Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1908-12-14
Judge Stevens Indicted


erson as one of the new judges in
Esmeralda county, has been indicted by
the Ouray county, Colorado, grand jury.
He is charged in nine indictments with
having been an officer of bank in the
town of, Ouray at the time of it's failure
and having received deposits at the
bank, knowing the institution to be in
solvent at the time. ! o.. -
Judge Stevens received word at Gold.
field ofhis indictment on December 4th'
and left the next morning for Ouray to
face his ,aceusers. While away he was
appointed one of the judges of the
Esmerafla county court. On his re-
tpfn to Nevada, he went to Carson and
placed his resignation in the hands of
the goxefnor. =. ..- -
Governor Dickerson carefully consid-
cred the matter with Judge Stevens and
refused to accept the resignation.
From the statement of Judge Stevens
as given by the Carson News, it appears
that the national bank of Ouray failed
in 1895 having on deposit the funds of
the city amounting to $18, OOO.. This ac-
count was traded to mining operator
with full permission of the city govern
ment and the account was cancelled on
the books of the bank
Judge Stevens with George r. Hurl-
burt wclG to the assistance of the bank
purchasing Il one-half interest, assum-
ing al liabilities and taking over all
Il ;sets. Judge Stevens claims that he
decided to the bank all his property in
an cndcavor. to place it on q paying
basis
The city of Ouray demanded it's money
of the mining operator and he repudiat,
ed the debt. Suit was begun against
him and the city lost. Suits were then
filed against the bank.
The bank was running i'll good shape,
slowly paying up old deposits, of which
81 per scent had been settled. Judge
Stevens had owed the bank at one
time the sum of 81, 900 and this he had
paid with full interest. The bank
closed as usual at B p. IN. one day in
June 1867. AT four o'clock that day
Judgment was rendered against the
bank in the suit of the city for the sum
of $4,000 and not having the funds,
was unable to open it's doors the follow
ing morning.
AT the time of this second closing of
the bank, Judge Stevens was Il resident
OF Nevada and had been so for over six
months. When in Colorado as vice
president of the bank, he had but little
to do with the active management as
his responsibilities were only during the
absence of the president.
In signed statement published in
New, Judge Stevens says:
"With reference to my appointment
Us Judge of the 18th Judicial District of
Nevada and the troubles that came to
me from Colorado I have to say, that
for the past ten years, 1 put ever cent
could save in the bank of Ouray, that
failed. | have never had one penny's
benefit from it, and when the bank
failed l sent the assignee deed to all
the property 1 had in Colorado to be
sold by him for the benefit of the credit
ors, l do not owe the bank dollar,
'"The indictments returned against
me were the result of misrepresentation
and were unfairly obtained.
No one in Ouray county believes me
guilty and can verify this brief state
ment. | would not accept the appoint.
ment until had laid all the facts before
tho Governor, and my resignation is.
subject to the Governors orders at any
time" ,s}5r
Judge Stevens claims that his indict-
ment was the work of political and
personal enemies. Six months before
the bank failed he left Colorado and
came to Nevada. When he left, the
bank'was in good condition, or in as
good condition as could be expected
after its former trouble. The bank was
I