Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-10-14

Peoria, ILL.,, Oct. 13. - The
grand Jury returned It's final re-
port today with true bill against
oliver j. Bailey, chairman Of tho
finance committee Of the Peoria
school board and holding him on
charge Of malfeasanee In Of
flee. The Jury censured tho on
tire board for "criminaI negligence
In administering the affairs OF the
cltys schools"
Forty-three additional lndlct-
nents were also returned against
Dougherty for embezzIement and
: forgery. The Jury was discharged
today.
Peoria, Ill Oct. 13.-In the midst Of
turbulence that twice verged on fisti-
cuffs the grand jury voted an indict-
ment late yesterday afternoon against
o. j. Bailey, chairman Of the school
boards finance committee, on the
charge of malfeasance in Office as chief
auditor Of Defaulter N. G.. Dougherty's
accounts. The accused man Is Peoria's
foremost financier, upon whose shoul-
ders, to large extent, rests the credit
of the town.
Henry G. Triebe1, the other active
member Of the committee, and Mayor
Tolson, ex-offlcia member, were exon
Grated Of all criminal responsibility.
AS a consequence of this action,
which transpired early last evening,
the city is running with excitement. 1t
Is the program Of the jury to return
the indictment today in court, but a
strenuous attempt will be made by
Bailey's friends to have 1t reconsid.
cred
The vote by which the flnancier was
indicted stood 16 to z. 1t requires fif-
teen votes to indict. II Bailey's friends
can add two more to their present
strength the action may be nullified
and no Indictment returned. The min.
ority Jurors are working hard to
achieve this end.
Forty-Three New Dougherty Bills.
If the indictment is returned In
court, Bailey will be taken into Gus.
tody at once and required to give
bonds. The offense with which he is
charged is punishable by fine OF
not more than $4,000 and prohibition
Of ever again holding public Office
There is no Imprisonment penalty.
With the close of the session Of the
jury yesterday Foreman Grant Minor
not only reported to the states attor
ney's office Bailey's indictment but al
so delivered forty-three additional in
dictments against Dougherty for for
gerry, embezzlement and larceny as
bailee, leaving with the judge 8
lengthy report, part of which will be
a severe censure for the school trus
tees.
, The total number Of indictments
against Dougherty then will be exact
ly 140, representing embezzlements ag
gregating $2S0,C0O, according to cal
culation made today by States Attor
ney Scholes.
Banks Again Are Shaken.
With the spread of the news con
corning Bailey's indictment the cit.
again became possessed Of fear o
a general bank run. He is a directo
and heavy stockholder in the Centra
National bank, in which most of tn
school funds now are deposited, an,
he is president of the Dime Saving
and Trust company, on which rul
was started last Saturday. The latte
institution is still availing itself Of it
sixty day clause in payment Of saving
deposits. 1t is feared that the run, i
1t materializes, will be on the Centra
National. 1t is declared that the banl
is ready for any EN- mcrgency, and coul'
satisfy all demands.
In the light of the prodigious sun
to which TIE latest calculations hav
swelled Dougherty's shortage 1t i
feared that the schoolman's propert.
will not be sufficient to reimburse tn
public treasury In that event Bale.
may be prosecuted not only criminall
for malfeasance, but sued to recove
the final deficit in the fund for whicl
he has been partly responsible for th
last nineteen years.