The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-07-19
Who Unidentified Company on
Tom Kelly's Bond?
Letter Which Shows How Com
pany Protected Itself.
NO SECRET SESSION.
Governor Says Executive COun-
Gil Should Conceal Nothing.
Thursday Is KelIy's Last Day
of Grace.

A letter written July 14th by the IT,
tie Guaranty and Trust company of
Scranton, Pa, which is on the bond of
the state treasurer of Kansas, says:
While we are on band of the state
treasurer of Kansas, matters are in such
condition there that there is as yet no
direct liability under our bond so far as
we know at this time. In any event,
should later information show that
there is any liability, we are amply
protected by an indemnity bond signed
by persons whose worth is undoubtedly
several millions of dollars, so that the
company will suffer no direct loss. There
are no grounds for any rumors detri-
mental to the stability of this COM
pany.'''
1t is evident from the above that
State Treasurer T. T. Kelly was re-
qufred by the Title Guaranty & Trust
company to protect that company with
a personal bond. The question is, "Who
did Kelly have on this personal bond?'
Was it c. ]. Devlin? Mr.. Devlin seems
to have been always ready to sign any
kind of a bond Kelly needed.
At the present time, Mr.. Kelly is
putting his trust in the same sort of a
proposition, it appears. He is trying
to get his friends in the banking fra
ternity to indemnify the surety COM
panies SO that they can sign his new
bond.
Mr.. Kelly had nothing to say this
morning about the bond question.
There are conflicting stories about the
situation. One state house man who
claims to have his information direct
from a prominent capitalist, says: Il
am informed that Kelly will have his
bond ready for presentation to the ex-
ecutive council, and that it will be a
bond that the council will have to ap-
prove
The agent of a bonding company do
ing business in Topeka said today: Il
have been trying to fix things SO that
my company will take a piece of this
bond. I consider it good; just like find
ing the premium. / have not received
a definite reply from my company. I
am rather doubtful now whether Kelly
will be able to get the bond which the
governor requires
Tomorrow is Kelly's last day. Unless
| he gets the bond some time tomorrow,
something is likely to happen on Friday.
| Some think that Governor Hoch will
| forcibly take possession of the office,
turn out Kelly, and apopint some one to
! the vacancy. He will then have his ac-
countants take charge of, everything.
| and suspend business in the treasury
until things are Strengthened around.
"A move of this kind" one. man said,
| Is all THAT CdI1 save HUGH lIOIH POllll-
cal oblivion. The people of the state
have stood about all they will stand
from Hoch, and he must either move
against Kelly or share with Kelly in
the responsibility for Kelly's acts
No Star Chamber Session.
| Governor Hoch was asked this
morning whether the session of the
time the Kelly bond question will come
up, will be 'tstar chamber affair, at
which the public will be kept out
There is nothing to conceal so far
as am concerned said the governor.
ST have no desire to make d star
chamber affair out of it. 1 suppose it
rests with the council to decide"
It seems hardly possible that the ex-
| ecutive council will take up this dis
cussion behind closed doors, when it
is a matter in which the people of the
state of Kansas are vitality interested
and about which they have right to
know every detail. If the doors of the
council are shut on Friday the people
some sort of political manipulation is
to be attended to which will not stand
the light of day.
state Auditor Seth Wells will return
to Topeka today. He will stay here
until after the meeting of the executive
council and the board of equalization.
What Would Wells Do?
In case Governor Hoch should at
| TEMPT u NdCdCS AICdSQISI 1AClIJ Ol-
flee, and put in some one else to take
charge of the department the question
has been raised as to whether State
| Auditor Wells would recognize the
new appointee and authorize the pay
ment of money by him.
It is highly probable that the state
auditor would recognize whomever
happened to be prepared to do the
business of the office.