The log cabin Democrat., 1916-02-12
AUDITORS CLERK
 RESIGNS HASTILY DECLINES EXPLANATION
c. M. COFFMAN ALLEGES MS. CONDUCT IN STATE
 OFFICE.

Alleging misconduct in the admin lstratlon of affairs of the state audi tors office, c. M. Coffman, for the last keeper in the office, resigned early yesterday afternoon. Mir. Cotfman is the son of former State Auditor l.. l.. Cotfman, who resigned last January to accept an appointment as mem Der of the board of control of the State Charitable Institutions. The text of MT. Coffman's letter of resg- nation follows:
 M. F. Dickinson, Auditor, Little
 Rock, Ark:
 1 "Dear Sir-Because of misconduct Tn the administration of the affairs of the office of auditor of state l have been considering whether in justice to myself and family 1 could longer remain member of your official force. This conduct has progressed to where 1 conclude it is my duty to sever my relationship with the office and therefore tender my resigna- tion, to take place at once. Respectfully,
 "C. M. Coffman."
 Mr. Coffman yesterday declined to answer questions relating to the charge of alleged misconduct and said he has nothing to add to his let ter of resignation. He left the office 1 at 4 o'clock yesterday, an hour after rendering his resignation.
 State Auditor M. F. Dickinson was reached by long distance telephone at the home of his father-in-l law, w. J. Woods, at Paragould, late last night. He was asked about Mir. Golf mans resignation and the charges made by the clerk.
 1 "I did not know that Mir. Coffman had resigned until 1 reached Para gould about II o'clock tonight" pr. Dickinson said. Il left Little Rock at 2:45 o'clock this afternoon Just be- fore leaving 1 talked with Mr. Golf man and he said nothing about quit ting and nothing about irregularities in the office.
 "Mr. Coffman had the only key to the desk in which the poll tax re- icepits were kept, and he handled all work in connection with the receipts. have never had a key to the desk. The only keys which have are one to an outside door and one to my desk. l always leave these keys in the office when away so that any of the office force can get in my desk if they wish.
 Il have no idea to what Mir. Golf man refers when he says there has been misconduct in the affairs of the office of the auditor If there are any poll tax receipts missing, it is up to him, for no one else handled them. If there are any irregularities I want to know it and to correct them"
 William Stoddard, deputy auditor, to whom the resignation was present. led. said it had been accepted He said he does not know to what Mir. Coffman referred in his term 'mis- conduct"
 Early this afternoon, Hogan Oli- yer, MT. Dickinson opponent for the nomination as auditor; T. D. Craw- foord and F.. J. Mckinney came to the ofiice," he said. "Mr. Oliver ast- ed to see certain records in the office, among them the poll tax records.
 "I told him the records were in charge of MT. Coffman. A few min utes later MT. Oliver and Mir. Golf man came to my office. Mr. Coffman said he had given me the key to the desk in which the records are kept. I iold him 1 did not remember hay ing received the key and that unless he had one, the only key to the desk was in pr. Dickinson's possession. They left my office, and few min utes later Mir Coffman presented his |resignation'
 Mir. Divers version of the affair is as follows:
 "In company with E. J. A. McKin- ney, editor of the Baptist Advancs, and T. D. Crawford, for many years reporter for the Supreme Court of Arkansas, l went to the auditors of flee and asked to see the records of settlements of the various sheriffs of the state with reference to poll tax receipts settled for last July.
 T was told that MT. Coffman had charge of that record and after look ing up all the settlements I asked to see the poll tax receipts that had been returned to the auditors office when they made settlement in July last year. MT. Coffman informed me that he did not have the key to that desk, although the poll tax records were in his desk, but said Stoddard had the key.
 T then asked Stoddard for the key and he informed me that Dr. Dickin-