The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-08-25
IS "a. r. BRowNv ExEMPT2

IL a. 6. E6E6ONt L :
Just one year ago today, August IS.
1904, the mysterious "a X. Brown"
letter was received at the state treas
ury, enclosing the money in payment
of the coupons on $4,000 of Garden
City bonds, which hao been short
from the state treasury for a year.
State Treasurer Kelly collected this
money from the state fiscal agency
early in August, 1903. This is shown
by letters written by Kelly ara the
state fiscal agency in New York. and
by the draft for the amount. which
bears his endorsement and which
shows that he cashed it at the Mer-
chants National bank between August
8 and August "a, 1908.
If it is true, as has been intimated,
that the statute of limitations runs on
| these state treasury crimes two years
from the time the money is received
| in the treasury, Governor Hoch and
| Attorney General Coleman have
allowed it to run in the case of the
Garden City shortage. The State
Journal frequently called attention to
this matter and to the danger of delay
in time for the authorities to act and
preserve the states rights, but for
/
compelled Coleman to act.
| Not only that, but in the same let
ter in which Kelly sent the Garden
City coupons to New York for col1ec-
ton, he also sent coupons from three
other sets of bonds. The money from
these latter has not been paid back
to the treasury by "a. r. Brown" or
anybody else.
The Garden City bonds, amounting
to $66,0O0 and drawing Il per cent.
interest, were purchased by the state
school fund on January 8, 1903. They
were dated January 1, 1903, and ran
for thirty years. The state paid
accrued interest amounting to s614s
for the eight days before it bought the
bonds.
The state auditors records show that
each bond had the full sixty coupons
when they were registered, but for some
reason the first and second coupons of
leach bond escaped being stamped as
the property of the state. However, the
money for the second coupons due Jan
uary 1, 1904, was paid into the state
treasury and accounted for just as
though the coupons were stamped as
state property.
But the money for the first coupons,
due July /, 1903. was not accounted for
in the state treasury when the state
accountants began investigating the
matter in August, 1904, more than a
year after it was due. and six months
after the second coupons had been paid.
While State Accountant Rowett and
the Moxey Audit company were look
ing the matter up letter was received
at the state treasury signed "a. R.
Brown" inclosing a draft issued by a
Kansas City bank for s1,412.5O. The let
ter simply said, Enclosed please find
check for 81. so applied in payment
of coupons of Garden City, Finney coun-
ty, for July. 1903"
No one except the accountants and
the persons connected with the state
treasury knew that the money was
2 missing from the treasury. How, then
, did "A. r. Brown come to find out
about it and remit? Brown" however
paid ten dollars more than the coupons
called for.
| Accountant Rowett went to New York
| and looked up the matter there. The
coupons were payable at the fiscal
agency. He found that on July 2, 1908
Kelly had written a letter to the fiscal
agency enclosing the Garden City cou-
, pons and three other sets for collection
requesting that when the money came
in it be sent direct to him.
Further investigation showed that the
. money was sent by the treasurer Of
Garden City to the fiscal agency or
August 3, 1903 On August a draft
; for the amount was sent by the fiscal
agency to Kelly, which he endorsed
deposited in the Merchants Nationa
bank here, and it was returned to the
fiscal agency and cancelled on August
"a, 1908.
Governor Bailey and Accountant Row
EFT did not make public what the othe
three sets of coupons were that KelI,
sent in for collection with the Gardel
, City coupons, but a copy of Kelly's let
!, ter is undoubtedly on file among tn
. other Rowett papers, and it was referre,
+ to Attorney General Coleman by Cover
nor Bailey at the time it was secures
nearly a year ago.
: Here are some questions:
Does the statute of limitations run Of
: these state treasury shortages two year
, from the time the money is received il
the state treasury?
If so, why have Governor Hoch an
Attorney General Coleman allowed Kel
ly to escape prosecution on the Garde
! City matter?
, Has the statute of limitations run O.
, the other three sets of coupons whicl
) Kelly sent in at the same time he sen
r in the Garden City coupons?
q Perhaps Governor Hoch or Attorne,
General Coleman may answer thes
questions.
| a T