Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-09-19
Friends Of the Deposed Treasurer
Who Has Always Been Known AS a
Good Fellow and "a Spender,'
Flock to His Support.

| the front as the controlling factor IN
Indiana's political machine.
Yesterday was Sherrick day in In
dianapolis. It was not day that
brought rejoicings, but it was day
on which the court house, police head
quarters, the hotels, the street cor
ners and even the statehouse were
crowded with the political leaders of
the republican party throughout the
state, all swarming with the Sherrick
hive at the din Of danger to leader
made popular because he is lavish,
spender and a so-called good fellow.
VIII Sue the Governor.
The surface developments Of the
disclosure that Sherrick had for
months been guilty of misuse OF pub
lie funds came in the arraignment Of
the former state auditor in a police
court, his waiver of examination pend
ing grand jury investigation and the
succession of Warren Bigler as audi
tor of public funds.
Meantime Willard S. Wickard part
ner as well as Indiana representative
of J. H. Murray & Co., who took over
the state funds from Sherrick, and
gave as security notes signed by both
the firm and himself, reiterates his in
tention Of bringing criminal libel
suit against Governor Hanly. The ex-
ecutive on his part repeats his charges
to the effect that Wickard is amenable
to forgery charge and warns the at
torney not to shoot until he Is sure his
gun is loaded
Sherrick's appearance yesterday aft
ernoon in the Alabama street police
court was signal for concourse of
his friends. Every train brought to
the city, men who control county and
congressional districts. Beveridge
men and Fairbanks workers were
prominent in the foreground. All of
them sounded solemn note on the
political future of j. Frank Hanly, de-
spite the fact that there were some
$4,000 farmers gathered at the state
fair grounds cheering the name of the
Indiana governor.
Sherrick Nervous in Court.
Sherrick was pallid and nervous
when he entered the court room of
Magistrate Thomas Whallon in custo-
dy Of city detective. His eyes were
sunken and encircled by dark rings.
His thin lips drew together in pain at
facing the crowd that thronged the
justice court. Sparse hair, tousled
ance of despair.
The proceedings were brief. Addi-
son G. Harris, former minister to Tur-
key, who represented Sherrick as
counsel, asked that an examination be
waived and the bonds set at $4,000.
Prosecutor Ira Holmes demanded bail
Of $4,000. The magistrate listened
to the recital Of the probable indebted
ness of the former auditor to the state
and placed the bonds at $4,000.
Guilt Is Called "Teehnical."
Even his best friends do not deny
that Sherricl1 has misused the state
funds They call it technical" guilt,
and excuse it on the ground of prece-
dent. They even retaliate with
charges that others of the present
state administrators are lining their
own pockets with the interest on pub
lie funds or through personal invest
ment Of state revenues.
| Sherricks fall, or his technical
guilt, is an old story. 1t has had a
multitude Of settings and variety of
actors, but it is ever. in general, the
same tale. 1t may be a banker who
plays the role, or again the, the guar
dian Of public trust, but in the end
the points of the plot are the same
and the finale is anticipated before
the last act Now it is a family
shamed again, an ambition sacrificed,
but it all has an origin in a love of
good fellowship.
Six months ago Sherrick lost his
wife. At that time he was distribut.
| ing $4,000 at the legislature to gain
for himself an additional revenue from
Office fees. His bill failed
Investments Are Not Bad.
The two SORROWS, crowded one upon
another, stretched the good fellowship
game into series of orgies. Gambling
became his mania. He lost, his asso
ciates say, but not heavily. His
nights were passed in the bosom OF
his clubs, the Columbia and the Ma
rion clubs.
A rather princely salary Of $500
was his, but it could not cover his
i lavishness. In addition he was draw
ing interest on the state funds. Even
this, apparently. did not suffice and he
placed the states money in private
hands for speculative purposes
The collateral, however, illegal as il
may be as state asset, and includ
} ing notes declared to have been forged
is still more than enough to protect
q state. Mining stock, included il