so do
ing we took the statements of Capt. John
Worrell, IL. Wilson Smith, Clarence Wor-
rell, M. +. Thompson and Clarence Conner
with respect TO the conduct of the office
and the moneys expended in connection
Herewith. on Tuesday last the investiga-
gagements of some of the counsel. and on
yesterday forenoon Mr.. Thompson filed
with us the inclosed statements and ex-
check on FIetcher's Bank for 81 .25O.
regret to report that the office has
not been administered in accordance with
law, but with a seeming disregard of the
rules that ought to govern any person hav-
ing the custody and management of funds
not his own, whether in or out of public
office.
ever for the withdrawal of the sums of
si25 and 1926 mentioned i'm the statement,
ing 81 go, ought TO be Immediately covered
back into the treasury on account OF funds
enormously Withdrawn.
As to the other matters for which no
vouchers or specific explanation is ten
dered by Mr.. Thompson we find more diff
Guilty. Upon examining these statements it
has seemed TO us that under your letter
there was no duty upon US 10 further in
yestigate unless Mr.. Thompson could fur
nish some better statement of the amounts
expended by him than he seems now 10 be
able 10 do. and it would be a f~ruitless thing
for us TO attempt to find just what credit,
if any. he is entitled TO.
From the investigation made we are
convinced that the transactions for the
fiscal year ending Oct. 81, 1898, while con-
Quoted with carelessness and a disregard
of the duty imposed upon those handling
public funds. we believe that all the moneys
x.,s n rar 4r, 1ttripu that NpnP urRTa narttnlh.
and honestly applied TO the uses of the
State. The voucher for October. 1895,
amounting to $685.. 50. we believe represents
moneys properly used. and we therefore
think there is no necessity for covering
back or making provision for the item of
Sl62. 81. We believe il To be true from the
statements of the parties who appeared be-
fore us that a considerable portion of the
items OF $4lS.55 in the office expense account
and OF SI26.l1 in the account OF agents sal
aries and expenses were probably properly
used. but we do not think. upon the admis-
sion that $l.250 had been improperly with
drawn during that year and the statement
that the statistician is unable at this time
to make any specific showing as to any of
the items III these two amounts, it would
be proper for US TO recommend any allow
ance or credit TO him upon these items or
either of them.
Thompson be notified forthwith 10 place i'm
the hands of some one designated by your
self the sums OF $3.50 and $726. IL, 10 be
held for a limited period until the Stats
tician shall have the opportunity to con-
stder, inquire and show, II he can, what
sum. If any. In addition 10 those contained
i'm the statements has been properly used
by him in connection with the discharge of
the duties Of his office. and that upon his
making a showing within that time of such
uses OF such moReys or any portion thereof
the same shall be returned 10 him. and that
upon his failing 10 do so within the time
designated the whole or such portion
thereof as shall not have been shown TO
have been properly used by the statistician
shall be then covered into the treasury.
This. we presume, Is as Tar as We are
expected 10 go in the matter under the di-
rection contained in your letter, and we
submit therefore that we should be relieved
from any further consideration OF this mat
ter.
I'm making this investigation we called
70 our assistance, i'm order that there might