Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-01-20
FIND FRAUD
Resignation OF County Clerk
Of Appanoose Demanded.
Crookedness Alleged.
Experts Find Erasures and False
Entries in Cash and Fee
Books.
Lowther Refuses to Resign.
Court Will Be Called Up.
on to Act.

Special to Times Republican.
Centerville. Jan. 2O.-County Clerk
Lowther is charged with crookedness
and his resignation demanded by the
board of supervisors of Appanoose coun-
ty, pending complete investigation of
the accounts of his office. He refuses to
resign and papers will be presented to
Judge Sloan asking his removal for dis
honesty, crookedness and incompe-
tency.
For some time there has been floating
rumors of alleged incompetency and
orookedness In the clerks Office. In No
vember of the past year experts We're
employed to investigate the state of af-
fairs in that office, Lowther's bondsmen
having appeared and asked for their re-
lease. The report showed on its face that
the business had been properly con-
Quoted. The fees were checked up to a
good cash balance. There was differ
ence of 5000 for probate fees that the
clerk supposed were allowed to him. but
by resolution of the board of super
viSors three years ago should have been
turned over to the county. Mr.. Lowther
turned over check for $500 to pay the
amount for the past year, but the $500
for the two previous years still stands
unpaid and unsettled. This report was
unsatisfactory to his bondsmen, who pc
titioned to be released and made serious
charges against Lowther, who defended
himself. A compromise was finally eff
fected new bond filed on Jan. IA and
the old bond released
But the board decided that fourteen
days having elapsed since the last in
vcstigation up to the time the old bond
was released that it should be deter
mined whether there had been any la
bi.ity occurred during that time that the
Gle bond would stand for. The board or
dered the experts to return to Mr.. Low
Tiers Office and check him up for that
period. When they began their work
they found trouble. In the first place
they could not get hold of the cash book.
They found entries that they could not
clear up and discovered that an attempt
was being made to cover up tracks.
They reported to the board some of their
findings and said they could not check
up the office satisfactorily unless Mr..
Lowther was removed temporarily dur
ing their work and the Office turned into
their hands. Then the board asked Mr..
Lowther to resign for five days and
based their demand on the facts Of era
sures and false entries having been dis
covered.
The clerks cash book shows that on
Dec. Ii, 1901. Levi Longley paid s155,
while page PA of the clerks ledger
shows the same amount paid on Jan. H.
1902, by the same party and paid on the
same day to Levi Longley by Lewis I
Longley.
Pages 251, 252, 253 and 254 of the cash
bcok have been torn out. page $50 end
ing the entries of Jan. Z and page 255
with entries of Jan. s, 1902.
The entries of Jan. s. 9, 10, II, 10 and IA
are in the same handwriting. written in
lead pencil, the principal part of the
cash book being written in ink. Erasures
also were found in the, clerks ledger and
fee book.
When taxed with this Lowther denied
having any knowledge of the matter and
to throw the onus upon his
deputy, Estella Gordon. Miss Gordon's
testimony showed she knew the amounts
had been paid. but expressed astoniSh-
rnent at the erasures. Lowther after
ward. it is alleged, confessed to having
made the erasures and promised to re-
sign. Now he refuses to turn over the
office and the courts will be asked to
gust him.