Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-02-05
Special 10 the Free Press)

Special 10 the Free Press)
| Montpelier, Feb. S.-The case Of State
vs. Horace f. Graham, charged with en-.
bezzlement and larceny Of State money
to the extent Of thousands Of dollars
during his terms of office as State audi
tor. is about completed 30 far as the
submission of evidence is concerned and
| 1t is not unlikely that the arguments
will be begun Tomorrow.
The State completed it's cross-examina-
| ton of Mr.. Graham to-day and late this
afternoon introduced two letters, one
from Benjamin Gates to Governor Graham
when MIR. Gates assumed the duties of
State auditor, which expresses the lat
ter's regard for Mr.. Graham, but men
tons concern over discovery that there
were sums not accounted for in the
accounts Of the auditors office extending
over period of several years involving
as much as $4,000. He calls Mr.. Graham
attention to the fact that the latter said
nothing about any overdrafts or funds
not accounted for and states that he is
going TO have the whole matter investi-
| gated
II want you TO do something and do 1t
right away" also wrote Mr.. Gates.
The other letter introduced by the State
! was from Mr.. Graham to Herbert G.
Barber. then attorney-general, in which
Mr.. Graham refers to a rumor that some
action is to be taken in my natter
and expressing wish that action be
deferred for the present"
| THE GATES LETTER
The letter which was conceded to he
from Auditor Gates to Mr.. Graham,
although it is not signed or dated, reads
as follows:
Dear Governor When | took over this
office from you I assumed, as I had a
right to. that there were no irregular-
ties-that everything was clear and
above board. You never said a word to
me about these overdrafts or funds un-
accounted for on your part, and the part
that Mr.. Hanley had in the matter.
Your clerks, Of course. were loyal to you
and I went blind entirely until I got to
looking over the books for myself.
then did not believe anything to he
wrong. but l kept digging and asking
| questions until now it looks very bad.
The bank commissioner is working on the
books now-digging away-and I am
| going to help him and when he is through
I shall ask for a special investigation.
Matters have been so kept from me that
| do not know how far this matter has
! gone and l shall feel q deep RESPONSE
| bility until I get this whole matter
! cleared. ! do not know how much money
is involved-I am almost afraid to guess,
but we are going deep and we are going
to cover the whole period since 1902 and
look into every account. for there seems
to have been some shifting. When this
! is all done and we find out just where
we are at ] shall make a statement and
l believe 1t will be my duty to make that
| statement public. 1t certainly will be
unless the whole matter is settled with
interest. 1 am Of the firm belief that
the whole sum amounts to over ST.. 900.
Some Of your best friends have come to
me and told me that this matter would
be adjusted, that you would Ak it up
and that is why I have said nothing to
you about it. That is why have waited.
You are the Governor of the Great Little
State of Vermont and have been known
for years as honest Horace. Why should
! not believe that you would Ak 1t up?
This has caused me very much concern.
1t has caused me more than any trouble
I ever had because believed in you and
loved you. | want you to do something
and do it right away. I shall not say
| another word to you about this matter,
but you know | shall be held RESPONSE
BILE for this accounting and that it will
be my duty to make clear to the public
why the matter Is not settled if it is
, not settled soon.
] believe our duties are very clear to MS
and for one shall not sleep 4 comforta-
BILE sleep until the whole thing is cleared
and my duty is performed.
SOME QUESTION OVER LETTER.
There is some question over this let
ter. Mr. Gates testified that It was writ
ten in April while Mr.. Graham is sure
that it was not delivered to him until
after May because he is certain that
he did not receive the letter until after
hc had made his first payment to the
State treasurer. He explained that the
reason he did nothing about this was that
there was an investigation under way.
Mr., Archibald inquired quito II little
about the letter, particularly as to when
it was received endeavoring to have Mr..
Graham change his recollection as to
wnen he received II and in so doing he
drew from Mr.. Graham the following.
81 think he was carrying that letter
around in mis- pocket and showing 1t to
people before I saw it," The State OBJ
jected TO this statement and 1t was
stricken from the records.
LETTER TO II. G. BARBER.
Under date of August "a, a letter which
was read. Mr.. Graham admitted he wrote
1t and that what he said was absolutely
true. The letter follows:
To Hon. Herbert G. Barber
Bratteboro, VI.
Brother Barber:
I have heard rumors that YOU were
about to take some action with refer
ence to my matter. While ! know and
understand that you must perform the
duties of your office without respect
to persons or friendship, ! would suG
gest that IL these reports are true and
you have come to conclusion, that
action be deferred for the present. I
shall be here whenever am wanted
We are right in the midst Of a heat
ed campaign. The services of com
petent certified public accountant from
without the State. who can approa CHI the
subject without bias has been secured
under the provision OF the board OF
control act i do not know what firm
has been employed. l do not want to
know. Mr.. Davis of Rutland. and Mr..
Weeks have the matter in charge. I
expect now that the balance as claim
cd ha in