The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1899-09-07
.BOARDMAN ARRESTED
Deputy County Treasurer Accused of
Embedding $500 of Ke-
nOsha County.
DENIES THE CHARGE IN COURT


Bail to the Amount of Ss,o00-The De
fendant Refuses to Talk For Publica ton
but Declares That he Is Innocent of the
Crime of Which He is Charged.
The rumors which have been going
the rounds for the past two months IN
regard to the shortage in the county
treasurer's books have finally come to
a head and this morning Harry Board
man formerly deputy county treasurer
was arrested on a charge of embezz1e-
ment. The complaint was made by
Thomas Hansen who is acting as dep
uty treasurer and Boardman was arrest
ed shortly before noon by chief of police
Owen O'Hare. Boardman had been in
the city since Monday and although
the story of the crime of which he is
accused had been common talk he had
made no effort to leave the city.
This morning he had decided to go
to Chicago for short visit, and when
he was at the train he was approached
by the chief of police. Boardman
seemed not to suspect that he was
about to be arrested, and approaching
the officer he said, 'We11, good bye,
Owen.' The chief replied "Not yet,
Harry" and at once placed him under
arrest.
Boardman took the matter good
natured1y and asked the officer to have
a cigar with him. He was then taken
before Justice Slater and was given
hearing. The complaint was read
and it alleged that the former deputy
was guilty of embezz1ing So, 500 of the
finds of the county and converting
them to his own uses.
While the complaint was being read
Boardman was evidently the most
composed man in the court room, and
he returned a firm ''Not guilty. to the
reading of the complaint. Boardman
was not represented by any attorney
and at the request of the District At
torney the matter was left open until
this afternoon.
Immediately after dinner the, case
was again taken up and an adjourn
ment was granted the defendant until
the 10th of September. The Justice
fixed the bail at 5000, and up to the
time of our going to press the amount
of the surety had not been put UP by
the defendant. ~s ~.
AS soon as the case was disposed of
Boardman was seen and asked if he
cared to say anything for publication,
but he declined to be interviewed at
that time. He said GAS soon as have
time to get things fixed a little I will
have something to say, but at present
there is nothing to be said".
County Treasurer Gronquistg was
seen, but he also refused to talk of the
affair. The matter seemed to be very
delicate to him and he asked that the
story be told only as it was brought
out by the trial.
The story of the crime of which
Boardman is accused is we'll known to
many people in the city. Mr.. Board
man is the son-in-1aw Of Treasurer
Gronquist and as such he has acted as
the confidential agent of the Treasurer
in nearly all his business. In many
ways he was supposed to be partner
of Mr.. Gronquist. When Mr.. Gron-
quist was installed as County Treas
urer Mr.. Boardman was named as the
deputy and had almost full control of
the books of the county. Things went
along without any suspicion being
made until after Mr.. Boardman left
the city on the 9th of July for hunt
ing trip in Washington.
For month Mr.. Gronquist 7eontin
ued to attend to the duties of the Office
himself, but several weeks ago former
County Treasurer Thomas Hansen
was called in to take charge of the
books. and make out the August report
When he examined the books he states
that he found that Mr.. Boardman had
too much money on hand and his sus-
picions were at once aroused that all
was not right.
In the county treasury two sets of
books are, kept in connection with the
expenditure of the county money. One
set is an account with the Northwest
ern Loan &sTrust Company, which is
the county repository, and the other is
an account with cash. When the
books were compared it was discovered
that the cash account did not contain
one entry for the sum of $500 which
had been charged on the account with
the county repository. This with
withdrawal of money was made some
time during theSmonth of March. Two
checks for the same amount ($3, 300
had been made on the same day, and
only one had been charged to the
cash account. There is no evidence
that Mr.. Boardman expended all Of
this money but the county books show
that there is still on hand of this ann
cunt little over six hundred dollars.
The amount of the shortage as named
in the complaint is $500, but the exact
figures as furnished by deputy treas
urer Hansen is So, CASH..
AS to the defense which will be Of
fered by the former official no one
seems to know. 1t is said that he has
placed a great deal of emphasis on the
partnership existing between himself
80 ~ e ~ -