The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1907-07-25
City Clerk of Richmond is
Charged with the Embez-
element of Funds Belonging
to the Indiana Municipal
League.
BOND is FURNISHED
BY JAMES w. WILSON
Amount Involved is S162.35
and Arose Over Printing
Bills Due Nicholson Printing
Company of This City.

Late Wednesday afternoon the grand
Jury returned an indictment against
John F.. Taggart, city clerk of Rich
mond, charging him with embezzling
S16o3J of the funds of the Municipal
League of Indiana. Warrant for Tag
CARTS arrest was issued by County
Clerk Harry f. Penny and was turned
over to Deputy Sheriff Mashmeyer,
who Immediately called upon James
Wilson, father-in-1aw of Taggart. Mr.
Wilson, who was aware of the fact that
warrant for Taggart's arrest had
been issued was informed that Tag
CARTS bond had been fixed by the court
at $1,000. Mr.. Wilson promptly fur
nished bond.
Wednesday evening about 8 o'clock
Deputy Mashmeyer located Taggart on
Main street between Fifth and Sixth
Taggart had little to say to Mashmey
eT COHCeTuluS Ills CdSe DuJ nc IOuIQly
upbraided the men he charges with be-
ing responsible for the action taken
by the grand jury. Deputy Mashmeyer
refused to enter into a discussion of
the case with Taggart- aad advised him
not to talk too much. Mashmeyer and
Taggart then entered the Gates cigar
store where Taggart signed the bond
furnished by his father-in-law. After
doing this he was released by Mash
meyer.
Not as Surprise.
The action taken by the grand jury
in the Taggart case does not come in
the nature of a surprise. Last month
when the annual Municipal League of
Indiana meeting was held at Logans-
port it was openly charged in the press
Of this city that Taggart had embezzled
money of the League given to him to
pay bills held against the League by
the Nicholson Printing company. In a
speech before the league Taggart de-
MED this charge, Notwithstanding that
the League officials are said to have
had irrefutable proof that he had en-
bezzled $162.3
After this charge against Taggart
had become public Prosecutor Jessup
began an investigation of the case.
When the call for the grand jury was
recently issued it was the general inn
preston that the jury was to consider
the case of Lon Fisher. charged with
murder. The fact that the jury was
called to investigate that case and the |
Taggart case also was not generally /
known. The witnesses who testified |
before the grand jury in the Taggart
investigation we're John l.. Rupe. attor-
ney for the Nicholson Printing COM
pany, J. Fred France. president of the
league, Loripg w. Mellette of Elwood, |
treasurer of the league. John II. Mich
olson. James W. Wilson. Walter Baker
and Roy Carmon of the Nicholson
Printing company.
What Indictment Charges.
The indictment charges that Taggart
as officer of the league, which is an
association. did felon-
iously, unlawfully and fraudulently
take. purloin, secrete and appropriate +
for his own use S162.35 of the funds
of the league.
All OF this amount Is money alleged
to be due the Nicholson Printing COM
pany of this city for various kinds of
printing charged by Taggart to the
credit of the league. A bill of 500 80
for printing a directory of state. city
and town officials and bill of S12 for
incidental expenses tho Nicholson
Printing company claims are still un-
paid by Taggart. Treasurer Mellette of
the league furnished proof by receipts
signed by Taggart that Mellette had
him league money for the
payment of these bills. Mr.. Nicholson
has In his possession a statement sign
ed by Taggart last May. one year after
the bills were first presented. that the
Nicholson claim was valid and unpaid.
Considering the fact that Mr. Mellette
has Taggart's receipt for money re-
reived to meet these bills, the state
ment secured by MIR. Nicholson a year
later from Taggart that the claims
we're unpaid. is considered most dam
aging evidence against the city clerk.
Taggart has not yet rendered his res
gnation as city clerk but it is limited
hat he may do so. Prosecutor Jessup
states that he is ready to try the Tag
CART case any time so it will probably ,
De heard some time in August. The ,
claims against the league held by the
Nicholson Printing company, it is
stated, have been paid by James Will ,
on III