The Topeka state journal., 1911-09-07
KEEP HANDS OFF.
Accountants Refused Access to
Thomas Records.
Demands That Wait Action
Of the Court.
ASKS FOR HIS PAPERS
Wants Those Of Private Nature
Which We're Taken.
County Attorney Refuses to Re-
turn Them.
ASKS FOR HIS PAPERS

I When the three special accountants
employed by the county went 70 the
+ Office Of the clerk of the court this
+ morning. they were courteousIy invited
( TO keep their hands OF the records IN
I til the court should name a referee u
+ direct the audit To be sure the ac-
b countants wanted 70 argue the point,
f but Thomas had most Of the books AMI
+ there was nothing 10 do but graeIousIs
walk from the court house and wait
! until the court takes & hand
The action Of Richard l. Thomas.
4 clerk Of the court was On the advice
Z OF Attorneys Harvey and Schencks fol
( lowing the attitude OF County Attorney
{ Simon VINO refused ID enter into 4
stipulation regarding the audit IN
+ Judge Whitcomb-s court. the course of
the clerk OF the court had been fully
outlined Harvey and SCheDck had
pleaded for a stipulation which would
enable the court TO appoint referee
! who would have charge of the audit
No objection was made to the ac-
countauts employed by the county bur
Thomas asked that he might have ac-
cess 70 the books N his office. many O.
which were private documents simon
took the matter Of a stipulation undar
advlsement- Later in the day he de-
clined TO enter into an agreement with
Thomas lawyers Again ne was L9l1
that the audit would be stopped
As the three accountants filed into
the Office Of the court today. Thomas
was there to greet them with cordial
smile
Gentlemen said Thomas. 7 VIII
have TO deny you the use Of the records
until the court settles the question OF
how this audit shall be made"
If Thomas had suddenly began throw
ing cannon crackers at the three
auditors. their surprise would not have
been greater One OF the men wanted
70 argue the point Then Harvey aE1si
Schenck took 4 hand
They assured the auditors that any
legal c0TpliCa EICuS would De carefully
taken care Of The entire proceeding
vas over n less than five minutes
Then the accountants retired 70 the
Office Of the county attorney There was
nothing 70 do excaCt wait for the court
to act and the auditors made the most
OF the situation
Later in the day Thomas called at
SiU0ufs Office where he requested the
return of some private documents This
request was denied Not until the re-
turn Of Simon and O'Neu from Aans=fS
City and St Louis viii further action
he taken Attorneys for Thomas ex-
pIained their action 70 Judge Witt
comb and II was agreed that no move
would be made TO force the appoint
znent Of 4 referee until both sides were
represented
As the case now stands il Is up to
the county commissioners TO make the
rexr move They must go before the
court and ask that the audit be con-
tinued- This viii let down the bars
for the appointment Of referee and
= How both sides 70 prepare an audit On
which 10 base an accounting IN the
district court
Attorneys for Thomas declare that the
one fishing expedition in the clerk Of
the courts ofFfce was sufficient and they
VIII demand that findings made IN ths
prasert .udit constitute 4 statement OF
facts On which To base 2 case IN court
Thomas VIII probably employ account
ants to work on his books and the court
can then guess on the findings in the
TWO reports.