The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-11-02
Claim Coupons Are Not Stamped
"PrOpsrty of State"
But Shortages Include These
as Well as Others.
ABSENCE OF THE STAMP
1t Doesn't Give Any One Right
to Collect the Coupons.
Developments of a Day in Mr..
KeIIy's Case.

We simply give what the records
show-Statement made by Accountant
Rowett today.
1t developed today that many of the
bond coupons which have been cashed
by some one and not accounted for in
the state treasury were stamped as the
property of the state school fund 1t
is claimed by Kellys friends that the
coupons on which there are shortages
were never stamped as state property
and hence did not belong to the state
This is true in some instances, but
State Accountant Rowett says that in
many cases the cancelled coupons are
stamped state property, but stlll
they have not been accounted for.
I. c. Ballinger of Burlington, sec
cretary of the Republican county COM
mittee of Coffey county, has written
the following letter to w. r. Stubbs:
''W. r. Stubbs, Topeka, Kas- Dear
Sir: 1 see by the Kansas City Star
that Mr.. Bailey's expert accountant
has made another report showing a
shortage in the state treaSurer'S ac-
counts of $1,000. In this he has an
item of $65O.5O in the bond account
of Rock Creek township, Coffey coun-
ty- 1 have checked up this account
with the county clerk and find these
coupons in question are not stamped
state property" These coupons are
the first ones paid after the bonds
were refunded. The fact that they
are not stamped state property evi-
IDENTIFY shows that they never were
state property and there is no short
age in the treasury on account of this
item Yours very truly,
ct. c. BALLINGER.'
Kelly's defenders are laying great
stress on this fact that some of the
Tx-ni
counted for in the school fund were not
stamped as state property. Yet the
Garden City coupons were not stamped
as state property, and "A. r. Brown"
evidently believed that they were the
property of the state. and when the
state accountants began to look into
the matter the Garden City money
turned up in the state treasury.
Neither were the second coupons on
the Garden City bonds stamped as state
property, but the money on them was
collected and turned into the state
treasury without any question about
its belonging there.
This shows that because the coupons
are not stamped as the property of the
state it does not follow that they did
not belong to the state school fund
Just because through some mistake or
manipulation the stamp was not placed
on these coupons, does that warrant
somebody who got possession of them
to convert the money to his own uSe2
But many of the coupons on which
there are shortages are positively
stamped as state property. This is true
In fifteen or twenty instances. That is
the coupons themselves show absolute
ly that they were state property, vet
payment for them was collected by the
state treasurer but never accounted for
on his books.
This is something which no amount
of explaining will straighten. The cou-
pons themselves and the fact that the
money for them never reached the an
nual school fund are proof positive that
the money was stolen, and no ''explana-
tions" about first coupons and such
things will controvert this fact.
The Records Show It.
State Accountant Rowett refused to
discuss the attempts which are being
made to prove that the recent report
which he and j. D. Buckingham made
TO Governor Bailey is incorrect, further
than to say that the report is made
on the records and it is correct.
we simply give what the records
show" said Mr.. Rowett, "and when the
records show that money ought to have
been paid to the state and it is not
accounted for in the treasurer's office.
we say so. When the records of the
fiscal agency show that it was maid 10
that bank and credited to the account
OF the state treasurer. but the state
treasurer's records do not account for
II we simply say so. That's all there
Is to il. If somebody else vvants 70
come in and say they got the money
that does not conuovert our report. 1t
Just shows us where to look for the
money"
Governor Bailey is in Indiana making
speeches and is not expected home nm
til Friday. Mr. ROwett does not wish
to give out any information. even in
corroboration Of his report. until he
first submits it to Governor Bailey. He
admitted. however, that many of the
coupons on which there are shortages
are stamped as the property of tha
state. He said he had examined the
cancelled coupons in every case inl
which they could be found In n few
instances they have been DESTROYED +,
some cases the coupons We're moi
stamped as state property bur in a
good many they were. In two or three
instances part of the coupons were
stamped and part We're not stamped as
state property.
TRY To SAVE HIM