The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-08-27
MR.. KEL1Ys aExPLANArIoN.n

attempted-an mt1mat1On that the rec
ords of his Office were altered and mutt
lated. Incidentally he charges the fight
against him to an effort to control post
Office appointments in Miami county. He
says his enemies agreed to stop the
fight on him if he would withdraw from
the race for state treasurer and make
various other concessions. He tries to
shift the blame for his mistakes" to
the board of county commissioners. two
members of which he says were on the
board while he was county clerk. He
says that two expert accountants have
found his books correct. He intimates
that he was deceived about the recent
Miami county convention and did not
believe there would be any contest
this, too. in the face of the fact that
he spent about ten days in the county
previous to the primaries to get control
of the convention and the county CEN
trail committee, and was overwhelmingly
defeated.
The general public of Kansas is not
interested, just now in the fractional
fights in Miami county nor in the post
Offices there. What it has wanted to
know is: what explanation has Mr..
Kelly to make of the findings of en-
pSZAIC0Sul dA0 oA4OA ta6CS ASfOA 49, ~
the county commissioners?
The findings against Mr.. Kelly are
specific and in detail on sixteen counts.
They trace every step in each transac-
ton, and the evidence was SO conclu-
sive that the commissioners. two OF
whom were anxious to clear Kelly.
could not get around it. In some in
stances the amounts of the vouchers
IN 0th
warrants were issued. Mr.. Kelly at
tempts no explanation of these transac-
lions. He simply says the records were
taken from the county offices and SOME
of them were returned only when the
commissioners compelled their return
under threat of arrest. He attempts to
leave the impression that the records
were mutilated or missing, yet the COM
missioners in their findings say that
the records on which the findings
against Kelly are made are all before
them and that they have not been mutt
lated or altered.
Furthermore, in the case Of duplicate
warrants, the warrants were numbered
consecutively. the duplicated ones COM
ing in their regular order. the stub be-
ing in Mr.. Kelly's handwriting. How
not issued at the time they are dated?
And how could the records of the coun-
ty treasurer's office be mutilated to
show that these warrants were paid to
Mr. Kelly, without showing that they
were mutilated? These are questions
which occur off-hand to people who are
not interested in the matter beyond
knowing the truth
Mr.. Kelly charges that the board of
county commissioners should have dis
covered his mistakes" at the time they
were made. The county commissioners,
however. are not on trial before the peo-
pie of Kansas at this time. 1t is Mr..
Kelly who is on the gridiron and the
commissioners have been doing the
broiling. He can not divert attention
from himself by trying to call attention
to the commissioners. The latter have
been doing their plain duty. found
Kelly a thief and compelled him to re-
fund the stolen money. The Republicans
of his county, in an overwhelming man
ner, have expressed faith in the findings
of the commissioners and have repudi-
ated Mr.. Kelly.
Mr.. Kelly points to the fact that he
demanded an investigation and posted
81, 600 to cover whatever shortage might
be found as an evidence that he did not
believe in his own guilt. The fact is
that the investigation was bound to
come whether Mr.. Kelly asked for it or
not. 1t could not have been avoided.
But Mr.. Kelly expected two members
of the board to "vindicate" him and
they were anxious to do so. He thought
he could depend on them to make re-
port in his favor, but the evidence
against him was SO glazing that favor
able report could not be prepared. Mr..
Kelly was given the benefit of every
doubt but there was no way of releasing
him of a shortage of $1,324.99.
Now Mr.. Kelly offers to waive the sta
tute of limitations and stand trial under
criminal charge. He is perfectly safe
in saying this. for it is impossible for
him to waive the statute of limitations.
Furthermore his friends claim that the
county attorney of Miami county. who
would have to prosecute him. is friendly
to him. If Mr.. Kelly really wanted a
legal vindication why did he not bring
a libel suit, either civil or criminal,
against w. D. Greason. editor of the
Miami County Republican, long ago?
Mr.. Greason is financially responsible
and has dared Kelly to prosecute him
for libel. 1t is rumored now that Mr.
Kelly will bring some libel suits, but
they will not be brought in time for trial
before the election. and after the cleo
ton they can be dropped.
1t is now alleged that Kelly was de-
ceived into believing that there would
be no contest in the recent Miami
county Republican convention. Mr.
Kelly himself threw down the challenge
by going to work ten days before the
primaries in order to elect delegates
favorable to him and to secure control
Of the Republican county central COM
mittee. He was Overwhelmingly de-
feated. His rout was complete, disas-
trous. humiliating.
Kelly closes his statement by saying
that Under no circumstances will he
withdraw from the state ticket This
is no great surprise. for he is reported
to have safd that he would prefer to
take the entire Republican ticket down