The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-10-15
Says He Did Not Get the Abilene
Money.
Admits Made Mistake I'm Assum-
Ing Responsibility.
GRIMES HAS HIS NOTE.
Shows That He Loaned Richcy
$7S3 in Cash.
This Was Used to Help Make Up
$1,I75 Shortage.
MAKES GRAVE HINTS.
GRIMES HAS HIS NOTE.
MAKES GRAVE HINTS.
Says Richey Is Responsible for
Other Shortages.

Yesterday the State Journal pub.
lished confession No. 1.
Ex-State Treasurer Grimes says that
c. r. Richey. who was his chief clerk
is responsible for s1.175 shortage on
account of the payment made by the
city of Abilene, but never found in the
state treasury until a few weeks ago
when the state accountant discovered
the money missing.
Mr.. Grimes now says that on the
7th day of September last Mr.. Richey
assumed responsibility" and that he
loaned Mr.. Richey $500 to make VI
this shortage in the Grimes admins
tration. Mr.. Grimes now also makes
another startling statement. In dis
cussing the matter last evening a re-
porter for the State Journal talked
with Mr.. Grimes about the shortages
covered by the state accountants sup
Elementary report, aggregating $4,2S5
as follows, and reported by the ac-
countant as having been paid. but the
money never appearing on the treas
ury's books and not in the treasur-
er's safe now:
Reno county. Dec. 1, 1900. $50
Johnson county, July 1, 1900....... 2,625
Reno county, Dec. l, 1900. 140
Total .-..--...... ................ "a, ,2S0
This might be called Confession Nc.
q"
Il believe said Mr. Grimes. that
MIR. Richey is responsible for these
shortages
You do not think thce mat this is
merely a case of bad bookkeeping %
No, do not" said Mr.. Grimes EN-
phaticalIy.
Why then, is it not Mr.. Grimes
duty to take another note from Mr..
Richey. this time say for s4.2S5 and re-
imburse the state in these cases as he
did in the Abilene case.
1t should not be forgotten that Mr..
Richey's assumption of responsibility
for the Abilene shortage clarifies the
atmosphere only to a limited degree
and by no means explains away the
big deficits brought out by Mr.. Row
etts report. The 81, ,175 shortage is only
a small part of that unearthed by Mr..
Rowett. There should be no time lost
in placing the responsibility for the
other items in the bill of the people
against the state treasurer's office.
The greatest need of this state at
this moment is prosecuting attorney
like Folk of Missouri, instead of the
weak sister, Coleman. attorney gen
eral has shown himself to be up to
this hour.
While Mr. Richey's reputation has
been good up to this episode. his con-
fessed connection with the shortage to
the extent of making it up, his nlyster-
ious manner in refusing to speak out,
reflects in a most damaging manner
upon him individually.
There is widespread feeling now that
Richey has been compromised in other
shady transactions in the state treas
ury and that he and Kelly are both inn
plicated in deals involving the states
money and of which each has know
ledge. Richey's peculiar attitude has
given currency to this sentiment. Kel-
ly has some strange hold" on Richey
Mark thati
If F. E. Grimes believes that Mr..
Richey wrongfully took several thou
sand dollars from the treasury, why is
he so willing to loan Mr.. Richey mon
ey and take his unsecured note for it?
Would you do it gentle reader and
business man?
Does Mr.. Grimes advance his own
personal funds in this manner? Grimes
is easy. Grimes is good hearted. He
has been worked and plucked.
While suspicion has been cast on Mr..
fNiCney py MS assumption or RESPONSE
bility in the Abilene matter, the record
of T. T. Kelly as county clerk of Miami
county, is in evidence. He returned
81. 300 of deficits.
1t must be remem bered that the re-
ports of the state accountant thus far
made public, ir which shortages
amounting to nearly $4,000 have been
discovered, cover only the permanent
school fund in twelve counties. There
are several other funds and ninety-three
other counties yet to be examined
May we not expect something more
astounding and appalling in the line of
corruption as the uncovering proceeds!
How much longer are the people of
Kansas going to stand all this rascality
and chicanery around the office of the
state treasurer They have now
stood it four or five years. From
reading the exchanges and talking with
people from over the state there is a
great deal of excitement over the mat
ter Republicans who have never
scratched the ticket before will scratch
it now. The good Republicans this
year will be those who do not vote the
straight ticket. The straight ticket is
crooked, and the scratched ticket is
the straight one this year.
7. T. Kelly has been in active con-