The Topeka state journal., 1911-09-02
KONING is OUT.
Contract of Special County Aud
itOr Terminated.
Investigation of Officers Comes
to End.
A SUIT is FILED.
District Clerk Thomas Asks
That Report Be Verified.
County Auditor Larimer Makes
a Statement.

| Special Auditor J. C. Koning was
fired today by an order of the board
Of county commissioners. After filing
a report on the offices of sheriff and
clerk of the district court that was
substantially as reported in the State
Journal last night the board went into
executive session and when it ad-
journed produced an order showing
that the much heralded audit of all
county Offices had come to an abrupt
and unexpected conclusion.
In the office of Richard L. Thomas,
clerk of the court, Koning claimed an
amount due the county of $16, 1920,
of which amount Thomas admits that
more than $4,000 is due and unpaid
This was because of the fact that no
settlement had ever been made be-
tween Thomas and the county board
Then Koning alleges that $1,SS5.39 is
due the county in unclaimed fees
which should revert to the county and
in sten ographer fees due the state. On
this item the special auditor charged
1854 interest because Thomas had
neglected to turn the funds over at an
earlier date.
When Koning reached the office of
Sheriff Norton, he found but $3.50 in
overcharges, which was a happy sur
prise to even Colonel Norton's most
ardent friends. Koning also took
few expected raps at the record OF
r. f. Larimer, county auditor. But
in making up the report of Sheriff
Norton's office Koning said nothing as
to the sheriff's proven overcharges of
$1,14S.73. This amount was taken
from Mr. Norton's bills by Larimer
before they reached the special ac-
coUntant.
AS to the record of John NJ. Wilker-
son, former sheriff, Koning claims the
county is entitled to recover $1,O471O,
which is slightly in excess of the figure
given by the State Journal.
Demands on all of these officials
for the amounts which Kontng claims
is due will be made sometime today
by E. r. Simon, county attorney.
Takes Controversy to Court.
The first real action in the matter
was taken this afternoon when attOr-
neys for Thomas filed proceedings in
the district court to restrain the
county board from levying on any of
the funds which Thomas has in his
possession until the report of KOning
is verified by an accountant appoint
ed by the court. Judge Whitcomb at
once granted a restraining order in
the case and for the present at least,
further action in the controversy is
stopped. The filing of the action by
Thomas also means that an account
ant will be appointed by the auditor
to audit the figures reported by the
county's special representative.
In his petition Thomas states:
This plaintiff informs the court
that he has in his possession at the
present time in cash, a sum equal to
all of the moneys which came into his
hands as clerk of the said district
court. and now claimed by the defen-
dants as money which he should turn
over and deliver to the treasurer of
said Shawnee county, and this plain
tiff further informs the court that
he has been ready at all times to turn
over and deliver to the treasurer of
Shawnee county, Kansas, any and all
of such moneys which he was by law
obligated to turn over and deliver to
such treasurer, and he now tenders
and offers to turn over all or any part
of such moneys which the court may
find to be moneys that the plaintiff
should turn over to the treasurer of
said Shawnee county, by its final or
der and decree"
When Mr.. Koning stated to a State
| Journal representative that his report
would not go to the commissioners un-
til o'clock in the afternoon. he reck-
! oned wrong His report was in the
hands of the board within an hour after
/ he was asked concerning his findings
But no opportunity to hold up the
| story until this paper went to press was
overlooked by Koning and the board