The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-07-24
REPORT OF EXPERT
AMOUNT OF BOURNE'S ALLEGED
SHORTAGE HAS REACHED
$4,000
COMPLETE HISTORY TO DATE
As Investigation Proceeds the Pris-
Oner's Situation Becomes More
SeriOus-BOurne Still
Is In Jail

The upheaval at the court house caused
by the revelations coincident with the
arrest of Walter B. Bourne, ex-assistant
county auditor, continues to be the SEN
sation of the day, and it is intimated that
further developments may follow.
AS nearly as can be ascertained, the
alleged frauds perpetrated upon the coun-
ty by Mr.. Bourne, by means of hypothe
eating forged redemption and refunding
orders, in the aggregate amount to some
$4,000, the names Of the persons indors-
Ing the orders being for the most part
fictitious.
Another attempt was made yesterday
afternoon to release Mr.. Bourne on bail.
and his sureties were to appear before
Judge Lewis to qualify at o'clock. At
this hour the latter was on hand, and
Mr.. Bourne appeared in chambers, ac-
companied by Deputy Sheriff Miller, but
after waiting an hour, one of the ex-
pected bondsmen failed to put in an APP
pearance, and the matter Of bail went
over until today.
At a special meeting of the county
board held yesterday afternoon, County
Auditor Johnson, who swore out five COM
laints against Bourne, who is charged
with having obtained money on sixty-one
fraudulent warrants. made an official
statement of his Investigation, his report
being accompanied with a tabulated ac-
count of the different transactions.
incidentally, Mr. Johnson made a verbal
explanation, from which 1t appears that
while Bourne simply learned how to walk
and trot under the first and second terms
of ex-County Auditor Sullivan, he passed
the wire under Johnsons administration
like a quarter horse coming home under
a full gallop.
JOHNSON MAY PAY IT.
In other words, the amount secured by
these alleged fraudulent methods under
the Sullivan administration was about
s6,0OO and during the short term he acted
under Mr.. Johnson he managed to get
possession of about S11 900 of the county
funds. In referring to the loss, Mr. john
son explained to the board that either he
or his bondsmen, If 1t became necessary,
would have to make the amount good.
In this connection 1t was brought out that
his bond is for $3.50 and the bond of the
county treasurer, who paid the money ts
in the sum of $500,000.
The warrants for the money alleged to
have been obtained by Bourne on the
forged certificates were issued by ex-
County Treasurers Edmund and Arison,
who, with County Auditor Johnson and
sx-County Auditor Sullivan, may be held
accountable to make good the shortage.
which the warrants were issued, and
which paid the money, are also held re-
sponsible.
EXPERT ACCOUNTANT REPORTS.
The report of County Auditor Johnson.
as based on the investigation made by
Frank Moosbrugger, the expert account
ant, is as follows:
1T becomes my duty as a result of
recent investigation which l have made
in my Office, to report to you that Walter
B. Bourne, former deputy, has defraud-
ed the county of Ramsey to the extent
frauds has been perpetrated principally,
and I may say entirely, by drawing
fraudulent warrants for redemption and
son and then forging his name, in order
to obtain the money but generally by
drawing the order to an absolutely hcti-
tious person and then. by forging the
name of said fictitious person, having
the warrants caShed.
The peculations mentioned in this In
Xestigation commenced in January 1897,
under my predecessor, D. NJ. Sullivan,
and up to the end of his term Bourne
had succeeded in Iobbing the county In
the manner above indicated, to the extent
Of $6,212&. Upon my induction into Of
flee l retained Mr.. Bourne, who was high
ly recommended to me by Mr.. Sullivan
and others as a. most competent and
trustworthy man for the position of
chief deputy. Mr.. Bourne remained with
me for about seven months, when 1 dis
charged him for some Irregularities
which I considered of a questionable
character, and up to the time. Of his dis
charge by me he had succeeded in rob-
hing the county Of 1925, in addition
to the amount taken under my predeces-
sor, and in practically the same manner.
'rhe methods pursued in accomplishing
these frauds were most skillfully ar
ranged, and if not noticed at the time
irnnnGQibla n
the time of Mr.. Bcurne's discharge, 1
had no reason to believe that he had
been engaged in anything of the nature
herein disclosed, and as nothing came
up 10 attract attention in a channel
where they would be liable TO be brought
to my notice. they remained undetected,
continued ON Etghth Page.