The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1903-12-05
BJNCDED 8ARTLH Sinclair
INDICATED Ar HIS TRIAL
u. UHztvinEsa Natives Whs@ws Are esAsS-
slsariy Assf@ilssi~E Pa ~ Sss "a
tAs Kdae.ssa Trsassrsr e Ri1AI Prev
tnes aaa Lest this TFsasHry.

Bartlett Sinclair, t0Emar tR9asurer
Of the Island Of Rial. In the
Philippines, on charges Of careless
nsss in Office are contained in copies
Of the Manila Times Of October II,
received here Mr. Sinclair, WHOSE
home il At Boomers Ferry, Idaho, IL
we'll known A. the former auditor Of
Idaho Who ruled the Occur d Alsnsa
With an iron hand after the riots Of
1899.
The Manila Times, in its report Of
his trial, says;
The government undertook TO
prove that Mr. Sinclair gave no
personal attention to the records Of
the ofhee, delsgAting that branch Of
his duties 10 subordinates, caring
little or nothing shat they did, pro-
vided they did not mo lest him in his
artistic and literary activities Mr.
Sinclair claimed be bestoWed upon
the clerks all the watehfullness be
could compatible With respect and
gave the records all the care he
OOA1 AZ Nc AA84s u ntS AaNu4AA4c0EG
and other multifArious cfflcial duties.
There was no charge or evidence
in any way affecting Mr. Sinelairs'
honesty, -cithsr in the charge, thu
testimony Or the finding Of the court.
The most sensational testimony
was that Of .EmOFy d. F'orgerty former
chief clerk in the Office Of thu
treasurer, who swore that for six
months be had systematically robbed
and lied TO the treasurer and detailed
his crooked methods. He and some
Of the other clerks eontrived TO so
alter snd oblitsrHte tho records that
the most -eOnslnsiVe and akillful
detective work alone could reveal the
thefts. FOgerty is now in Bilibid
prisOnfand three native deputies Who
were under his charge have been con-
victed Of embezzlsment.
1T is generally known that the
case agaiDst Mr.. Sinclair has been
hanging fire for a long tims-ever
since February. Till recently there
has been a doubt that it could ever
be pressed to q trial. Attorney
General Willhey was in favor of
Diminishing it, but Governor Taft
insisted that the matter BE- tried. 1t
10 said that Mr. Sinclair has been
anxious for a trial and has done
everything in his power to get hear
ing. The expense and humiliation
have borne heavily upon him, but il
IL said that he will not leave the
islands until these resulting obIiga-
tions are caRGsled.
The findings Of Judge Crossflsld
were that Mr. Sinclair had been
appointed treasurer in October,
1901; that he had assumed the office
and was relieved in January, 1901
that as a result Of the examination
which followed, rs required by Law,
adiscrepaney was repotred amounting
to certain amount; that, owing "a
the character of the proceedings, the
exact amount was not adjudicated.
but that this shortage, whatever il
may be, If any, 10 not due to care
lessnsss or abandonment, on the part
Of Mr.. Sinclair.
ut will be remembered that when
the examiners made their report In
January, 1902, Mr.. Sinclair was
arrested by the direct orders Of
Governor Taft under a charge Of
embezzlement. He was not held in
custody, as a reinvestigtion was
ordered. To conduct this investiRa
tiOn the same men who made the first
we're delegated, being reinforced by
an older man from the same office
the auditors Office. The second ex-
animation failed to follow the first
In that $4,000 more was tackled on.
The embezzlemsnt charge was then
dismissed and the one which has Just
been tried was substituted and Mr.
Sinclair has since been under a bond
Of $1,000 to appear in court and, If
guilty, make good the alleged short
age Of somsthing like 20, 900 pesos. "