The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-09-05
SPEED RETURNS
FROM HOBART
Has Been Looking Into AIleg-
ed FRAUDS There,
INDICTMENTS RETURNED
Contractors and County Off,
CiaIS Are Accused.
INDICTMENTS RETURNED


District Attorney Horace Speed. who has
been conducting an investigation of al
legged Irregularities in the expenditure of
public funds in the new country-the
counties of Caddo, Comanche and Kiowa
for the department of justice at Wash
ington, returned last night from court
at Hobart, where numerous indictments
were returned against contractors and
county officials. Mr. Speed began the in
vestigation several weeks ago and has
teen in the new country securing evidence
in the various cases. At the Hobart
court he presented his evidence to the
grand jury and a startling array of cases
is said TO be pending.
When the Kiowa, Comanche and
Apache country was opened two years
ago, the funds derived from the sale of
town lots at Hobart, Anadarko and Law
ton were reserved for public improve
ments by the interior department The
money was placed in the sub-treasury at
St. Louis, subject to the order Of Secre-
tary z. a. Hitchcock of the interior de
partment. Owing to the delays occurring
IN the letting of contracts and the con-
struction Of public improvements serious
charges have been made against Mr..
Hitchcock. Mr.. Hitchcock in turn stated
that the delays were caused by alleged
Irregularities in the letting of contracts
and expenditure of moneys for the de-
partment. Immediately after the state
ment by the secretary of the interior rel
ative to alleged irregularities the govern
ment ordered an investigation and Mr.
Speed was selected to act for the depart
ment Of justice.
Three indictments were returned against
J. w. Stokes. a well known contractor in
southwestern Oklahoma. Two indict-
Fnents charge Stokes with returning false
vouchers to the government and the other
charges him with conspiracy. 1t is alleg-
ed that an Indictment was returned
against 3. J. Hobbs. the first sheriff of
the county. and it is also claimed that the
county commissioners are fugitives from
justice, so Ia plicated are they in matters
pertaining to affairs in Kiowa county.
Mr.. Speed rcfused to discuss the indict-
ments returned, saying that the investi-
CATION had not been completed along that
line lie thinks it will take some little
tire to complete the investigation and
says that d good start has been made.
Concerning conditions IL the new country
in respect 70 government work, Mr.. Speed
said:
Everything seems to be rotten in con-
nection with public work there. At first,
after the opening the secretary OF the
interior department held the funds aris-
ing from the sale of town lats apparently
for the purpose of allowing the county
and city officials to determine what pub
lie improvements were the most needed
locally, AMI to use the town lots fund to
pay for them after having been construct
ed TO the satisfaction of these officers
and accepted by the matter rigid inspec-
ton. Under that theory probably twenty
odd sets of bridge piers were erected in
COmanche county under a contract with
the county officials. All have since been
condemned as unfit. About twenty-one
sets were erected in Kiowa county and
bills were put in for about twenty-three.
OF those for which bills were put in it is
certain that three were never construct
were put in it is uncertain whether they
apply to some bridges constructed or to
some never constructed. The county Of
fcials certified to all as duly constructed
in conformity with the contracts. inspect
ed and accepted, for both those built and
those afterwards shown as never built
in quite number of cases bills were
put in TO the government on one esti-
mate and measure and afterwards bills
were put into the county as upon re-
measurement, an excess being shown
over the accounts put in TO the govern
ment. Then after both the government
and ccunty had paid the bills. other ac-
counts for the same bridges, covering
both the county and government pay
ments. were put in as those never paid
and without any reference whatever be-
ing made 10 any prior payments
Buildings We're also erected in Kiowa
county unfit Tor the purpose for which
constructed continued Mr. Speed. and
large prices were paid for them. These
also were inspected and passed upon and
the accounts audited and allowed by the
county commissioners as all right. The
foundation for a court house at Hobart
was begun OF stone which is now erum-
bling with less than q years exposure TO
the air. and Of so worthless a character
that tho stone. If good would be unit to
put into the foundation of a chicken
house. The bills for this were also audit
ed and allowed in fun by the commission
e.s and paid by the county. The founda-
tion Is now being pulled 10 pieces and
carted away. Some Of the stone is pulled
apart by hand, some by shovels, and
some by picks. and the dust arising from
the air-slaeked stone is carried away in
clouds whenever there is a breeze. The
stones used are generally two inches thick
and Of irregular dimensions. being mere
" sprawls and broken pieces without
any efficiency. The cement was also
worthless for binding purposes.
One set Of bridge piers was so bad
that citizens Of the neighborh0od held an
indignation meeting. went to the place
and pulled the piers to pieces. The work
men. SO far as heard from. condemn the
work without hesitation as unfit for use.
and some workmen are said to have de-
clined 20 continue the work on the ground
that they would not be engaged on any
such rotten work for anybody or any
wages
Concerning the Stokes case. the Hobart
News Republican in its issue OF yesterday
tells the following;
Yesterday [. S. District Attorney Hor-
ace Speed for and on behalf OF the gov
ernment OF the United States Instituted
suit against Contractor J ". Stoke and
ex-County Commissioners w. 3. Poole.