The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1907-06-20
The Unusual Financial Meth
DDS of Richmond'S City
Clerk Are Called in Question
BY the Municipal Body.
BILLS THOUGHT PAID +
ARE FOUND NOT PAID.
There Is Talk of Impeachment
Proceedings That Would
Result in Relieving Mr.. Tag
gart of His Office.

The news that John +. Taggart. city
clerk of Richmond and Secretary of tho
Indiana Municipal league. is short in.
his accounts with the league, has caus-
ed genuine sensation in this city. lc
is reported that Mr.. Taggarts shortages
amounts TO about S3o.35
Taggart has been secretary OF the
league for something over two years.
For the state meeting held in Indians
apolis in 1905, Taggart. TO ADVERTISE
the meeting had some printing done by
the Nicholson Printing and Manufac-
turing company of this city. The Dill
for this work amounted To SD.35. At
this meeting Taggart presented ros-
ter of city officials of all the cities and'
towns of the state. which he had COM
piled and asked that the league in-
dorse this work. This action was
then taken by the league.
This work. it is stated. was "A pri-
vate enterprise on the part of Mr.. Tag
L.
Leagues Endorsement for this work he
had copies printed by the Nicholson
company Mr.. Taggart. it is stated,
sold the advertising space in this PAM
phlet. which netted him about So, and
then sold nearly all the copies printed
at % cents each Mr.. Nicholson pre-
sented bill of STD for the printing.
Bills Were All Paid.
At the League meeting held in Mar
ion last year Taggart, 1t is stated. pre-
sented a claim to the treasurer OF the
organization. L. r. Mallett. of Elwood.
which included the two printing bills
above and some ineidentals. all of
which totaled about 1927. Mallett
paid over this amount 10 Taggart, al
though the bill for the printing of the
list of towns and cities officials did
not have to be met by the League. as
it had never authorized the work.
1t is stated that Taggart gave his
note to the Nicholson Printing COM
pany for the payment of the bill for
printing the list of officials. The in-'
cidental expenses incurred were paid
by Taggart out of the money furnished
him by Mr.. Mallett, but the bill for
s9O.35 still remains unpaid. Taggart
has also failed to take up the note held
against him for the past year.
On May 81, this year, the Nicholson
Printing company presented Taggart
bill against the Indiana MunicipaH
| League for $90.35. Mr.. Taggart wrote
on this bill that ii was Just claim,
against the League and that he hadd
never been paid. He then forwardefH
the bill to Mr. Mallett.
| At an investigation held in Logans-
port Tuesday. where the League is in
session this week. Mr.. Maliett showed
receipts from Taggart for the money
paid over to him last year TO meet this
obligation and the others referred to-
Why Taggart should state that tho
Nicholson claim had never been paidl
/ when he was aware that Mallett helds
| his receipt for this amount mystified
the committee.
Mayor SchiIIinger Talks.
Mayor Schillinger, who has just re-
| turned from Logansport. states that
when the committee was given PROOF
of Taggart's plainly evident embezzae-
ment of the Leagues money, several
! members stated that Taggart should
be promptly prosecuted. Mayor Schil-
Iinger. who states that he then hoped
To hush the affair because OF the re-
| Election it would cast on the CITY or
| Richmond. plead with the COMMITTEES
not to take this action for the time be-
ing at least II was finally decided
to have a committee wait on Taggart
and insist that he refund the money
| which he is alleged to have emDez-
zIed from the league.
.Taggart arrived at Logansport
Tuesday stated Mayor Schillinger
and | do not believe ne attended the
/ League meeting that afternoon moro
than fifteen minutes. He came in
with Naliett and word was immed-
! lately sent TO President France. who
was in the chair. that he was wanted
France left the chair and retired with
Taggart and Mallett. ] did not know
of the charge that had been preferred
against Taggart until after the ses-
sion that afternoon when MaEett told
me of the conference that had been
held.
"Taggart left Logansport. stating
that he was going to Lake Maxinkuc-
kee to join his wife This morning the
League officers will investigate Tag
CARTS books
tmceachment Rumcred.
II was rumored today that impeacn-
ment proceedings would be brought
against Taggart to oust him from tho
toface OF city clerk Mayor Schillin.