The Mena weekly star., 1906-12-13
SQUARES HIS ACCOUNTS
F. E. Grimes Voluntarily Pays to State of Kansas the Sum
 of $o,381.
STATEMENT BY THE FORMER TREASURER
Pays the Money to Avoid n Long Drawn Out Law Suit With It's Attendant Worry and Expense Alleged Shortage In no Sense . Dedication.


 Alleged Shortage In no Sense .
 Dedication.
 Topeka, Kan, Dec. 12-F. F. Grimes, ex-state treasurer, Tuesday voluntarily paid to the state of Kan sas the sum of s9,3s1, for which amount an Investigating committee some time ago held his administra- tion responsible. The alleged short age was never considered in the light of a dedication in any sense of the word and resulted from practice that had been the rule in the state treasurer's office for many years be- fore and after MT. Grimes assumed the office. The investigation showed conclusively that Mir Grimes was not benefited in any way through this practice in his administration There fore in making payment to the state now of the amount involved, he has in an effort to clear his administra- tion, assumed responsibility at a personal loss to himself MT. Crimes action closes case that had become famous. MT. Grimes said in speak in gof the case:
 "In order to avoid iong-drawn-out suit, with It's attending worry and expense of lawyers, witnesses and court costs and feeling under moral obligation to do so. have agreed to make settlement with the state of Kansas on the basis of $9,3S1.25. It Is the judgment of the attorney gen eral that this is the amount for which my administration as state treasurer, should be held responsible. I said. last January. when the Haskins and Sells, the accountants, report was made public, that there was about ST. 900 which appeared to be unac- counted for. feel as though I should have been given the benefit of several items, by the attorney gen. eral, which would have lessened the amount considerable. had no knowledge of any loss at the expira- tion of my term of office but the state shall not suffer any even though I am in no wise to blame for 1t.
 Many of the apparent shortages were caused by the practice of al- lowing bond brokers to detach coupons from bonds sold to the state and there is no complete re cord of the bonds sold during that time. have lette.s from bond brokers stating that they legitimately received the clippings of certain coupons for the sale of bonds to the state, some of which l am now com- pelled to pay although they were never charged against the treasurer or never were in the treasurer's office However. the conclusion of the attor- ney general is that shall pay the above amount, and I. therefore. ac- quiesce in his decision.
 "I have never had one penny from the state that did not honestly belong to me. I have been the victim of cir cumstances, mistakes and unfaithful- ness of others and 1t is very great hardship for me to have to pay this money. I am, however, deeply grate- full to the people of Kansas for the confidence they have shown in me during the discussion of this matter. The press has been most kind and so have the people everywhere, and this has helped me to maintain my position and credit before the world I would rather have the name Of being honest and have the confidence of my friends and the people than any amount of money"
 After Mir Grimes had paid over the money Tuesday to the state treasur- CTS office, C. C. Coleman, attorney general. issued the following state ment:
 There will be general feeling Of sympathy on account of MT. Grimes having to pay this amount MT. Grimes has shown disposition all the way through to help in making right the matter so that the state should not lose anything on account of any possible mistake which may have occurred during his administra- ton. No one connected with the case would believe but that Frank Grimes has been absolutely straight and honest in his administration of state treasury affairs"
 Gov. E. w. Hoch said: The action of MT. Grimes is very commendable and entities him to the confidence that I have always felt in him, and which | believe most persons feel. that he was absolutely honest in the admin istration of the office of state treas urer.' On the check with which he paid the alleged shortage Tuesday, MT. Grimes wrote these words: Victim of circumstances"