Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-07-28

turned by the Travis county grand
jury. b, announcing himself Us II can
di,iatc for governor of Texas for Il
third term.
AUSTIN. July 27.-James T.. fergu-
son, governor of Texas, was indicted
on nine charges of felony by the
grand jury of Travis county late to-
day The indictments were returned
at 80 o'clock, but We're not made
public until nearly 6 o'clock when
Sheriff George S. Matthews notified
the governor.
Seven OF the indictments charge
misapplication of public funds. one
diversion of public funds and one en-
begzlemcnt.
Churchill J. Bartlett, secretary Of
state, was indicted on six counts
charging misapplication OF funds, {.
o. Austin, commissioner OF insurance
and banking, on four counts. same
charge, and C.. l.. Stowe. state super
intendent OF buildings and grounds, on
one count. charging misapplication.
Other indictments were returned. but
have not yet been made public.
Attempt at Impeachment.
During the last half year. the gov
ernor has been the center Of series
of exciting incidents. 1t was only
last Monday. that Speaker y. ..
Fuller. of the Texas house OF repre-
sentatives. called the house to meet
In special session to consider whether
articles OF impeachment should be
presented against the governor. In
his call Fuller said that there were
four matters to be considered at the
special session. August l, most I'M
portant being the action of the gov
ernor in vetoing the appropriations
for the University OF Texas, and al
legged misre presentations in the
awarding OF the West Texas A. & NJ.
college to Abilene. He added that
there would be "other" charges to
consider.
This was the second attempt to I'M
peach the governor in the present
year. The first was in March, when
q special house committee went into
an exhaustive investigation OF man
sion expenditures and the affairs of
the Temple State bank, of which the
governor formerly was president. The
committee, while condemning many
acts of the governor held that there
was not sufficient grounds for I'M
peachment.
Embczzlcmcnt of $500 Charged.
The indictment charged cmbezzle
ment against the governor contains
only mention of the sum involved and
the Identifying date. The amount Is
$500.
The charges of diverting a special
fund names January s, 1917. as the
date, and refers to the special fund
provided by the legislature for the pur-
chase of fuel, lights, water, ice and
,1u 20 ha
sion.
or the seven charges of misappli-
cation of public funds. one refers to
the sum of Sl01,356. which was col
lected by Gov. o. B. Colquitt, Fergu-
sons predecessor, as insurance on the
building of the West Texas Normal
school at Canyon City. The governor
Is alleged to have received this sum
from Colquitt and to have placed II
in the Temple State bank.
The other sums and the alleged
dates of misapplication are presented
as follows, without further data:
February 3, 1916, s2,500; January
81, 1915, s5,OS1; August 23. 1915,
$500; February 16. 1915, 10000;
February s, 1915, 10000; February
10. 1915, $4,000.
Bartlett Slow i'm Settlement.
Each of the bills returned against
Secretary OF State Bartlett charge
misapplcation in that he is alleged
to have failed to pay into the state
treasury funds held in his custody
until after the time specified by law.
All the instances alleged were during
the last year and cover amounts Of
s25O.OOO, $4,000, s6,0S750, $11,-
l42.75. $7,312 and 100000.
In the case of c. O. Austin, COM
missioner of insurance and banking,
the Indictment charges these misap
plications: December 6, 1916, 1862;
September 2S, 1916, sl,595; December
8. 1916, s392.5O; September IS, 1916.
s3,O35.
The indictments against Charles l..
Stowe superintendent of public build
ings and grounds, charges the misap-
plication of SCALE, November "a.
1916. As in other instances there
were no additional specifications In
the documents returned by the grand
jury.
Immediately after Governor Fergu-
son had been served by the sheriff in
his office he gave bond in the sum
of $1,000 in one case and $1,000 each
in the others. The bonds of Austin
and Bartlett were placed at 1000 In
each case and were furnished.
Stowe gave bond Of $500.
Bartlett, Austin and Stowe are APP
pointees of Governor Ferguson. but
there has been nothing to indicate any
connection between the cases.
At the time the university appropri-
ations were vetoed 1t was announced
by the governor that he was not salts
fled with the management OF the
school and the qualifications of Presi-
dent r. f.. Vinson to run 1t. Many
authorities said that the veto mad the
effect of closing the university.
Despite two meetings of the board |
of regents. Vinson is still In office.