The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-07-25
JOHNSON is SILENT
REFUSES TO DISCUSS REPORTS
CONCERNING HOURNES Al
LEGGED REGULATIONS
NO ATTEMPT TO GET BAIL
Loss Is Likely to Be Divided
Among Edmund, ArOsin, suIIi-
van, Johnson and
Banks.

o.
County Auditor w. R. Johnson became
quite indignant yesterday when asked as
to his opinion of the reports that Walter
b. Bourne was ably assisted in the en-
bezzlement of county funds with which he
is charged. ut is all rot, so far as 1 am
aware" passionately declared the official
His hands went up in holy horror at the
supposition that he would be able to give
out any such information as the con-
1irmation Of this kind Of report.
when / employed Mr.. Moosbrugger to
go over the books as an expert, 1 gave
him explicit orders to make the most
searching investigation, and to spare no
one, even if it was myself or my own
brother, and the result is known to the
public. The sensation that has been
brewing has been sprung, and the Of
fender is in Jail, and that IS all there is
to it,
Frank Mocsbrugger, who is still engage
ed in checking up the accounts, cOrrobor-
ated the statement of Mr.. Johnson. say
ing that if others had been implicated the
arrests would have been made in a bunch
Yesterday Mr.. Moosbrugger and County
Auditor Johnson held q conference with
County Attorney Kane, who is perfect
ing the evidence against Bourne, 50 that
he viii be ready, if necessary, to present
1t at the preliminary examination.
In referring to the investigation Mr..
Kane said there had been no new Develop
ments, and he also stated that nothing
additional had TRANSFERRED In connection
with the charge of the books in the
auditors office having been tempered
with by a well known county local poll
tician. The latter, it is asserted, re-
ceived a check which was intended to ap-
ply towards the satisfaction of certain
taxes but it appears that as the limit
had not expired, the check was withheld.
In the meantime the amount on the
books was marked paid" when in fact
the money was not turned over until some
days afterward
County Attorney Kane is still investi-
eating this matter, but up to the present
time no action has been taEen.
In referring to this transaction a county
official said yesterday that he did not con-
slider any criminal act was intended, but
at the same time the Offense in question.
on it's face, has quite a serious aspect.
It was expected that Bourne would
make another effort yesterday to secure
bail, and while Judge Lewis was in
chambers all day, no bondsmen put in an
appearance.
Any attempt of Bourne to be released
on bail at this time is looked upon as al
most futile, as, in the event Of his re-
lease, other charges would be preferred
against him, so that the bail would be
cumulative, and probably run up to an
amount beyond his capacity to furnish
HOW TO PAY OLD DEBTS.
In addition to the modus operandi en-
ployed by Bourne in his peculation5
which were detailed at length IN yester-
days G o b e, it is said that he invented
or discovered, a new way to pay old
debts.
AS an illustration, in case he owed
IN NIiobioau O4TO which
sometimes happened, it is claimed that he
would make out a redemption or refund
ing order in favor of the individual Civ
ing his right name, and, after the sigma
ture had been attached he would present
the order to the county treasurer and re-
ceive a check for the amount, all Of which
looked regular.
When appointed chief deputy by ex-
Auditor Sullivan in March, 1896, he re-
ceived a salary of S125 per month, and
since then he has been enabled to pur-
chase a fine farm of 120 acres, well
improved. near Pennington, besides his
house on East Winifred street and
other holdings.
In the meantime, it is said that he con-
structed a stable and lifted a mortgage
of 50, SEQ on mis- house. In the same year,
1885, he purchased a ffty-foot frontage
adjoining his homestead from John Boil
renbach of Faribault.
After this, it is said, he branehed out
as money lender, advancing $500 to
Charles c. Sharp for three years, at
per cent and it is understood that other
loans of a similar character were ne
gotiated.
AS stated yesterday, it is thought that
the liability for the loss of the money
will be divided among ex-County Treas
urers Edmund and Arosin, ex-Auditor
Sullivan County Auditor Johnson and
the banks upon whom the checks were
issued and who paid the money ON the
forged warrants or orders.
An effort was made yesterday to in
spect the checks on which the money
was paid in order to ascertain just what
banks are involved, but as the records
are locked up and County Treasurer
Metzdorf is out Of the city, this could
not be accomplished
The greatest amount of money secured
was under the administration of ex-
County Treasurer O. H. Arosin, whose
$500 600 bond was furnished by the Unit
ed States Fidelity and Guaranty Com
pany Of Baltimore.
BOURNE'S MANY BONDSMEN.
A portion of the alleged peculation was
done under Treasurer Elmund's first
term HE SSOO OOo bond for tba+ t;,...