The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-10-20
Amazing Statement from En-
pOria Gazette (Rep.)
Hr. kelly's Last Defense Ii
Most Pitiable.
Records Show That He liz Dodg-
ing Facts.
COUPONS WERE THERE
Auditors Office Says so We're
Oh Bonds.
Bond Broker Who Made Sale
Confirms This.
Attorney General Don't Know
What to Do.
COUPONS WERE THERE

Governor Bailey today gave out State
Accountant Rowett's written report of
what he discovered in New York in com
nection with the Garden City shortage.
This report fatty contradicts Kelly's
statement of yesterday morning where
in he denied that there was any such
draft as the one for 81, so with his
endorsement thereon.
Mr.. Rowetts mission to New York
was not to find out who got the money
for the Garden City coupons alcne,
but to secure a transcript of the deal
ings between the state treasury and the
banks which have been fiscal agencies
of the state during the past four or five
years.
This transcript naturally shows other
things than those connected with the
Garden City matter, but nothing is made
public except the facts concerning the
Garden City shortage.
on Wednesday Governor Bailey Off
cialIy gave out the substance of the
report and a copy of the draft on
which Kelly got the money for the
Garden City coupons and the endorse
ments on it.
The official written report of Ac-
countant Rowett to Governor Bailey
is published on this page today.
Coleman Trying to Avoid Prosecution.
Attorney General Coleman says he
is not yet ready to proceed in the
matter of the state treasury shortages,
and the idea is getting started among
the people that he is trying TO find
a defense for those implicated in the
shortages rather than to prosecute
them on the evidence furnished him.
Mr.. Coleman refused to discuss the
matter today or in any way indicate
what his intentions are when asked
for a statement by a State Journal
reporter.
Il have nothing to say about it," ne
said. THE State Journal is evidently
in hurry for me to act, but 1 do
not know what it wants me to do"
IMr. Coleman: Your duty is to do
Just What any attorney general would
do when the governor produces evil
dence of crime. Prosecute the crimi-
nal. If part or all of the money has
been returned. it oes not relieve you
Do your duty and do it quick; that's
what we want you to do. Is that
clear? That's what the governor and
the state generally are calling on you
to do. If you are afraid, or can't do it.
you ought to resign and give the gov
ernor a chance to get an attorney who
will prosecute, and not appear to de-
fend the embezzler, or embezzlers
The state employs you to guard its in
terests. Let Kelly employ his own at
torney. Attorney General Coleman has
the greatest opportunity of his life but
he is letting it slip through his fingers,
it is almost gone now. To hesitate is to
lose. Kelly should have Coleman arrest
ed as a suspicious character prowling
around the treasury. prying into that
-Ehich the governor and state account
4nnt have already discovered.-Editor
State JournaL1
Dir. Coleman continued: L have not
yet got to the bottom of the shortages
that date back to Grimes administra-
tion. AS to the Garden City matter, the
money is now in the state treasury, SO
there is no reason to bring suit to re-
cover that. The only thing left to be
done would be to bring criminal pro-
ceedings and that is a matter I do not
care to consider at present. 1 can not
say Wnat VIII do, but l will do what
ever my duty is in the matter
Tuesday it was reported that Mr.
Coleman spent considerable time in his
office in consultation with State Treas
urer Kelly. Wednesday he spent much
of the day in the state treasury looking
up the details of some of the shortages.
Wednesday evening he had a talk with
Governor Bailey about the matter.
The governor would say nothing
about the conference between them
further than that Mr.. Coleman talked
like he means business"
1t is evident that the attorney gem
eraI does not mean to take the official
reports given him by Governor Bailey
and the state accountant without per-
sonalIy corroborating them. 1t is
stated that he will go over the records
in the treasurer's office with State Ac-
countant Rowett next. He is now in
vestigating the reliability of Governor
Bailey's and the state accountants
report.
Just why Attorney General Coleman
should not want to consider bringing
criminal proceedings at present is not
apparent. A crime has undoubtedly
been committed. Evidence has been