Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1904-04-18
FALL or COL. KNAEREL.

4 Saturday OF the n~eihGahlOl 81 h1u
knaebeI. treasurer and collector OF
santa Re county, vas received in this
city with the greatest regret. The
ease ii one Of another good ma gone
very wrong Stock gambling, the
curse 81 many a MAJ OF strong bus
mess sense and conservative judg.
ment, was the cause or the ruin. Il
il said that the greater part Of the
money was riskea in Las Vegas and
lin Albuquerque.
Mir. Knaebel was In a position 70
receive inside information as 70 the
lcondition OF the markets. He went
far ahead on cotton, at one time hav.
ing $4,000 to the good. He decided
10 quit when he reached 100000, but
Having d TIP that cotton would con
ltinue to rise, he risked all he had
saved. Then came the Sully slump
and Mr.. Knaebel was caught In the
downward plunge. He made every 81
fort to retrieve his fortunes and
when he found that trust funds had
been swept away. attempted to Dor
row from friends to oye the losses.
He could lot raise all the money be-
fore the defalcations were discovered,
some days ago, by Territorial Auditor
stafford.
The territorial auditors inyestiga-
] ton showed that the territorial funds
were Intact, with the exception Of the
funds OF the irrigation commission,
which were short $1,000. The county
money was short $500 and the school
funds $4,000. 1t Is also said that
!. small sums belonging to the Presby.
tefian church Of which Mr.. knaebel
was treasurer, were lost In the whirl,
pool.
Ii was ~ long ago a the 9Th Of
I April that Mr.. Sanford made his re.
I port to the county commissioners.
They consulted legal advice and after
81 49,
being assured by Knaebel that he
could make the shortage good II CIV
4 en- d little time. agreed 10 allow him
until the 9Th OF May. Governor Otero
demanded The resignation Of The OH
= ciai, which win be rendered May s.
9 There are two bonds In the case,
z. lone for $780, 900, given for the security
of the county funds and upon which
4 the bondsmen are z. y. catron, justi
y. lcation III the sun Of $4,000 Samue
Z. Eldodi, justification Iii $4,000; FreS
Muller, justification, In $4,000; Gran
R%iyerburg, Justification, in $1,000, AM
m Charles Wagner, justification In NJ,
900. Total $50. 900. This bond Is file.
Y ii the Office OF the clerk OF the Dis
Y. trict court and was approved by Judg
JOHN II Melsie presiding judge Of tina
~ district.
The bond for the safe keeping 4
=, the school funds of the county IL 70
I. $4,000, and the sGreties on this ar
4. i. Catron for $4,000, and Samu,
Eldodt also for tho sum Of $1,000
We Total $4,000, This bond Is in n
tlo possession OF the territorial superb
en- tendent OF public instruction and
chi. was approved by him.
ar The bondsmen have agreed 10 mo,
the shortages ut once and look 70 NJ
knaebcI for reconpment.
There seems TO be No disposition d
the part OF any N to push "
!. Knaebel 10 extremeties. He fully q
mits his maifeasance and has no 9
cusc To offer more than that he vi
Temporarily lost In the gambling man
ON. and that he was so certain OF winnii
the that he did not believe there wal al
the risk In using the trust money. I'll
.ab- Col. KHaebel Intended 70 appropria
tch trust funds to his own use, no one 1
%lieyes. but unhappily this does \
palliate the crlminality Of ventura
II. such moneys In the hope Of makil
profit for M individual The olflei
has agreed 10 give up all his person
~ property and make every effort to ~
back every cent OF the shortage. II
fall from honor ana the high cstcc
enc Ill which he has been held for yea.
serf not only il The capital but throughc
,ody Inc territory, is most painful 70 !
are family and for his friends. Know
and that the intention of the man was |
rice. cyil, there Is little but sympathy hes
in his behalf.
lena From an interview with Goni
y Commissioners Arthur scligman,
. up Saturdays New Mexican, It is belle,
Jung II the board can soc AZ way clear
here DO 50 without misprison or compoul
! 20 ing a felony, no criminal p~roceedil
ping will be brought against Col, Knael
lt lii certain though that unless