The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-09-11
LOOKS WORSE YET
DORIAN SHORTAGE MATTER TAKES
ANEW TURN.

Expert H. e. Patterson. Employed by the
the First Delinquent Sale in 1878 and
Bring Up All the Redemption Accounts
Looks as if Some OF the Rottenest
Places Were Just Coming to Light
Will See il Redemption Fund Has Been
Properly Handled.
1t would seem that the story Of the
Doran shortage has just commenced.
The county commissioners yesterday
employed Expert H. E. Patterson 10 go
back over the treasurer's books for TWEEN
" four years and bring up all the redemp
ton accounts.
In his report Of the first two years Mr..
Patterson had in red figures several thou
sand dollars, the red indicating that it
was Mr. Patterson's opinion that these
amounts were bogus or irresponsible en-
tries. However, in one uncertain way
Ind another scrappy records would be
gotten together 50 that it made the sig
aificance Of the figures doubtful and this
B. Mr. Patterson showed by putting them
In red ink.
But in going over the books OF the last
two years the stubs and various entries
Of the redemption accounts are too suspi-
ciously uncertain 70 depend upon, and
the commissioners nave decided that il
is utterly impossible 20 get al the exact
condition OF the books without going
clear back over all the delinquent sales
and redemption accounts, and that this
turn may reveal a shortage Of thousands
OF dollars more than was expected even
after the report of the 6rst two years.
Mr.. Patterson explained 10 the COM
missioners that anything less would
make his report very incomplete and not
satisfactory and that in fact he couldn't
make a report without doing this and
would not. He has already paid out the
money he was 10 receive for the first eX-
animation for help and was losing money
every day but said that ne didn't propose
TO quit job half finished. In taking up
the examination Of the redemption ac-
counts it Will be necessary for Mr.. Pat
terson to go back to 1873 when the county
bid in its first piece OF property. Twen-
ty-four years ago June % the county
took in for delinquent taxes the south
EAST quarter OF the southeast quarter Of
the southeast quarter Of section 8, range
q, township l east. which was a ten-acrs
lot in the country then on what is now
Main street, a mile north of the court
house.
The former owner could have redeemed
the land within four years or he may
have bought it back on a compromise
with the county commissioners at any
time since. That is. if he desired and
the commissioners thought 1t better to
throw off something against the place
and get it on the tax rolls again than to
hold. This may have occurred and the
redemption money have been paid in dur
Ing Doran's administration or any time
before or since, but it would be necessary
10 trace ont all delinquencies to see what
became Of it finally. Whether il was
ever redeemed, and If so whether the |
money was ever charged. IF in any case !
the money was paid in and not charged |
Or credited instead of charged, the Short |
age would be just so much more. The
condition of the books would seem to in
dictate such transactions. And there may
be other rotten places yet. Mr.. Patter- !
son seems 10 catch every dot that's out |
of place. The commissioners have de- |
termined to probe the whole thing to the !
bottom, SO they gave Nj. Patterson au- /
thority yesterday 10 make a clean sweep |
This viii involve an immense amount OF |
work. There are twenty-one delnqueat |
Items in 1873 and more than $1,000 in the |
one year of 1894. So it Will be seen that |
Mr.. Patterson has a big job ahead. De- |
velopments will be awaited with the |
keenest of interest. /