The Rice belt journal., 1904-06-10
SHERIFF PERKINS A DEFAyLTER.
talcasieu Official Short S3O,O 200 and o
Fugitive From Justice.

Calcasieu parish is without a sheriff
and the state is shy several thousand
dollars as a result of the failure Of
that official to leave his present ad-
dress.
The investigation Of Mr.. Spyker,
chief clerk in the $ ste auditors Of
flee, proved th1' Jno. a. Perkins,
sheriff of talca>:,i parish, was a de-
faulter, and warrant was sworn out
for his arrest Saturday noon for the
miSapprOpriatjuN Of parish and school
funds to the amount of $63. 500. .l3. The
warrant was sworn out by District
Attorney Moore, acting under in
structiOnS from Governor Blanchard.
1t was found that Perkins had $34,-
900 in the banks, and his shortage
with the state is $25, ,3Gl over the
amount he has deposited in the bank,
anG his indebtedness f6r parish taxes,
railroad taxes, school taxes, road
taxes and poll tax aggregate O total
shortage Of about $4,000, $4,000 of
which, however, is covered by bond
company.
Tuesday there was a new feature TO
the case, an attachment having been
! filed by the Fidelity Trust company
against Perkins for railroad tax vOt-
ed by the people in aid of the Kansas
City Southern Railroad. This adds
to the total about 81, $50.
Before the warrant for his arrest
was issued Perkins absented himself
from the city of Lake Charles and
since that time his whereabouts have
been unknown to the authorities, al
though an effort has been made to
locate him in many towns in Texas
and Louisiana.
OThe New Orleans States says: The
Perkins defalcation case has been
placed in the hands of Attorney Gen.
eral Guion, who will took up the law
and institute proceedings against for
mer State Auditor ". S. Fra2ee and
his bondsmen for the recovery of the
| difference between the funds secured
by the State and the amount of Per-
kins' defalcation.
1t IL one Of the most extraordinary
cases that has ever confronted the
lawyers and courts Of the State, be-
cause of its entaugling features. 1t is
probable that, if Mr.. Fra2ee and his
bondsmen are not liable for the
amount of the defalcation the State
or surety company will endeavor to
secure Perkins arrest and prosecu-
ton. Just what steps will be taken
will be definitely known in the course
of the next two or three days, as the
first thing to be determined is the full
amount OF the shortage, and this can
not be done until the experts have
made an examination of the books.
Perkins downfall, according to
those in position to know, was due to
his sporting proclivities. Up to the
time he became sheriff of Calcasieu
parish he had shown. no tendencies
to flirt with the Goddess of Fortune.
so it is stated, but he had not been in
office long before be developed a
weakness to play the races and be-
came an inyeterate poker player. He
was a frequent visitor to New Or
leans, and it was only short time
ago that he came here and played
poker. The play was high and Per-
| kins' losses are said to have been
heavy. People in Lake Charles had
become suspicious OF his conduct some
time previous, so it is said, and that
is why he was defeated for reelection.
While no open charges had been made
against him up to that time, the busi-
ness men of that parish are said to
have lost confidence in him, because
it was an open secret that his sport
ing propensities were leading him a
merry chase. He was known in GER
tain circle as a good fellow" and
high roller" which became noised
around to some extent. 1t is believed
that his recent gambling exploit was
desperate effort to recoup his losses
with view to making a settlement
with the auditor, but luck was against
him and the expose followed.
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