Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1911-11-03

paving money to the territory. ever
though under protest. could hav'
the matter Investigated In court
but afterwards a law was passet
during MIR. Hagerman's administra
ton, and without objection from
him, allowing suit to be brought b,
anyone under such circumstances.
Mr.. Bursom brought such suit,
i The case was publicly tried in court,
with the result that. after bearing
all the testimony that anyone had
to offer, the court found that in
stead of Mr.. Bursum owing the ter
ritory the money he had paid, the
territory owed him at the time over
a hundred dollars. Judgment was
given ordering the money he had
paid to be refunded. During this
trial the court appointed the terri
torial travelling auditor to make a
report on the facts, which he did
after a thorough investigation Of
the original entries, invoices and
vouchers, books of the penitentiary
and territorial treasury. and sworn
testimony Of witnesses. He was the
official charged by law with the ex-
animation Of the accounts of county
officers and private banks and had
been himself appointed by Governor
Hagerman. He proved himself so
good a business man in this position
that he afterward resigned It to nc
cept better position with one of
the leading banks Of the territory.
His investigation lasted a long time
and was publicly carried on at Santa
Fe, where anyone who had any
knowledge of these matters, includ.
ing the Colorado accountant, was
invited to attend and give informa-
ton.
In the meantime this charge Of
in the accounts was brot
before the grand jury of Santa Fe
county by the district attorney APP
pointed by Governor Hagerman,
and | was summoned as a witness.
From my knowledge of the affairs
Of the penitentiary and investiga-
lion of several Of the details upon
which the charge of shortage was
made. | had become perfectly salts
led that no such shortage reported
had ever existed, but that the al ,
eyed shortage reported by the Col /.
'rado accountant resulted from his ,
allure TO allow credits shown by ,
he books of original entry and re-
'eipts from the territorial treasurer,
o which Mr.. Bursum was clearly ,
and also from absolute err
ors in figures by the accountant,
which would have been shown at ,
irst If opportunity had been allowed 9
o do so. One instance of this was Z
IN item of bricks furnished to the ,
ioung Mems Christian Association ,
It Las Vegas for their building. to ,
which 10000 had been donated, ,
which at the usual price would ,
to $2l0. II was claimed ,
hat Mr.. Bursum was liable for the ,
rice Of these brick. whereas his act ,
n donating them was fully approx
d by the penitentiary board, who ,
bought that when individual citi- ,
ems in large numbers had contribu- ,
ed of their private means to the es- 9
and support of such a !
benevolent institution, it was only
light for the territory to assist with ,
ONE brick from its penitentiary.
appeared before the grand jury
md gave my testimony very fully. ,
1t the request of the district attor-
ley made complete statement of
What knew, and was then examin- =
d in detail about number of the
particular items charged against
Mr.. Bursum. As to everyone Of ,
hese was able to give a satisfac-
DRY explanation. either from my ,
'wn knowledge or from the books ,
md records Of the penitentiary and ;
territorial treasurer. The result of ,
his and other testimony vase that ,
lot only the grand Jury, but the
district attorney himself, became /,
convinced that there had been no ,
mortgage whatever in Mr.. Bursum's !
accounts with the territory, and
hat the charges against him could ,
lot be sustained. They were there
or dismissed by the grand jury.
A great deal has been said in a
sensational manner about destruc.
ion of hooko has Mr. nurunr. TIT. .