The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1916-10-10
MORE FRAUD ON
PART OF REPS
IS DISCLOSED
Overcoat Story May Be Told
In Court, Says Shaffer
ALLEGATION is LIBEL
Cox Bank Superintendent Exposes
Misleading Reproduction of Bill
And Check And Sends Out A
Warning-Was Printed
BY LOCAL Willis Organ

On Tuesday, Oct. 3, the Mt. Vernon
Republican printed reproduction OF
an alleged bill for an overcoat, togeth-
er with check of w. N. Shaffer, de-
putty superintendent of banks under
James M. Cox, under the caption "A
Sample OF Where, Under Cox, Funds
OF A Closed Bank Went"
The check used by MIR. Shaffer was
drawn on the Citizens Trust and Saw
ings Bank and was charged to the
Metropolitan account. The intended
inference was that Mr. Shaffer, acting
in his official capacity, had embezzled
some of the funds for one of the banks
whose funds he was administering.
Mr.. Shaffer, who formerly was a
state senator and whose residence is
Paulding, has sent telegram to all
Republican newspapers of the state
notifying them not to use a political
charge sent out by Republican State
Chairman Charles S. Hatfield, because
of the false and libelous" matter it
contained.
One significant thing about the re-
production of the bill and check, as
printed in the Mt. Vernon Republican,
was noticed by several people here at
the time. 1t is that the name of the
person to whom the bill was made out
does not appear. 1t is said that this
was elided from the Photographic re-
production, possibly by pasting strip
of white paper over the printed line,
This, according to Mr.. Shaffer,
leaves the innuendo that he was guilty
of buying an overcoat for himself and
paying for it with money that was not
his own. In other words, there is an
intimation of embezzlement upon his
part.
The facts as established by the garb'
led check and bill and the records OF
the department are, it is said, that the
overcoat was purchased by an en-
ployee of the State Banking Depart
ment, whose home is in Cincinnati and
who was working on the affairs of the
metropolitan Bank.
He had temporary position, being
paid salary and expenses. Upon the
bill being rendered, he asked Mr.. Shat
fer, his superior, by letter, to pay the
same and contract the amount from
his account at settlement time.
AS his salary and expenses were
charge! against the suspended bank
Mr.. Shaffer complied with the request
The charge, therefore, that the over
coat was purchased with the funds Of
the creditors of the bank is the sheer
est of technicalities.
Actually it was not. The employe
is a lawyer in practice in Cincinnati
and is known to be ready with criminal
proceedings against State Chairman
Hatfield or any other person who insin
yates that his action was in any wise
corrupt. 1t is very likely on this ac
count MS ndIu6 was SuPPA SooN0 WhOh
photograph was taken of the bill. II
any event the former chief liquidatol
asserts there is nothing even improp
er or corrupt in his action in paying
the account.
II is stated on his behalf that these
explanations were made at Republican
state headquarters, and that no heet
was given them as proved by the dis
patch of the plate matter to the news
papers.
If the above is true, as Former Sen
ator shaffer declares, the action ii
sending out the reproduction of tn,
bill and the checl, by the Republican
state committee is only in keeping will
the campaign of deceit which was wag
ed in Ohio in 1914 and, from all appear
lances, is being carried on this year.