The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-08-30
KELLY BLOCKS IT.
Wouldn't Let Accountant
Rowett Get Bank Facts.
Stops Him from Securing the
Statements.

Under a Topeka date line the Kansas
CITY Times this morning published the
following:
Charles P. Rowett, state accountant.
struck an obstacle today in his effort
to go further with his Investigation of
state affairs than the law creating his
place authorizes. He mas been investi-
eating the office of the state treasurer
several weeks. He has found one or
two errors of bookkeeping which re-
CURED few hours work to untangle
but beyond that it is reported that he
has nothing to include in his official re-
port which will show that either the
treasurer or the auditor of state has
mishandled funds.
THE accountant has nearly finished
his investigation of the treasury and,
nnolng nothing wrong in the office, de-
cided to investigate the personal ac-
count of the treasurer with the Topeka
banks. He approached Mr.. Kelly this
morning and asked the treasurer for
letter requiring the banks of the city
to open their accounts for his inspec-
ton.
I decline to give you any such let
ter the treasurer is said to have re-
piled. The books in my office are open
for your inspection and any account
nave with the banks is entered in the
books in this office. You can investi-
gate here as much as you please, but
v
slst you in Shopping into accounts at
the banks -
"I shall publish your reply the ac-
countant said.
IF you feel 1t is part of your duty
as a state accountant to rush into
print with your troubles the treasurer
said, you are welcome to publish all
have said. If you intend that as
threat to make me give you a letter
to the banks, you will accomplish
nothing by it. I understand that you
intend giving me all the notoriety you
can out of this investigation and I can
realize your anxiety to find something
wrong in the office but I will not as
sist you in going outside
1.-The accountant has not yet sub
mitted the conversation with the state
officer to the newspapers. but he
spent several hours in consultation
with Governor Bailey and some of the
appointive state officers"
State Accountant Rowett said today:
''In no sense did ask for or intimate
that 1 wanted his (Mr. Kelly's) per-
sonaI account. I wanted the account
of 7. 7. Kelly, state treasurer, and so
asked the Merchants bank. The bank
official replied that he would like to
have letter from Mr.. Kelly to them
requesting them to give me the ac-
count. I asked Mr.. Kelly for such a
letter and he gave me a point blank
negative.
"On no account did 1 say 1 would
publish his answer. So far L have
given nothing for publication and the
time is not opportune for anything to
come from me.
1.-THE First National bank has sent
a transcript of the account to Mr..
Kelly to give to me. The Bank of To-
peka replied that the transcript would
be sent. The letter from the cashier
of the First National bank to me is as
follows: I beg to acknowledge yours
of the 26th received this a. M asking
for transcript of the account of Mr.. T.
T. Kelly, Treasurer of the State of
Kansas, with this bank from June 80, |
1908, to July L, 1904. With this mail
1 forward the same to Mr.. Kelly for
delivery to you, kindly call on him for
it. Yours very truly, (signed) c. E.
Cashier.
'The law gives me the right to see
all the state accounts and / shall see |
them said Mr.. Rowett.