The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-11-25
ROBBED.
Private Boxes in State Treas
ury Looted.
Over One Thousand Dollars
Stolen From Parties
WHO HAD THEIR CASH
There For Safe Keeping-The
Widow of Mr.. Harrington
The Heaviest LOsser, Having
Been Robbed of $500.

The discovery has been made that the
private boxes in the state treasury have
been looted within the last week. ap-
parently systematically.
The discovery was first made by Gov
ernor Leedy on Wednesday evening.
The governor went to his box to get
some money before he went home for
Thanksgiving but he found his box
empty. He had S165 in it.
Governor Leedy Immediately told AS
sistant Treasurer Williams about 1t,
but together they kept the matter quiet
until today. in an effort to ferret the
mystery. The money has been taken
within the past week because the gov
ernOr visited his box on Wednesday of
last week and it was safe at that time.
This morning Mrs. J. NJ. Harrington,
widow of the state house guide, who
died last evening, went to the treasury
and asked to get the money from her
husbands box. When it was opened
that too was empty. Mr.. Harrington
told Assistant Treasurer Williams that
he had $500 in the box. The box in
which w. H. Barabee, Mr.. Harrington's
step-son. kept his money, was opened,
and $3.50 was found missing.
An investigation showed that theIocks
on as many as six or eight boxes are
alike and one key will unlock several
of them.
Several Of the state officers and en-
plOyes around the state house have
boxes, but all have not been investi-
gated as yet.
It is said that former treasurers have
given keys out under former administra-
tions which have never been brought in
again.
Although Governor Leedy, when he
discovered that his money was missing
notified Assistant Treasurer Williams,
and requested him to say nothing about
II as it might throw discredit on the-of-
fee employees, Mr.. Williams thought it
due W. E. Bray and c. c. Hoge, clerks
IN the treasury, that they are notified
that something was going wrong, and
he told them Of the theft.
This morning Mrs. J. NJ. Harrington,
widow of the state house guide, who
died last evening, came to the state
treasury to get some money to pay the
expenses of the funeral Mr. Harring-
ton is said to have had $500 in his own
private box and 800 in a box belonging
to his step-sOn, W. H. Barab bee When
Mr. HarringtOn's box was opened it was
found to be empty. Mr.. Barbee, who
FOUND to be empty. Mr.. Barabee, who
stand in the corridor of the state house
since Mr.. Harrington has been sick. and
who has also been acting as state house
guide, was sent for and his box was
NPCA4Su II was dlSO empty. MI. BaTa-
bee says that he had $3.50 in his boz
besides the 800 belonging to Mr.. Har-
ringtOn.
About Is or 20 people now have keys
to boxes. and there are about as many
more which are unused. Miss Lena Nc
Lallin. stenOgrapher in the adjutant
generals office, had S110 in a box, and
as soon as she heard that some of them
had been robbed she hastened to open
hers and found that her money was
gone. too.
The boxes are just inside the bond
vault in the east end OF the treasurer's
office The outside door of the vault
Is set with time lock so that it is i'm
possible to open it except in the day
time. Inside this is a gate of heavy
bars, on which is a spring lock The
outside door is left open during Office
hours. but the gate is nearly always
kept locked except when some one is
in the vault. A gas jet is kept burning
in the vault during the day which
makes it quite light.
On the gate is posted this notice:
-...--.'.-.- -'----.--.--..------.-
{: No one allowed in this vault unless
accompanied by an employe of
dana ont