The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-03-09
GRAFT OF 100000.
Is Charged Against the Liquidator of
French Church Property.

Paris, March 9.-The arrest of NJ.
Duez following l1is confession that he
| had Incorporated something like
| 81 100000 o. the funds derived from the
sale of church property for which he
was the liQuidator has created great
sensation. Intinations are freely made
| that other liquidators in the employ
Inent of the government are similarly
involved.
The Republican press find no words
of excuse for the disgraced official and
lay much of the responsibility for the
condition of affairs upon the immense
amount of work assigned TO a single
liquidator.
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 it is sure fos becomesa powerful
weapon in the hands of its Catholic
adversaries, who for months have been
organizing 'Eennlness political CAM
Taign.=a ---.-s -
The Catholic and royalist opposition
press generally manifest high glee over
the Exposure, which theyssde declare con-
firms the suspicious long entertained
that the property of the churches,
m onaSterieS and converts expropri-
ated by the state instead of furnish
ing 5000. 100000 for old age pensions
and other social reforms as the pro-
letariat has been taught to believe at
the time separation of church and
state was voted. had disappeared into
pockets of thieving politicians. The
L'Acton Franchise today remarks Gym
ica11y:
"Duez, being charged by the gov
eminent to steal the church property,
can hardly be blamed for taking
part of the booty for himself
The chamber of deputies is not in
session at present. but interpretations
are expected in the senate. The gov
eminent, while admitting that the task
set for the 1iQuidatOrs was too large
in one case, single liQuidator having
charge of the property of "A congrega-
TONS claims that when the report of
Irregularities was first bruited. two
years ago, it did it's full duty by re-
ieving some of the liQuidators of
part of their work calling for their
accounts and appointing an investigat-
ing commission. of which former Pre-
mier Combes was president, besides in
itiating the legal Investigations which
resulted in the arrest of Duez. Duez
was what is known as an official re-
ceiver," which is a, sort of a branch of
the magistracy
In addition to his shortage in the
CONGREGATION accounts the liouidator
ton with other affairs conffded to his
charge. He had the management for
13 congregations, involving more than
100000 documents. These are in such
termine accurately the total of his de-
falcation, which may greatly exceed
the $1,00O,00O originally estimated.
Besides the admitted shortage Duez
is charged with having pocketed rake
offs for aiding a genealogist, who act
ed as his accomplish. The genealogist
sought out the heirs to the funds
which had been left to the congrega-
tions, many of whom were living at
distant points and ignorant of the
fact that they were entitled to recover
anything. From these he secured con-
tracts. it is alleged, through which
they relinquished to the genealogist so
per cent of what was due them in con-
sideration of his Services in the mat
ter.