Arizona republican., 1906-06-06
THE YUMA SHORTAGE
 BAD BOOK KEEPING
The Error Discovered and All Adjust
 ments Made.

County Treasurer P. B. Hodges of Yuma county, was some time ago found to be short in his accounts $1,000. The shortage was detected by Pub ic Exam iner w. C. Foster at whose request it was made good. The matter was never given to the press, but the examiner reported the facts to Governor Kibbey, saying to him at the time that he be- heved MT. Hodges was an honest man and that the shortage was merely due to careless bookkeeping and failure to make the proper entries in his books. At the same time the examiner told Mir. Hodges that he believed that by employing a good accountant to go over his books and his private papers and business transactions, he would find the discrepancy for he was certaln that it was due to the oversight or some entry.
 At the same time as territorial of ficial MT. Foster had discovered this shortage, which was apparent from MT. Hodges own records, and there was no evading it and no course for the exam iner to take except to demand its set t'ement until the fact should be dem onstrated that he did not owe the coun- ty the money. MT. Hodges followed the advice of the examiner. the error was found and everything is now sat isfactorily settled The Yuma Senti- nel. however, in an effort to set MT. Hodges right. has done Mir. Foster an injustice and has accused him of blum dering when in reality. except for MT. Foster, the irregularity might never have been found, or have been un- earthed at some later day. when it would have been impossible for MT. Hodges to clear himself. The Sentinel says:
 The probability is that MT. W. C. Foster, territorial examiner will in the future, be a little more careful in mak- ing accusations against county off cials than he was last March, when he wrongfully required County Treasurer B. P. Hodges to make good an alleged shortage of $1,O0O which has since been proven to exist only by reason of an error in bOokkeeping-in reality did not exist at all. Protesting strongly that 1t must be an error Mir. Hodges mort gagged his home for the money and turned it over td Examiner Foster.
 Determined to vindicate his honor MT. Hodges secured the services of MT R. H. Irwin. an expert, who examined the treasurer's books and found the error which had caused the great in- justice. Mir. Foster. who was at once notified. came down from Phoenix and being shown that he had been in the wrong. paid back the S1,000 to the treasurer. whose feelings of relief may well be imagined.
 We believe the matter of the alleged shortage was never given publicity through any newspaper, hut was re- ported to the governor oy Foster, and to a considerable extent became the subject of public comment. In view of the injustice done MT. Hodges and of the humiliation he was compelled to endure Examiner Foster should do no less than to give the widest publicity to the treasurer's vindication, of his own blundering, and as far as possible make amends for the wrong he has un- willingly done.
 It is hardly necessary to say that Mr. Hodges friends here never be- 1 lieVed the shortage accusation, and that they take great satisfaction in his complete vindicatiOn.