Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-03-11
DUEz CONFEssEs HE TOOK
4 MILLION FROM FRANCE

PARIS. March s-The arrest OF NJ.
Due-. following his confession that he
Rad misapproprizted something like ST.
5oC.C00 OF the funds derived from the
sale OF church property for which he
was the hquidator. has created a great
sensation. limitations are freely made
that other Iiquidators i'm the employ Of
the government are similarly involved
The republican press finds no words
OF excuse for the disSraced official and
lays much OF the responsibility for the
condition of affairs upon the immense
amount OF work assigned to a single Ii
cuidztor.
AT the same time, the papers. accord
the government unstinted praise for its
courage in boldly exposing the scandal
on the eve of the general elections, when
Il Is sure 10 become a powerful weapon
in the hands OF Catholic adversaries who
for months have been organizing a gen.
uine political campaign.
CATHOLIC PRESS ELATED.
The Catholic and royal press generally
manifest high glee over the exposure,
which they declare confirms the sus-
plcions long entertained that the prop
erty Of the churches. mOnasteries and
converts owned by the state. instead OF
furnishing $50. Oo0eOO for. old age pen
sious and other social reforms, as the
proIetariaC had been taught to believe
at the time the separation OF church and
state was voted. had disappeared in the
pockets Of thieving politicians.
L'Action Franchise Of today remarks
cynicaIly: "Duez, being charged by the
government to steal the church's prop
erty. can hardly be blamed for taking a
part OF the booty for himself"
The chamber OF deputies is not in
session at present. but interpretations
are expected I'm the senate. The govern
ment. while admitting that the task set
FOR the liquidators was too large, in
one case a single Iiquidator having
charge of the disposal of the property OF
"a congregations, declares that when
the report OF irregularities was nrst cir
culated two years ago. il did its full
duty by relieving some OF the liquida-
tors OF a part OF the work. calling for
their accounts and appointing an IN
investigating commission. OF which
former Premier Combes was president.
besides initiating the legal investigat-
ions which result in the arrest OF Duez.
OFFICIAL RECEIVER"
Duez was what is known as an on
cial receiver" which is a sort OF branch
OF the magistracy. In addition to his
deficit in the congregation accounts.
the liQuidatOr admits that he is short
s20o. 900 in connection with other affairs
cOnflded to his charge He had the
management of the liquidation for II
Congregations. involving more than
100. 900 documents and accounts. These
are In such confusion that IL is impos-
sible to determine accurately the total
OF his defalcation. which may greatly
exceed the S1.O00.0O0 originally esti-
mated.
Resides the admitted shor,ava me,
is charged with having pOcketed rake
OFFS for aiding a geneaIogist who acted
as his accomplish. The genealogist
sought out the heirs to the funds which
had been left to the congregations,
many OF whom were living at distant
points and ignorant of the fact that
they were entitled 20 recover anything
From these he obtained contracts. IL is
alleged. through which they relinquished
TO the geneaiogfst for services" so per
cent OF what was due