The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-10-11
The KELLY EXPOSURE

/ cident Several newspapers have
thrown a guard around Treasurer Kelly
| and seem determined to keep him spot
less regardless of the shortages discov-
cred by Accountant Rowett and a part
of which shortages Kelly has made
good and for which returns of moneys
Mr.. Kelly has been given, by the news
papers, not by an indignant public, a
| clean bill of health.
But Rowett is too quick for Kelly.
for the latter has not yet turned back
\ into the treasury all of the money
Rowett names as short in his prelimi-
nary report of a few things he has
found.
How the Cash Came Back.
State Accountant Rowett in his Off
cial report refers to $2.577.50 that has
been paid into the treasury recently,
since his Investigations began, and COW
ering two shortages which he had dis
covered.
One of these items the accountant
states was for $1,402.5O, interest due
July 1, 1903, by Garden City, Kas. Mr..
Rowett this last summer went to Gar
den City and there discovered that this
interest had been paid August 8, 1908.
This amount was not entered on the
cash book of the state treasury until
August 26, 1904, the money having
by the state treasury on that date,
over a year after it had been paid by
Garden City
This is the mysterious manner in
entered on the state treasury cash
book:
This money came to T. T. KeIly's as
sistant state treasurer. c. R. Ritchie.
The envelope was addressed MIR. c.
r. Ritchie, Topeka, Kas.''
Here is a copy of the letter within
the envelope:
Topeka, Kas-, Aug. gath, 1904.
Mr.. c. r. Ritchie. Topeka, Kas.:
Dear Sir-Enclosed please find
check for S1,412.5O applied on pay
ment in coupons of Garden City, Fin
ney county, for July, 1908.
VERY truly, A. r. BROWN
The check referred to and enclosed
in the letter was a draft bought of the
the Union National bank, Kansas City,
Mo, on the Merchants Laclede Ma
tionaI bank of St. Louis. August "a,
1904, made payable to the order of
Roy Ritchie for $1,412.5O. The rec
ord in the treasurer's office shows that
a cheek for SO was mailed to A. R.
Brown ''to refund overpayment Aug
ust 26, 1904"
1t is not known who A. r. Brown is,
nor where he is, nor to what address
the check was sent.
The letter was mailed on a train in
August. The postmark is blurred so
that the figures cannot be deciphered,
but it was evidently August "a, 1904,
for the receiving stamp shows that it
was received in the Topeka postoffice
August "a, 1904, $50 p. M
This made good 1.4o2.5o shortage in
State Treasurer Kelly's accounts, as
shown by State Accountant Rowett.
There are some other mysterious
matters concerning these technical
entertainments of which the reader
subsequent issues of this journal of
news.
What Ritchie Says.
C. r. Ritchie, assistant state treas
Urer, to whom the mysterious letter
enclosing the draft in payment of the
QddrRSSa1
has been sick for several weeks.
He spent last week at Excelsior
Springs, but is now back in Topeka
and was at the state treasury for
while today.
NIr. Ritchie was asked about the re-
ceipt of the draft and mysterious let
ter today, but he said ne would rather
not talk about the matter.
who is A r. Brown, whose name is
signed to the letter." he was asked.
You can search me-" said Mr.:
Ritchie. Il don't know who he is. I
received the draft and turned it in to
the treasury
How about the Abilene matter?"
Il would rather not discuss that
either
Kelly in Actual Charge Six Years.
So far as handling the state funds
was concerned Mr.. Grimes en-
trusted that to Assistant Treasurer
Kelly. Grimes has always claimed
that he had personal supervision of
fee. T. T. Kelly really ran the money
erd OF the treasury while Grimes ran
the politics in Burton's interests.
T. 7. Kelly has been in continuous
ard uninterrupted possession of the
state treasury for nearly six years.
When Governor Stanley first went into
office he announced that he would have
no state accountant-he thought none
was needed. So Kelly had no fear dur
ing Stanley's adrninistra tion.
OF the two shortages which Governor
Bailey first made public yesterday ard
which were recently both made good
while the investigation was in progress,
one shortage of s1.4o2.50 occurred dur
ing Kclly's term as treasurer. This IS
specifically stated in Rowetts report
on Garden City bonds and was remit
ted in August, 1908. 1t was credited
on the books in the state treasury on
August 26, 1904.
Kelly discovered that Rowett had
been to Garden City ard found some
thing wrong. The state treasurer
thereupon got the money somewhere,
to be entered on his cash book on that
day, August rs. last! There is no 9th
er possible explanation. Mr.. Kelly
cannot shift this on to Mr.. Grimes.
This all took place since July l. lso1'
according to Rowett's report
The other shortage, which has been
made good by the treasurer's ofhce,
was for $1,175 interest on Abilene
state treasurer's office on July 2, 1900,
but not entered on the books until
the accountant uncovered it Few
weeks ago. Then it was made good
This happened during Grimes admin
istration. The question arises: Why
does the Kelly administration make
this shortage good when 1t happened
four years ago? Mr.. Kelly is trying
to make out that shortages which oc-
Cured during the Grimes administra-
ton do not affect him.
This money. $1,175.0O, according to
Mr.. Rowetts report, has been short
since July ?, 1900, and was made good
entered on the cash book Septem-
ber z, 1904"
Other Shortages.
Stato A Acno,,n4ont Do,,.o44 and NJ