The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1911-06-28
SHORTAGE FOUND
IN AUDITORS OFFICE
DISAPPEARANCE OF FORMER
WARRANT CLERK, FOND OF d.
AMONDS, GAMBLING, ETC.

Guthrie, Okla, June 27.--The dis
appearance of at least $4,000 and pos
siplv $4,000 of the states funds was
brought to light Saturday when the
fact became known mat w. +. Nc
Brine Of Guthrie, chief clerk in the
Office of former State Auditor NJ. F..
Trapp. and employed for a short time
by the present auditor, Leo Meyer,
has been missing from his home at
Guthrie. since the middle Of April
About the time of his disappearance
McBrine is known to have checked
out $1,000 which he had deposited
with local banks and late to have
deposited the money in a bank at
Kansas City. On April % he again
checked out the money while in st.
Louis. it is said, and has not been
heard from since,
Whether shortage Of $4,000 in
the funds appropriated for the use OF
the agricultural and mechanical col
lege at saltwater had anything to do
with McBrine's absence has not been
absolutely determined, but the affair
is being investigated along those
lines.
Auditor Leo Meyer suspected that
there was an irreguarity some weeks
ago. and the matter was turned over
to C. A. Taylor, head OF the state
examination and inspection board. In
checking ur accounts with the \. and
VI. school on June 1G a shortage of
approximately $1,000 was discovered.
McBrne was chief clerk in the
office under Mr.. Trapp and
was next to the assistant auditor.
He was well liked and there was alb
yolutelv no suspicion of any wrong
doing on his part. He was in charge
Of the work of issuing warrants at
the time. Later when the admins
tration changed. McBrine was en-
oloved until March I by Mr. Never
Neither of the men who have been
in charge of the department had any
knowledge whatever of the alleged
until suspicion was
aroused az the time named. The fact
hat the shortage existed at all was
not definitely established until We'd
lesday.
That W. f. McBrine, former war
ant clerk in the state auditors of
ice, whose present whereabouts are .
4 mystery to all of his friends, was
n the ]. Rufus Wallingford class
rs a spender is indicated by reports 4
'eceived from Guthrie. Diamonds .
we're MoBrine's specially, and he is ,
;aid to have paid a balance Of s720 /
IN his account at a Guthrie jewelers. .
shortly before leaving the city. lie is :
llso said TO have plunged heavily at
ines in some Of the gambling es-
Adjustments at the former capital
where Il social game may some
ines be found in progress.
On one occasion, when a promi-
lent state official whose financial
'ating would mt him in rather classy
was urged to take TIE Scot
ish Rite Masonic degrees at Guth-
lie, but pleaded that he could not
Ifford it, McBrine Immediately Of
cred to lend him the money and
old him that there was no hurry
bout him returning it.
He was still spending freely the
asst time he was seen. according TO
Walter Ferguson, editor of the Chero
zee Republican, who rode from ST.
.Ouis to Cincinnati with McBrine,
nd said at that time that he was
,oing to Toledo to settle an es-
ate"
Still Investigating.
State Auditor Leo Meyer IS CON
inuing his investigations and is de-
ermined to find out not only what
have occurred in the
office, either in his or any
ormer administration, but also who
Fas responsible for them. Some Of
he former employees of the auditors