Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-09-22
A BRIEF REVIEW on
THE CASE OF MP. BURSUM

The facts leading up to the action liz
Silver City yesterday by which Judge
Parker confirms a report holding the
territory indebted to Bursum in the
sum Of $4.333.66 in the adjudication
of his accounts as superintendent OF
the New Mexico penitentiary. are
thoroughly familiar to the vast ma
iority of the people Of New Mexico
who read the newspapers. In connec-
ton with yesterdays action, however.
It is interesting To recall them briefly.
Shortly after H. ]. Hagerman became
governor of New Mexico, the reslgna-
tlOn of II. o. Bursum as superintend-
ent of the New Mexico penitentiary.
position he had held for some seven
years. occurred. The resignation was
understood TO have been at the re-
quest of the governor.
Shortly thereafter the governor
caused an investigation to be made
into the financial records of the peni-
tentiary and Francis Il. Mcmahon
representing the Colorado Guarantee
and Trust company of Colorado
Springs, a registered accountant. was
employed to make the investigation.
Mcmahon was engaged for several
weeks in making the report and when
1t was returned. the expert alleged
that there was large shortage in the
accounts Of the prison as administered
by Bursum. that books and records
we're missing and that accounts which
had been paid In 10 the prison man.
agement had not been entered on the
books to the credit of the territory
Prior TO the investigation Bursum had
returned TO the territorial treasury
the sum Of $500. which he stated had
been retained to his credit by error In
bookkeeping. and later the sum Of
81 900 was returned under practically
the same condition.
Upon the evidence furnished by Me-
Mahon, in his report. the then attor-
ney general. Captain W. G. Reid. made
formal demand on Bursum for the
return Of something more than $4,000
10 the territorial treasury. whi'h =
was held by the territorial officials
Bursum was short. Rursum. re-
turned the sum demanded. reserving
his legal rights.
During the session Of the last legia-
lature law was passed allowing for
the adjudication ~ accounts OF public
NfllffIN anu ifWNtHlNk ANl tftt uHHtnlNlA=
ment Of a referee In such cases. I'm.
der this law Rursum brought suit for
IN adjudication In the Third judicial
district court, and Charles Y Stafford.
the territorial travelling auditor ana
secretary Of the republican central
committee. was appointed to make the
report Stafford held hearings and ar
ter a considerable time, presented TO
the court report In which he held
that instead OF Rursum owing the
territory money. the territory owed
pursum the sum ot s4.s3ssG as re-
suit OF a settlement Of HIS accounts
ms superintendent OF the prison. In
cludlng the amount which Bursum
had returned 10 the territorial trens-
urv on demand Of the territory
TO this report the then attorney
general. George w. Prlehard. with
Special Assistant Attorney General
Ormsby McHarg acting with him. pre-
scented a series OF objections. aud It
was upon these objections that the
hearing was had in silver City yeater-
day resulting In confirming the ref
crec's report.
The territory. according 60 the re-
port, made 10 the Morning Journal
last night made no contest on these
exceptions and what II any further
action by the territory Il Intended. e
lnot known