The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1920-02-04

this office from you / assumed, as | had
a right to, that there were no irregu-
iarities-that everything was clear and
above board. You never said word
to me about these overdrafts or funds
unaccounted for on your part, and the
part that Mr.. Hanley had in the mat
ter. Your clerks, of course. were loyal
to you and / went blind entirely I'M
til | got to looking over the books for
myself. 1 then didn t believe anything
to be wrong, but I 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 l do not
know how far this matter has gone and
l shall feel deep responsibility un-
til l get this whole matter cleared. I
do not know how much money is in
volved. l am afraid to guess, but we
are going deep and we are going to
cover the whole period from 1902, and
| look into every account, for there
seems to have been some shifting. When
| this is done and we find out just where
we are at, | shall make a statement and
believe it will be my duty to make
that statement public. It certainly will
be. unless the whole matter is settled
with interest.
81 am of the firm belief that the
whole sum amounts to over $4,000
Some of your best friends have come
to me and told me that this matter
would be adjusted, that you would fl
| it up and that is why I have sale
nothing to you about it. That is why
have waited. You are the governol
of the Great Little State of Vernon
and have been known for years as Hon
est Horace Why should 1 not believ,
that you would fix it up?
"This has caused me very much con
Germ. 1t has caused me more than an,
trouble l ever have had because I be
heved in you and loved you. I wan
, you to do something and to do tina
something right away. / shall not sa,
( another word about this matter, bu
: you know l shall be held RESPONSIBLE
for this accounting and that it will
my duty to make clear to the publ
! why the matter is not settled if it
not settled soon. / believe our dutie
are very clear and / for one shall no
sleep comfortable sleep until thi
thing is cleared and my duty is pei
formed
Mr.. Graham said he was positive h
received this letter after he made tn
i first payment. He had no idea crimint
proceedings would be instituted an
e had no idea his conduct would be col
nected with criminal motives TIL
witness further said he thought NJ
Gates was carrying the letter "aroun
in his pocket for some time and Shove
it to people, This last was stricke
, out of the records. Mr.. Graham sal
8 he differed with Mr.. Gates about tt
: time they had their talk at Vergenne
L The letter from Mr. Graham to A
= torney General Barber was next rea
1t follows:
- "Brother Barber:-I have heard son
), rumors that you were about to tai
some action with reference to my ma
, | ter. While !, of course, know and, IL
= derstand that you must perform Il
:. duties of your Office without respe
= to person or friendship I would su
gest that if these reports are true al
= you have come to conclusion, that a
a ton be deferred for the present.
: shall be here whenever / am wanted
: "We are in the midst of heat
campaign. The services of a col
petent certified accountant from wit
- out the state, who can approach t
- subject without bias has been secur
y under the provisions of the board
- control act. | do not know what fiji
=. has been employed. l do not want
know. Mr.. Davis of Rutland and \
:" Weeks have the matter in charge
= expect now that the balance
claimed unaccounted for, will be
~ the treasurer S hands by Tuesday, t
- 9th. In little while we will have
:, report from the accountant and W
ho know if there is anything more due I
- state. If you feel that this letter ca
o. for any reply address me at Craftsbu
- 81 With kind regards, am, etc.
Mr.. Barber IS reply to this letter v
not submitted.
90 Ex-Gov. Horace F. Graham stepI
"a down from the witness stand at
ua o CLOCK yesterday afternoon. outwart
=, unmoved. After Mr.. Graham left
10 witness stand the defense rested q
the prosecution said there would be
For further evidence, requesting, howey
~ that the original copy by Audi
az Gates's letter to Mr.. Graham call
attention to his shortages be produC
be which the defense promised to do.