The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-10-18
KELLY GOT THE MONEY.

October. The facts were communica-
| ted to Attorney General Coleman some
time before the report was made pub
10. Mi. Coleman knew the facts in the
case at least two weeks ago
The money for the Garden City
shortage was received at the state
treasury on August 26. This is the
case in which 81 402.5O was mysteri-
ously sent in by "A r. Brown" Treas
urer Kelly has had since that time tc
find out where it came from. That was
less than two weeks after Mr. Rowett
and MIR. Buckingham began their work
together, and Mr.. Kelly has now had
seven weeks Ito make a full and fair
investigation" of it.
The friends of T. r. Kelly now admit
that the statement of Kelly & Kelly,
the bond brokers, did not explain the
shortages in the state treasury. The
statement might have explained the
matter if the facts had fit, but they
didn't.
. II is now admitted, too, that the state
hao peen robbed. A few weeks ago al.
sorts of slurs were thrown at the state
accountants by Il. L. Kelly's friends
and everything possible was done to
harass them. 1t was announced, too,
that the accountants could find nothing
the matter with Kelly, else they would
make a report.
In the meantime the shortages had
been found and in only three weeks
from the time they started in over
81 500 had been turned in to the state
treasury. The shortages which they
found were not made public until every
possible explanation for them had been
exhausted, and not then until after the
attorney general had been inform
ed of the facts and been counseled about
the matter.
1t is rumored that a considerable
shortage has been uncovered in the
no of I7fN
sas for keeping Oklahoma prisoners in
the Kansas penitentiary, and that over
81, 200 has been paid into the state
treasury to make good this shortage.
When Governor Bailey was asked
about this he said:
I'VE are investigating the accounts of
these Kansas counties now, and not the
Oklahoma warrants
The public is now waiting on Attor-
ney General Coleman. 1t is admitted
even by Keliy's personal organs, that a
large amount of money has been sto-
len from the state, $2,625 at one time
$3.50 at another, and other smaller
amounts. These shortages have oc-
CURED in just the few counties investi-
gated. AS long as it is admitted that
the money has been stolen there is no
doubt as to advisa bility OF civil suits
to recover it. A state treasurer is re-
sponsible on his bond for whatever
shortages may have been found during
his ADMINISTRATION 1t certainly ought
termine against whom criminal prose-
cutions ought to be brought.
1t is stated that Attorney General
Coleman and Treasurer Kelly put in
considerab BILE time together Monday 1t
is quite possible that the treasurer was
giving the attorney general a. private
explanation of the matter.
The statement of Kelly & Kelly pur-
ported to explain how the Reno county
shortage might have happened. The
Hutchinson News says that it fails,
however, and publishes the following:
Kelly & Kelly, the bond brokers of
Topeka, gave a statement to the To-
peka and Kansas City papers of Sum
day morning showing how coupons
are sometimes clipped from bonds pur-
chased for the state school fund for
the purpose of equalizing interest and
how the coupons never are in possess
sion of the state. But this 'explana-
ton doesn't explain the shortage in
the permanent school fund so far as
the Reno county bonds are concerned,
for the cancelled coupons which were
returned to the county when paid, and
which are now in possession of the
county treasurer, are stamped on the
back The property of and payable to
the permanent school fund of the state
of Kansas and not negotiable and not
transferable George E. Cole, auditor.
THE money, $1,640, to take them
up has been paid to the state and as
it doesn't show up in the state treas
ury, the school fund is short just that