The Scranton chronicle. (Scranton, Miss.) 1897-19??, 1901-09-07

l ters give the facts about the state
treasury defalcation OF 1912. when the
Treasurer got away with a consider
able sum. and when, 1t is said, his wife
planned his eseapeg--S. r. j.
The story is interestingly told IN
Lowry and McCardle's History of Miss
issippi. as follows:
The story of the defalcation and
fight OF the Treasurer may be briefly
stated. In the autumn of 1S42. Rich
ard 5. Graves received from Hon.
Walter Forward, then Secretary OF
the Treasury Department of the United
States. draft on the Treasurer OF
the United States for the two and
three per cent. fund due the State of
Mississippi, amounting to s165,09I.
This draft was made payable In United
States treasury notes, at future day
| with interest, and to Richard 5. Graves
in his individual capacity, and not as
State Treasurer.
OF this amount. s144.214 was paid
him October 9th, 1912. TINS large sum
was received in the treasury without
pay warrant or certificate from the
auditor of public accounts. This fact.
however did not come TO the knowl-
edge of Cow Tucker until the 9th day
of January. 1913, when he was advised
by letter from Hon. Jacob Thompson
that Graves had drawn the whole
amount of the two per cent. fund,
which constituted the greater part due
the State by the general government.
The letter of Mr.. Thompson caused
Gov. Tucker TO investigate the power
OF the executive. by the laws of the
State, over the State treasurer, as
well as the contents In the treasury.
After a careful examination, Gov.
| Tucker reached the conclusion, in
| which he was supported by the At
torney General and employed counsel,
that the State. Treasurer could only
be removed by impeachment.
There was at that time no statute
authorizing the Governor to suspend
tie State Treasurer, or to remove the
funds from his custody. The inyestiga-
tion, however, led to the arrest of
Graves, at the instance of the Cover
nor, in March, 1S43, chnrged with the
offense of embezzlement. lie was ar
raigned before Chief Justice Sharkey,
of the High Court of Errors and Ap-
peals. who presided over the commit
ting court
During the progress of the trial
Graves was in the custody of the
sheriff of Kinds county, and under
guard at his own residence, when Mrs
Graves appeared at the door of the
room in which her husband was held
a prisoner, and requested 70 see him
She was granted the privilege. and In
less than an hour person supposed tt
be Mrs. Graves, came out of the room
and passed the guard, going to hel
apartments. The guard, after con
cf la INN haa 81
ed into the room, and saw, as they sup
posed, Graves In bed. A nearer ap'
proach to the sleeper developed the
fact that the occupant of the bed was
Mrs. Graves, and that Ii was the de
faulting Treasurer who passed the
guards, dressed in his wlfe's wearing
apparel. The next heard from Graves
he was in Canada, where his wife sub
sequently Joined him.
Soon after his escape Mrs. Graves
requested an interview with Gov
Tucker. When the Governor called she
delivered to MIN $69. 9.2326S in Mississ
ippi Treasury warrants, $4,000 In
United States Treasury notes, and
$2,749.68 in foreign gold.
On the 31st of March, 1843, Gov.
Tucker appointed Hon. VIM. Clarke
Treasurer of the State, TO fill the unex-
pired term of II. S. Graves.
When the newly appointed Treasurer
had qualified and given bond the Gov
ernor paid into the Treasury the
funds received by him from Mrs
Graves.
The defalcation of the State Treasur.
er, together with other reasons, in
duced the Governor to call a special
session of the legislature, which as
sembled on July 10, 1S43. On the sec
} ond day after the conyening OF the
Legislature, Treasurer Clarke submit
ted a report. showing the defalcation
of his predecessor to be s44,S3S.46.
Graves dishonesty, betrayal Of
friends, and unfaithfulness brought
misery and suffering to many. He
was still living four or five years ago.
Suit was brought and Judgment
obtained against Elijah Graves, Thorn.
as Hogg, William Perry, II. p. Barnes
Maybray Barfield, Il. w. Graves, James
Bond, John Middleton. Valentine
Hamer and Edward Williams, as the
sureties on the bond of X. s. Graves
for the sum of s51 1855.
: The legislature passed an act, ap
proved the Sd day of March, 1S48
which authorized the Governor and the
Attorney General to compromise with
the sureties on such terms as they
could effect.
Some seven or eight years after the
/. passage OF the act referred TO, author
I izing a compromise with the sureties
) OF the defaulting Treasurer, his wife
appeared at Jackson during the session
of the legislature. Mrs. Graves mad,
pathetic and affecting appeal to tbs
' legislature for an act of amnesty. She
! begged hard and piteously for per
! mission for the return OF her husband
: She alleged that he was growing old
= was in feeble health, and his only wist
was to return to Mississippi TO spenC
| the remaining years of his life witt
s days, and when the summons came u
!. him, as ii must come TO all, he desire'
! to be buried in the soil OF the State b.
! had 80 wronged, and to be followe'
to the grave by the friends TO whom
he had been so faithless. She repre-
sented him as being truly penitent 70
the wrong he had committed; she al
legged that his only hope this side o
> the grave was TO return and spend tn
:, remainder Of his days surrounded b
the friends and scenes Of his earl
Y life. She represented him as broker
i eare-worn, grief-laden ola man, sorrow
8 ing ovef his psst misdeeds, and wit
the ever present heart sickening Year,
ing for the home he had dishonoreC
The appeal OF the wife for the dis
+ honored husband touched the heart 0
: every member OF the legislature, an