The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1906-10-15
MAKES ANOTHER PAYMENT.
Mr.. Bursum Shows by His Actions
That He Does Not Consider
"Nindication" Complete


= Especial Mail Correspondence of the
Daily Record.)
Santa Fe, N. NJ, Oct. 12.-H. o.
Bursum, formerly superintendent OF
the New Mexico penitentiary, has
found it necessary to make another
payment to the Territorial Treasur-
err This time the amount was $297O.
The more that peculiar system of ac-
counts which was kept for about sew
en- years at the Territorial penlten-
tiary is investigated, the more the
Territory appears to have been the
loser. The one popularity which ap-
pears to be the most noticeable in
this system of accounts is that the
mistakes all appear to be in favor
of the former superintendent and
against the Territory.
In spite of the liberal coat of
whitewash which was spread over
Mr.. Bursum by the Republican cen
trail committee of the Territory, in
spite of the endorsement of him by
the county Republican convention of
his own county, notwithstanding the
failure of the grand jury lately in
session IN this county (Santa Fe) to
indict him for misappropriating the
funds of the Territory, and lastly,
regardless of the vote of thanks pass
ed in the Territorial convention at
Las Vegas, Mr.. Bursum has found it
necessary to pay large amount of
money into the Territorial treasury.
Immediately after the adjournment
of the grand jury, it was determined
to bring civil suits against Mr.. Bur-
sum for various amounts alleged to
be due the Territory. The evidence
which had been submitted to the
grand jury was carefully examined
by Attorney General Reid and, as
result, a demand was made on the
former superintendent for several
thousand dollars. This demand
brought Attorney H. M. Dougherty
here from Socorro last week, who,
acting in the interest of Mr."Bursum.
did all in his power to overthrow the
contention of the Attorney General
conference between the attorneys
was the payment of $2,470, besides
$500 which was left in the hands of
the treasurer by Mr.. Bursum when
he went out of office. Counting the
payment of $1727 made on July %,
the total payments made by Bur
sum since he went out of office are
s4,697
Mr.. Bursum's friends say that the
System of accounts kept at the pen
itentiary was faulty. That is admit
ted on all sides, but since all the
errors discovered so far have been
in Mr.. Bursum's favor some doubt
ing Thomases are beginning to sug-
gest that the system of accounts was
faulty, not by accident, but by de-
sign.
1t is incredible that man of ordi-
nary business sense would attempt
to keep the accounts of such an in
stitution as the Territorial peniten-
tiary in such a slipshod manner as
appears to have been the case for
years at the New Mexico penitentia-
ry. That the members of the peni-
tentiary board should not have dis
covered this state of affairs also
seems almost incredible; but it ap-
pears that the accounts were care
fully prepared on beautifully ruled
balance sheet for the meetings of the
board, and that the members, having
unbounded confidence in the superin-
tendent, did not deem it necessary
to look into the books. That work is
being done now, and to the minutest
detail. 1t is stated on what seems to
be good authority that there are 9TH
er thousands of dollars of accounts
under investigation, and that further
demands are likely to be made on the
former superintendent
Enough is now known to warrant
the statement that for rottenness the
management OF the New Mexico pen
itentiary under H. o. Bursum stands
without a rival.
The extravagant claims which
were made for the penitentiary dur
ing Bursum's administration and tine
hysterical defense made by few
newspapers in which he said to be
sfnterested fnancially wiz go for
naught in view of the fact that on
two different oc@isions. since the
commencement of the investigation OF
the penitentiary accounts. he mas
deemed it wise to pay over. in the