The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-10-15
.RICHEY FLATLy DENIES 1T

,
ing revelations by the state accountant
he asks the people of this common
wealth to keep him and his gang in
office for another two years.
If Chairman Stubbs and Mr.. Hoch
don't come out publicly pretty soon
and take a stand on this corruption
in the state treasury, they may look
out for their whole ticket
Hoch is a good man in bad company.
Stubbs knows that Treasurer Kelly is
guilty.
Why doesn't he come out like a man
and repudiate him?
Why doesn't Mr.. Hoch denounce the
thievery in the state treasurer's office?
Take a cue from Mr.. Roosevelt and
Mr.. Folk, Mr.. Hoch, and show a little
nerve.
Richey Says He Is Innocent.
c. r. Richey late assistant state
treasurer, returned late last evening
from st. Joseph, where he went to see
about getting employment. He went
at once to the Capital Office to deny the
statement in that paper that he had
confessed to the shortage in the Abb
lene matter.
Mr.. Richey denies that he has any
knowledge concerning either the Abb
lene shortage or any of the others
treasurer's Office He says he thinks
now he made an error in assuming
the responsibility for the error in the
Abilene case. but he did so believing
that it was an error that would be
Strengthened out in time. and not an
intentional theft on the part of any
one. He positively denies that he took
any money.
'I know that I did not take any of
that money" said Mr.. Richey this
a V1al Ar%a
at his home on West Eighth street. 81
do not believe my friends will believe
that I took it,
DO you have any idea who did take
it?" MI. Richey was asked.
mo, I have not" he replied. ct
know that I did not
What about this statement of
Frank Grimes that he loaned you 5000
to make this up this shortage?" asked
the reporter.
TT is true that 1 assumed the re-
sponsibility for the matter to help Mr..
Grimes. He put up some money and
he has my note as he says. The en-
tries were IN my handwriting and 1
could not blame anybody else. L now
think 1 made a mistake in taking the
responsibility, because I know I did
not get the money.
81 have not thought" continued Mr..
Rfchey, that anybody wilfulIy took
that Abilene money. 1 thought il was
an error that would be Strengthened
out in lime. ana as the entries were. in
sponsibility for the error. 1 did not
confess to any shortage"
What about these other short
ages which occurred about the same
you any theory about them?" Mr..
Richey was asked.
NO. I have not. I don't know any
thing about them said Mr.. Richey.
4r-.- - -
tinued, that all sorts of rumors have
been started about me-
When did you resign?' was asked.
"On October II, Tuesday"
Why did you resign?" Mr.. Richey
was asked.
well, it looked as the time had
come for me to cut loose and 1 simply
he said.
is it true that you have been over
Yes, 1 was registered there at the
St. Charles hotel, If anyone wants to
xnow,'' said Mr.. Richey. Il went over
here to see about getting employ
nent."
DO you have any idea now about
he Garden City shortage?" was asked.
Not in the least" said Mr.. Richey:
I should think if they find who cashed
he coupons at the fiscal agency II
would help clear that up, but 1 don't
know anything about 1t.
Did you ever speculate any or do
else whereby you might lose
my considerable amount of money! Z!
vas asked of Mr.. Richey.
mo, sir he replied with emphasis,
I have never speculated nor gambIed
n any way. My friends know that
There is one thing / would like to |
;ay," continued Mr.. Richey as the re-
porter started away, that is that may
,e out of the city the first of next week |
want to say this so there will be no |
surprise at my being gone few days. |
n VnCffinn /
lrfng on two or three things which |
must look after"
What started the report that you
lad gone to New Mexico?''
"I do not know" said Mr.. R1chey. (
unless it was because I have talked OF
yoing there TO go into the real estate
business with my father"
81 see Mr.. Grimes says now that my
)ond is missing" went on Mr.. Richey. i,
DO you know anything about the
pond ?" /
mo, I don't" Mr.. Richey said. "I !
nave not seen it since I gave it to Mr.. /
If. as F. E. Grimes. former state I
treasurer, intimates, c. r. Richey is ]
for the shortages which ,
nave been uncovered by the state ac-
money? All of Mr.. Richey's friends
certify that he is a man of good hab-
is; he has never drank nor gambled
10 far as is known. He emphatically
lenl6S lndl ne mas ever SpeCuldlSO.
SO far the accountants have uncov-
red and reported on upwards of S.
100 of discrepancies in the accounts
# twelve counties thus far examined.
{ is reported that other discrepancies
re known which have not yet been
run down by the account
.ntS.
If Mr.. Richey took this money there
'ught to be some evidence of his
pending it. Mr.. Richey was for four
ears chief clerk in the treasurer's
'fhce under Mr.. Grimes, and he has /
'een assistant treasurer under T. T.
Kelly since January, 1903. The sal
-ry of chief clerk is $1,000 a year.
nd that of assistant treasurer is ST.
90 a year. Mr. Richey's friends say
lie has lived very unostentatiously and
le could not have spent any money
n 1o ~,