The Penn's Grove record., 1905-09-22
STATE AUDITOR PRISONER
Indiana Governor Finds Deficit Of
1$45,00o in His Accounts.
David Il. Sherrick Arrested After Long
Controversy-Removal First
Demanded.

Indianapolis, Ind. = David e. Sher-
rick, twice elected Auditor of the State,
was arrested after being summarily
superseded in Office on the Governors
order for betrayal of public trust"
and Warren Bigler, of Wabash, ac-
cepted an appointment as his success
or. The removal followed a long cor
respondence, in which Sherrick adj.
mitted that he was unable to settle his
account with the Treasurer of State,
and virtually confessed that he had
been continuously violating the law
by loaning money belonging to the
State for his personal profit.
In a formal statement the Governor
says he has been investigating the con-
ditions in the Auditors office since the
last of August, having received infor-
nation that Sherrick had not made the
July settlement for the States funds,
which had accumulated from January
1 to July /, 1905. He Immediately
asked for a settlement, which was
made.
This amount was about $235 900. In
addition to this the Auditor in his
statement to the Governor admitted
that he was at that time chargeable
with State funds paid in since the July
settlement, amounting to $145, 1914 80,
for which he filed a schedule enumera-
ting the assets he had with which to
meet the amount. These items in
Guided notes, stocks and securities
amounting to $152,9S3.33, of which, ac-
aoysIfn ~ 70 tho Gnuarn0r,c 1attar On1u
$37,355.01 could be realized on.
At the time. that his analysis of the
assets submitted by Sherrick was
made the Governor formally requested
Sherrick to resign. The resignation
was not forthcoming. The Governor
requested that Sherrick turn over to
John F. Reed, the settlement clerk In
the Auditors office, the securities
enumerated, and this was done. The
Governor also demanded that settle
ment to the extent OF $145, 1880 be
made with the State, and again re-
quested Sherrick to resign. At noon
the request had not been complied
with, and it was repeated. The Gov
ernor entered an executive order find
ing the existence of q vacancy and ap-
pointing Bigler.
Later Sherrick sent his resignation
to Governor Hanly, who accepted it
and entered an order appointing War
rem Bigler, Of Wabash, to the office of
State Auditor. Bigler accepted.
The estimate Of the deficit in Sher-
rick's accounts was made by the Gov
ernor on the assumption that $4,000
loaned to J. H. hurry & Co., and in
dorsed by w. S. Wickard, had been
secured on forged and worthless paper.
Mr.. Wickard declares they are genuine
and perfectly good. w. S. Wickard is
a son-in-law of hurry, and, as the
financial agent Of the lumber firm,
signs all it's commercial paper. He de-
clares that he went to the State House
with a certified check to take up the
notes, but found that Sherrick had
been removed from office. He asserts
that he will file suit against the Gov
ernor for libel.
Sherrick's bond on file in the Secre-
tary of States Office is for 100000,
and was furnished by the American
Surety Company. The bond for his
second term was made December 6,
1904, and filed January IL, 1905. 1t Is
signed by Sherrick, the American Sure
ty Company, by Roscoe G. Hawkins,
resident vico-president, and Ernst v.
Clark, resident assistant secretary.
The bond for his first term was for
100000, also, and was furnished by
the American Surety Company.