Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1910-01-28
JUSTICE ON TRAIL
OF EX-OFF|C|ALS
CRIMINAL LAWS MAY BE EN-
PLoYED IN WAR ON ALLEGED
OHIO eRAFTERs.
PRylNG LOOSE INFORMATION
Sensation May Follow Latest Moves of
X Attorney General Denman-charge
Ex.offioials with More Than
100000 Graft.

Columbus, O.-With civil action for
the recovery of more than 100000 al
legged graft from past state officials
now we'll under way, Gov. Harmon, At
torney General Denman and Special
Counsel Booth have turned their at
tention to the criminal statutes. This
sensational development followed con-
conferences in the offices of the at
torney general.
OF extreme significance is the fact
that Prosecuting Attorney Carl T.
Webber of Franklin county, where the
civil suits were filed, was consulted.
The prosecutor refused to make any
Ssgtement further than that he had
Been asked to participate in the con-
sideration of certain phases of the in
vestigation." Attorney General Den
man admitted that the criminal laws
covering the conduct of state officers
were being examined.
From the most authoritative sources
it is learned that an extremely sensa-
tional turn in the Investigation prob
ably will follow the civil suits,
The attorney general is proceeding
with extreme caution. Secret meth
ods are being employed largely to pro-
tect sources of valuable information.
Every effort also is being made to
avoid soaring a number of bankers
who verbally have promised to go on
the witness stand and tell what they
know. A further development was
that the attorney general and his as
sistants have secured complete evi-
dence concerning the transactions of
former treasurers with at least IL
banks.
The attorney general has not yet
received any notice concerning re-
turns on the summons issued against
the defendants in both the McKinnon
and Cameron suits The papers COW
ering the Ashtabula defendants in the
McKinnon suits were sent through
the mails to be served by the Ashta-
bula county authorities. The treasury
investigation prosecutors have docu-
mentary evidence involving three
banks, at least, showing deposits of
state funds in large amounts with no
record of any interest payments of any
kind In these instances the state
will proceed with suits against the
banks for the recovery of the inter
est at the full legal rate.
This phase of the situation explains
in a measure the reluctance of many
bank officials to give the investigators
any kind of information concerning
what was done with the public money:
Also, it explains why the names of
the banks are being withheld until the
trial of the treasury suits are started
or the defendants make some kind of
an answer to the actions. Attorney
General Denman and Attorney Booth,
it is stated, have constructed the
cases with a view to information that
books and records have disappeared
1t is the general understanding that
when the cases go to trial a large
number of the books and records bear
ing on the handling of the public
money will be reported as missing, lost
or stolen.
A real start will be made on follow
ing up the charges made by Gov. Har
mon concerning the collection of taxes
in other departments and the paymen,
of commissions to officers connected
with the Offices of secretary of state
and fire marshal.