The sun., 1898-01-13
LIE rnn nAxrr rrs rx pAxoEns
ono Nebraska BHsker IEna Conc e. Prison,
nnd Thcy say Oihers VIII Follow.


LINCOLN. Neb., Jan. 12.-IThcro ero anxious
bankers and capitalists In Nclgaka by reason
OF tho decision Of tho State Supreme Court IN
the cases OF lIzra Whitney and Bcnjarnin ID.
Wells. whitney was Treasurer Of Harlan
county. When he retired from ofIlco hc was
$4,000 short. II was shown that hq. had
|. loaned the missing money TO Mills, banker OF
Orleans. Neb Both were arrested. Mills was
prosecuted under an old statute. os the State
which makes any one liable criminnlly for any
money borrowed from q public official IL tho
borrower has reason to=belicvo the money so
secured is public funds. The revival of this
statute provoked considerable discussion at
tho timu, for Il was understood that II that law
was hold valid u number Of prominent citizens
would stand dangerously ncar folon's cell.
whitney was sentenced to flvo years and Mills
TO threo years In prison. Both cases werc APP
pealod hut tho interest centred in the case of
Mills. It was conceded that whltney's case
was that OF an ordinary dofaultcr. Now tho
Supreme Court declares Mills equally guilty
with the County Treasurer from whom ho bor-
rowcG tho money. t."
When Bankcr Mills was arrested last year
for completely IN tho embezzlemcnt Of Whit
ney Il created a sensation. It was generally
upon the result other similar cases in the State
depend. The transaction By which Mills be.
came involved with Tho uofnulting treasurer
was undoubtcdly..similar IN many others In tho
state by which public funds. were lost to tho
State Whitney deposited the county funds
in the Mills bank, and Mills used It IN the or
dinury course OF business. When Mills was
called on for the funds--some $"O,Ooo-the
When Joseph BARLEY went, eyt OF office in
January, 1897. there was over $780, 900 miss
ing from tho amount in his care. He declared
the State. With whom he had deposited 1t be.
fore the business depression. and that he had
since boon unable to collect it. When urged to
mako public q list OF these banks he refused,
on the ground that II he did SO the credit Of
they would probably be closed up. lie said he
hnd been assured by most of the bankcrn that IL
heforccd them to pay thcs5tatc deposits at once,
they would be forced into the hands OF receivers.
the bankers who borrow OF: money from Joseph
hartley und failed 10 return IL nrc guilty of
enibezzing Stnto:funds. Hartley hns been sen.
fenced TO twonty.ono Years IN THO penilentiary.
of company. AttorneyNGen enernl Smythc has
sounded tho cry. let no guilty man escape"
and has declared that he proposes 10 file In
formations against every man who borrowed
the money. s.t
To make matters worse the convicted State
Treasurer from his cell has announced that he
does not propose to suffer In silence and alone;
tho State funds deserted him ut the supreme
moment, though they kept his mouth closed
by promising to help him ayoid the final conse-
quences Of his steal. Bnrtley surely expected
Court and offect his release on technicality.
Now Bartley Is bittcr and threatens TO give u
full list Of all bankers and business Mon to
whom he loaned money as State Treasurer. Al
uneasincos among capitalists and politicians in
the State.