The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-07-16
JELKS OFFERS 4
 REWARD OF $4OO
State Anxious to Capture For
 mer Probate Judge WhatIey
SEDBEsRY MAKES REPORT
Shows a Startling State of Affairs in Clay County Office and Denoun- ces Dedication of the
 Missing Judge.

Montgomery, July 15.-(Special)-A re- ward of four hundred dollars was today offered by Governor Jelks for the arrest of NJ. w. Whatley, the absconding pro- bate judge of Clay county. The reward is onIy conditioned on the delivery of What ley to the sherin of Clay county. The re- ward offered Is the maximum which the governor can offer in any event.
 The immediate cause of this act by the governor was the filing by Assistant Ex- aminer .Sedberry of an additional report on the office of Judge Whatley, dealing especially with the disposition of warrants issued by the state to disabled Confeder- ate soldiers. When Mir. Sedberry exam ined Judge Whatley's office several weeks ago It was reported in very bad shape and the publication of the report caused Whatley to make reply. saying political prejudice was the cause. Judge Whatley left his home and has not since been seen. His last public act so far as is known here in his home town was to conduct the Baptist Sunday school, of which he was superintendent and later to close the morning service with fervent prayer.
 MT. sedberry found that Judge Whatley had forged inducements on one hundl ed and thirteen pension warrants, when many of the persons in whose favor war rants were issued had been dead for sev- eral years Widows and orphans suf- fered alike, there being sworn statements by several widows whose names were on the pension rolls that Judge Whatley fz.s T. In their cases.
 Examiners Report.
 The examiner says: In making this in- vestigation l had to summon before me and examine many witnesses and in many instances take down in writing their sworn statements. The testimony of these witnesses reveals state of affairs so outrageously bad that I have difficulty in finding language to fitly describe it. Not withstanding Judge Whatley's claim of having done more for the ex-Confederate soldier than any other man or set of men in Clay county l find that for years past he has not only systematically robbed many of them who are now living whose names are on the pension rolls, of the money donated from the state, but in many instances he has actually stolen from the state the pension warrants sent out by the auditor for persons supposed to be still living, but who had in fact been dead for months and in many cases for years before some of the warrants were issued. Judge Whatey having pur- posely failed to report to the auditor the death of any pensioner occurring in his county in order that these pension war rants might continue to come into his hands and be by him fraudulently in- dorsed and the proceeds thereof converted to his own use
 Systematic Robbery Condemned.
 Such intentional. wrongful conversion such fragrant violation of the laws of the state and systematic robbery cannot be too strongly condemned I append hereto a statement showing names of pensioners who have received their warrants the numbers and amounts of same and the years for which such warrants were is- sued, which in the aggregate amount to s3OS9.5S. This statement is marked A." and is requested to be considered part of this report.
 ITO make this investigation much time and labor have been required. which I trust have not been in vain Sheriff May was prompt in summonng witnesses and the witnesses fairly prompt in attend ance Some of the witnesses did not ap- pear at all. but I am assured 1t was be- cause they lived in remote parts of the county and had no way of getting to the county seat; besides. in number of cases they were physically unable to attend. even if they had conveyance there and I have no complaint to make of them"