Semi-weekly register. (Brookings, Brookings Co., S.D.) 1894-1898, 1898-11-01
..cr,veR ZIMMERMAN REFUSES.
u, Conniyes to Shield the state
Wihu' Treasurer.


u.,s is a plain statement OF few
.aditional facts in regard TO the
mich discussed interest question In
South DaSta politics, which the
DISC gives in the belief that they
.lll generally interest voters.
IN Sunday, October 8, the Press
noblisbed a portion of the Official
transcript of certain testimony, TAX
a. under oath in which an ex-olficer
s,,ne defunct Dakota National bank
stoted positively that it was the GUS
,om in that bank to compute interest
:, the monthly balance Of the state
and 10 send the state treasurer
a,oft for the same and admitted that
he had computed the interest repeat
edlv and had drawn the drafts and
sent them by mail to Kirk Phillips.
On the day the testimony was pub
,,shed there was general meeting OF
tho republican candidates for state
offices with the politicians Of the ma
chine in Sioux Falls-Phillips being
present.
On Monday, the day following the
publication of this testimony, dray-
man was sent to the office Of the Sue
eessful Farmer on Main avenue near
Ninth street, and he carted away sew
eral large bundles of old papers which
had been lying on the floor OF that Of
fee for months. These were the can
celed drafts, checks and memoranda
Of the Dakota National Bank and let
ter files and stubs Of books. They
had heen removed to the room by the
same drayman more than six months
ago and had been exposed to view all
the time, in some cases the old drafts
and papers showing through torn
places in the wrappers and all where
they could have been got at by any
one interested.
But the next day after the Press
published evidence showing that the
the records of the defunct bank would
show that Kirk Phillips had illegally
received interest on his deposits of
public funds in that bank, someone
realized that these papers and records
were too valuable to lie around thus
carelessly and they were hauled away.
They were not taken to the office of
c. +, Zimmerman, receiver Of the
bank, but to his residence. They
were placed in the cellar
Was this merely remarkable CO.
incidence" or was there some con-
nection between the publication Of
the sworn testimony in the Press. the
hurried consultation on Sunday and
the hiding of the papers of the Dako-
ia National bank on Monday.
But thinking that possibly these
papers which had been lying around
Tor the past two years practically
without care might have something
10 them of interest to the public, the
editor Of the Press called on Mr.. .Zim-
norman yesterday and asked of him
permission to examine the books and
papers of the bank that might have a
bearing on this subject. He was
treated courteously by Mr.. thinner
man, who refused to permit the ex-
animation of anything. He assigned
as a reason, that, under the orders of
'ne comptroller, he could not permit
ahyone to see the books or papers for
any purpose.
nave very specific instructions on
'aat point and could not permit any
me 10 see the books or papers without
permission from the comptroller" he
ald, u am under his orders"
Does that apply to the books and
papers which you had removed to
our house last Monday from the rear
\ the Successful Farmer office?:" was
sked of him.
les 1t applies to those papers as
seil'" he said. "They are part Of
me records"
mas anyoue recently seen the
aoKs and papers of the bank except
oufself?"
Ihey might have been seen, as a
w OF the books have been in the
psssssion OF the court."8
mr' Zimmerman was Informed of
pepurpose of seeking q view of the
OoKs, the editor stating that it was
rpuDiication and not In the interest
any lawsuit, and stating plainly
tlt was because Of the great in