The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1913-04-11
COUNTY BOARD ASKS
RESIGNATION OF
TREASURER
JOHN w. HickLiN is SHORT IN
HIS FUNDS, ACCORDING TO
EXAMINERS REPORT.

For more than a week there have
been rumors of a shortage in the cash
of the county treasurer's office. The
county commissioners would not con-
firm or deny the correctness of the re-
port, saying they had no official in
formation, II that they would have
none until the completion of the audit
of the accounts of Treasurer Hicklin,
which they had requested and which
would be made public as soon as il
was completed.
The report was made to the board
Yesterday. 1t confirmed the. rumor.
Treasurer Hicklin's cash account is
short $6,3S6.5S. Upon receipt of the
official report of the examiner, the
board placed the matter in the hands
of the county attorney. Mr.. Hicklin
was sent for, and the commissioners
asked him for an explanation. He was
questioned as to the conditions and
their cause. Not much was ELECTED by
the examination. MR. Hicklin gave no
explanation of what had become of the
money.
The commissioners her handed Mr..
Hicklin a letter, containing a formal
demand for his resignation as treas
urer. Mr.. Hicklin took the letter, say
ing he would give his answer this
morning.
Examiners Report.
State Examiner Magraw and his
deputies concluded the examination of
the books of the county treasurer last
Monday and returned to Helena. Yes
terday came the written report of this
examination. The commissioners were
in session when it was received, and
Immediately called in County Attorney
Heyfron when they found that their
suspicious had been confirmed regard
ing the treasurer's office, and that
some legal action was necessary. The
following is a section of the state eX-
aminer's report dealing with the treas
urer's office:
Our examination commenced at 8
o'clock a. m on Thursday, April 3,
in the office of Mr.. J. w. Hicklin,
county treasurer, n covered the
period in this office from April 16,
1912, the date of the last previous az
animation by this department, to the
close of business on April 2, 1913. We
t'IiIttlNN IA "olN III l!it litslSlI Il >
office on Saturday, the 5th of April.
Mr.. Hicklin was absent from Missoula
on Thursday, but returned Friday
morning, and was in and about the
office during the remainder of the ex-
animation. In the absence of the treas
urcr, the office was in charge of Mr..
Ed Mccarthy and Mr.. John w. Blu
ford, deputies.
"a complete audit was made of the
receipts and disbursements for said
period, the cash md cash items were
examined and counted, and the treas
urer's accounts with the various banks
holding county deposits carefully re-
conciled with the books Of the banks.
The treasurer's records of receipts and
disbursements and his accounts with
the banks We're found to be correct,
but a shortage of $6, 1855 was dis
closed in his account of cash in the Of
flee. The matter of the shortage was
at once taken up with Mr.. Hicklin,
who acknowledged that the shortage
existed. When asked what had become
of the, money, his only explanation was
that he had used it.
"Fol!oWtng is a summary of the re-
suits of our examination of the treas
urer's office.
Balance to the credit of all
funds April 1G, 1912--~~~~$201 ,274.50
Receipts 733,623.S4
Total 1854, S97.S4
Disbursements $72O 7u0.G@
Balance to credit Of all funds
April 2, 13.---.............. $21i,19-.72
This balance vas accounted for as
follows:
Deposited in banks:
Missoula Trust and Saw
ings bank, Missoula-......$ 90, 300.53
First National bank, Mis-
soula 10.S79.3S
Scandinavian American
bank, MissOula -..... 62,223.6J
Western Montana National
bank, Missoula-...... 23,153.S7'
Roman State hank, Roman 10, 600. 90
First National Oank, Roman 10000
Cash n ash items in of
flee ....,... 2,252.57
Balance to credit ford ,-,.. 214,197,22|
Total deposits .-... -............... 2O7. S1O.6 "a