Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-09-17
State Auditor Van Deusen
Declares He s tai d s
Squarely Behind Account
ant, Who Made Report.
Deputy State Examiner
Monro Announces Dill
gent Search Made for the
Missing Ledger but Gould
Not Be Found.


found $1S.310 in stock 'unaccounted
for Deputy State Examiner Monro,
who was placed in charge of the audit,
asserts that every book or record that
could be found at the penitentiary was
audited carefully and fully; that the
report Of Accountant Seymour includes
the record of these books. Although
diligent search was made of all files,
vaults, ETC., at the penitentiary Tor the
old ledger, it could not be found. In
stead there was merely the made-over
or manufactured ledger which appears
to have been kept by convict, now
fugitive from justice, having broken his
parole. Every effort will probably be
made to apprehend f. H. Ellis, the
parole violator.
SHOOK ENTERS DENIAL.
John w. Shook, former warden, now
on his ranch at Salmon, issued state
ment to the morning paper in which he
denies the contents of the Seymour re-
port declaring there are no unaccount-
ed for items. He asserts that the audit
was probably made" from unofficial
books kept in the penitentiary store
house, kept by convict and solely to
show how supplies are distributed. He
further says there were two sets OF
books kept, one by convict and the
"official set kept by civilian. He
asks that the official set" be audited.
ALL BOOKS INCLUDED.
In direct contrast to this statement
is that of Assistant State Examiner
Monro. He said:
Accountant Seymour audited all the
books that could be found at the peni-
tertiary covering the period of the
audit. What is called the outside Of
flee has a set of books showing the
cash transactions and control on the
stock records. Records that may have
been kept by prisoners would include
the distribution of the different items
of stock showing what was received
and dsbursed."
I'VE were not concerned in who kept
the books but had to take them as they
were. All the books that were found
at the penitentiary were audited In
GLIDING those operated in the outside
and inside"
The deputy state examiner was asked
If it was not a fact that the old ledger
could not be found. although dill
gent search was made for 1T. Il VIII
take my oath to that" said Monro.
1--WE hunted in the vaults and every
where for the ledger but could not To-
cate it. One of the prisoners, ! think,
said he had seen it, but it could not be
found What was done with it ! do
not know. The made-over ledger was
the one we found in its place"
So far as can be learned this old
missing ledger was not turned over
to the present warden of the state peni-
Tertiary, Frank DeKay.
Deputy State Examiner Monro was
asked if it was customary for the
books and records of the penitentiary
to be kept other than at the peniten-
tiary He replied that to the best of
his knowledge the books were gener-
ally kept at the penitentiary Asked
what John W. Shook, former state
warden, meant by Official" set of
books. the deputy warden said he did
not know. In this statement it Is
thought the former warden means the
books kept in the outer office-the
cash books, These were included in
the audit the deputy state examiner
asserts.
AUDITOR BEHIND ACCOUNTANT,
Regarding the audit, State Auditor
Van Deusen said: THE state board of
prison commissioners ordered me as
state examiner to make the audit Al
the penitentiary books. I instructed
Deputy State Examiner Monro to GO
to the penitentiary and see what was
necessary to make the audit. This Mr.
Monro did. Mr.. Seymour was en-
ployed as an accountant to make the
I Mr. n do
the work He is thorough and COM
petent\ and performed the task under
the deputy state examiner l am ready
to stand behind his audit"
Seymour came to Boise last winter
from Bonner county, where he has a
homestead. Prior to going into the
northern part of the state he was an
expert accountant by profession. He
went on a homestead for his health
He was elected member of the lower
house of representatives from Bonner
county last fall. So far as is known his
trip to attend the session of the legis-
nature was his first trip to Boise
While the legislature was In session
he spoke to the state auditor about
eccountance work. saying that he
would like to take it up again.
hter Ine DOard Oh prison commits
sioners ordered the state auditor tc
make an audit OF the penitentiary
books, Mr. Seymour was secured fol
that purpose, coming here from his
home in the north. He was occupied
several months in the task of making
the check.
The report of Mr.. Seymour was hand
ed to Governor Alexander and giver
out for publication by the chief exc.
cutive Saturday. The Capital News
!. published the report in full with the
exception of the tabulations and made
a digest of them. The report showed
s1s,31s listed as "unaccounted for in
the stock.