Los Angeles herald., 1909-03-13
CONFESSES HE
STOLE $4,000
FORMER TREASURER OF UTAH
PLACED IN JAIL
James Christensen Returns to SALT
Lake and Admits Responsibility,
but Is Not Formally
Charged
IRv Associated Press. ]

SALT LAKE CITY, March 12.-Jas.
Christensen, former state treasurer
following his confession of his respoh-
sibility for a shortage of over $'o'ooo In
the state treasury, is under arrest ana
is now in Jail here.
The money, it is acknowledged, was
used in speculations in Nevada mining
venturesl
Christiansen was state treasurer for
the four-year term ending at tne pe-
ginning of the present year. A..
The shortage in the accounts was ais
covered a few days ago through tne
checking of the accounts by the state
board of examiners.
At the time christensen was IN Ne
vada, where he has extensive mining
interests In response to telegram
annrising him of the discovery. he re-
turned to Salt Lake and admitted MS
The exact amount is $70,62S.94, and
this has been deposited to the credlt OF
the state by the bondsmen ana 1rlenos
of the ex-official. 4o4o
treasurer to his successor, David MATT
son, Mr.. christensen accepted posi-
tion as temporary deputy state audltor.
It was discovered last week that an
item on the auditors books charging
salt Lake county with $16S,OOO had oeen
tampered with and an attempt mace t5,t 10
make it show $10S,000 instead. Ine
handwriting was not that of anyone IN
the state auditors office, and the IN
vestigation followed.
Some of Disclosures
Tho Investigation disclosed that Chris
tiansen on May IS, 1908, had taken $lV.~
62S "A. which was paid by Mrs. Julia A.
Kimban as an inheritance tax. On
January 4, of the present year. County
Treasurer John Goesbeck pald Chrls-
tiansen 100000, portion of the county
taxes due the state. For both OF tnese
amounts Christensen gave receipts
from the hack of his receipt books The
discovery of a shortage came when the
county treasurer paid the balance or
the county taxes to Christiansen's sue
cessor.
The formal examination of the books
of the Office began and the disclosures
were made. christensen was IN Cha1-
few. New, looking after his interests.
He was informed of the condition OF
affairs by wire and he returned to this
city last Tuesday.
| He met his bondsmen and confessed
With two men in attendance he was
kept under surveillance until after the
story became public. publicity was Iol-
ment.
christensen said he invested in the
Dietrik Mining and Milling company 1t
was the intention of the incorporators
of this company to build an ore reduc-
ing plant to work the dump of the old
Comstock mines
How 1t Happened
Christensen invested about $4,000 in
the company and construction was be-
gun.
1t as stated his associates failed to
raise their share of the money needed
and Christensen was caught in posi-
tion where it meant the loss of the
money he had already invested, which
belonged to the state, took more money
and completed the mill. He was also
interested in the Rosedale Mining COM
pany, near Virginia City, and was
manager of the Chaffey Investment
company.
State Auditor Jewkes has called upon
all county trcasurers for statements or
the inheritance and state taxes for 1908
and is preparing to send travelling
auditors to every county to examine
the accounts and compare them with
the books of the state treasurer with
view of learning whether there is
further shortage in the states funds.
For several years previous to his
election as state treasurer christensen
was cashier of a bank in Richfield, this
state. He has also been active in state
politics and is at present treasurer or
the Utah board of commissioners of the
Alaska -Yukon-Pacific exposition. He
has q wife and three children, and to
indemnify his bondsmen Christiansen
has transferred all his property to
them.
Suretes Confident
The sureties declare they will lose but
little, if anything, by reason of their
confidence in Christensen. He has re-
tanned former Congressman w. H.
King and his brother as counsel. The
attorneys say they will demand
speedy hearing but refuse to outline
their further course.
Mr.. Christensen passed most of the
day~in cell, but was allowed to go to
sleep tonight on a cot in the office OF
the Jail. The county attorney will file
a complaint charging embezzlement to-
morrow morning, bail will be fixed and