Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1904-04-16
SHORT IN HIS
ACCOUNTS
Treasurer George W. Knaebe| is
$4,000 Shy in County and
School Funds.
COTTON The CAUSE
His Resignation Accepted by Governor
0terc--. --.Bondsmen Called on to
Make Deficiency Good.

The good citizens of this city and
county will be both astonished and
tion of the accounts and cash on hand
of Treasurer and ex-Officio Collector
George w Knaebel, of this county
shows that that official for some
months past has been unlawfully us.
ing monies pertaining to the county
and to its school fund and that he is
now short in the sum of about $4,000
of which $500 belong to the county
and about $4,000 to the county school
fund.
Some weeks ago, Travelling Auditor
Charles V. Stafford, in accordance with
the duties imposed upon him by law,
commenced to examine and check up
Treasurer Knaebel's accounts. On the
territorial side, everything was found
satisfactory and correct, but this was
not the condition with county and
school funds as revealed by the exam
nation Then the shortage as best as
could be calculated from the books
was between $4,000 and $4,000 On
the fifth of this month, Travelling Aud
itor Stafford made verbal report to
the county commissioners of this coun-
ty. A consultation was had and Treas
urer Knaebel did not dispute the aud
that he claimed that the shortages
were not as heavy as Auditor Stafford
declared them to be. The county COM
missioners consulted legal advice and
agreed to give the treasurer until the
fifth OF next month, wherein to make
good the sums which had been used by
him for private purposes. The trav-
cling auditor also made his report to
Governor Otero, who acted promptly
and demanded the resignation of Col
onel Knaebel, which was rendered
Thursday last and which is to take eff
feet on May 5th coming. In the mean
time the matter was reported to Solici-
tor General Bartlett who consulted
with the travelling auditor. The re-
suit of This consultation was that a
meeting of the bondsmen of Treasurer
Knaebel was called yesterday after
noon in the Office of the auditor There
are two bonds in the case, one for $780,
900 given for the security of the coun-
ty funds and upon which the bondsmen
are T. r. Catron. justification in the
sum of $4,000; Samuel Eldodt, justi'
fication in $2O0OO Fred Muller, justifi-
cation, in $1,000; Grant Rivenburg,
justification. in $1,000, and Charles
Wagner. justification in $4,000. Total
100000. This bond is filed in the Office
of the clerk of the District Court and
was approved by Judge John R. McFie
presiding Judge of this district.
The bond for the safe keeping of the
school funds of the county is for $4O,-
900, and the sureties on this are T. B.
Catron for $2O,0O0 and Samuel Eldodt
also for the sum of $4,000. Total $40,-
900. This bond is in the possession of
the territorial superintendent of pub.
lie instruction and it was approved by
him.
At yesterdays meeting of the bonds.
men, at which County Commissioner
Seligman was present the travelling
auditor suggested that the best thing
for the county as we'll as for Colonel
Knaebel and themselves would be that
the bondsmen should pay the shortages
in the accounts as checked up by him
and that as speedily as possible or in
fact Immediately in order to avoid
serious legal complications and for the
good of the county and school finan
ces. This suggestion of the auditor
was looked upon with favor by the
bondsmen and meeting of these was
held this forenoon in the Office of T
B. Catron to devise ways and means
for the settlement of the shortages.
Last October, when Travelling Aud
itor Stafford checked up the accounts o
Treasurer Knaebel, he found the casl
on hand practically intact, al
though the books had not been KEEP
with the correctness and care the.
should have received. There wer
some minor discrepancies and over
drafts of funds, which, however, wer
not of material Importance. Sine
then. it seems Colonel Knaebel was a,
tackled by the fever of speculation an,
that this fever became SO hot and tul
bid that it affected his judgment an
he went on Wall Street and speculate
in cotton and Atchison, Topeka
Santa Fe Railway stock. The tempts
ton was too great and county fund
were used to satisfy his torrentis
mania and the torrid desire to "ge
rich-quick". These were so overpov
ering and strong that he could not n
sist and gave away. 1t is said ths
on the fourteenth Of March las
when cotton was at Is cents per poun
and, ranging upwards, Colonel Knaeb'
was to the good in the handsome sui
of $4,000. He had private tip ths
cotton would continue to go up unit
the 18th of March and this would Il