The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-08-28


Miami county. this 1st day of April, 1892.
IL. FLANAGAN, County Clerk
Below is a statement OF ". ]. Stage.
expert accountant:
In the latter part of April. 1892. 1
was employed by r. T. Kelley 10 examine
the records in the county clerks Office
covering the two terms of his service as
county clerk
=" In the course of my examination I
discovered that there were vouchers and
records missing. Is poke TO Mr.. FIana-
gan, the present county clerk. who told
me they had been taken from the Office
without his knowledge or consent by A
L. Thomas.
1t was currently reported on the
streets of PaoIa that Thomas and Grea-
son had the records Of the county clerk
out of the office and were fixing up things
against Kelley.
g The grown son of A. L. Thomas was
heard to remark that his father had
lot OF papers and records from the county
clerks Office down at the house, and that
he CHS father had fixed them up and
was not afraid of any person hurting
him for it
I have been professional accountant
in Kansas for more than twenty-five
years-as such Mr.. Kelley employed me.
Upon a full and complete examination
of Mr.. Kelley's transactions during his
terms of county clerk 1 found some ir-
regularities on account Of missing vouch-
ers and records, but 1 found nothing TO
call in question his honesty or integrity.
w J. stage. Expert Accountant.
Topeka, Kan"
''In 1897 J. E. Cation, an ex-county clerk,
was paid $500 to check up the old records
and he found no Irregularities. Up to
the time 1 became a candidate for state
treasurer there never was d suggestion
in Miami county that my accounts with
the county were not all right That the
county treasurers cash book was loaned
to Mr.. Thomas and Greason and that the
stubs to the warrant books, the warrant
register and the county commissioners
journal were out of the county clerks
vaults and in the hands Of these two men
for number Of days has never been de-
MED. That vouchers were taken from
the files and remained in their possession
for the same period of time (some Of
them have not been returned up TO this
day) no one will dispute. That these
books were returned TO the possession of
the county clerk on the demand of the
chairman under a threat to arrest Thomas
has never been disputed. While these
books were yet in their possession they
go before the county commissioners.
charge me with a shortage and demand
g 81 -
my accounts This was in February.
The commissioners held a meeting and
decided in my favor. They (Greason and
Thomas) then employed expert ac-
countant from Kansas City, Mo, to ex
anime my books and the result of his
findings formed the basis for new
charges which were made. Upon these
l went before the board and asked an
investigation of my entire official con-
duct while in office and I deposited $1,000
to apply on any Irregularities the board
might find, with the written stipulation
that 1 would abide by their findings and
waive the statute Of limitation.
Il have been credited with having
reasonable amount of common sense. If
I had received wrongfully anything from
the county I would have known it.
would have known that the investigation
that 1 was in viting would discloes the
same and that a report of it would ruin
me personally and destroy my prospects
before the state convention soon TO be
held. 1 staked my future on my faith
that an examination of my accounts
would show them to be correct The
board found that, on account of certain
Irregularities. l owed the county Sl.3Zi99.
If I made mistake in 1891 Hampson and
Crawford must have made a mistake or
they made a mistake in 1902. They can't
be right in both cases. Their finding in
1902 contradicts their acts Of 1880 and
1891; contradicts the report Of Cation.
the expert: contradicts the finding OF
Stagg, the expert. There can be no mis-
take about this, because anybody knows
that in order TO draw money from
county treasurer you must so TO him
with an order from the board OF county
commissioners. signed by the chairman
Of the board himself and countersigned
by the county clerk. II these orders are
illegal. they come back 10 the county
commissioners for comparison and can
collation. four months later. and they
then have another opportunity to detect
irregularities. If there are any. A county
clerk is absolutely powerless 10 draw
money from the county treasurer except
on an order of the county commissioners.
i am said TO have pleaded guilty to
the charge OF .wrOng-doing because
paid this money to the county. / entered
into a written agreement in advance Of
the investigation that I would abide by
their findings I made my agreement
good. but it cost ne Sl.S24s9. frow hich
never received one penny's worth.
am the only injured party In the case
/ lost my money and they are row Try
ing 10 blast my reputation. These are
only the ex parte findings Of the board
OF county commissioners. The coutrc-
versv has never been judicially deter
mined. No court OF jury has ever pass
Cd on its merits. II / took this money
wrongfully and appropriated i 10 my
own use. am guilty Of crime and
should be- punished.
If the board viii waive their rsht %
hold ny money by reason e the statute
on voluntary payments. / VIII waivc the
statute Of limitations bith civil and Grim
inaI. mako a case II K and Try it On lis
merits in the district court
If the man who was county treas
~ sssT as