The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1921-11-26
SUITS BROUGHT
FOR MILLION
State Of Illinois Takes Ac-
tion Against Five
Ex-treasurers
GOV. SMALL is
NAMED IN ACTION
Lieut. .-Gov. Sterling Is De-
fendant in Accounting
for s1O,OOo,O0O

Springfield, H., Nov. 20 (By the
Associated Pressl Suits for account
ing against five former state treasur-
ers alleging shortages of approximate
III $2,500000 were started to-day by
Attorney General Edward J. Brundage.
The suits cover the six terms pre-
ceding that OF the present treasurer,
Edward Il. Miller, and are directed
against all state treasurers who held
office between 1909 and 1921. State
Auditor Andrew Russell, who was
treasurer twice during the period, Is
defendant in two suits.
The other former treasurers in
yolyed are:
Governor Len Small, Lieutenant
Governor Fred T.. Sterling, William
Ryan, jr., and Edward Il Mitchell
Bondsmen Of all the former treasur-
ers were made defendants.
Disclosures made through the inyes-
tigation of the state treasury which
resulted in Indictment Of Governor
Small. Lieutenant-Governo Sterling
and Vernon Curtis. banking associate
Of Governor Small, last July, furnished
the evidence on which the civil suits
were based, the attorney generals Of
flee announced.
The Sangamon county grand jury
inquiry. which ended in the Indictment
of Small Sterling and Curtis was the
beginning Of searching investigation
into treasury affairs lasting for
months.
Lieutenant Governor Sterling Is de-
fendant in suit which alleges that
$4,000. 900 Of state money alleged 10
have been used by Treasurer Len
Small and the late Senator Edward G.
Curtis for their own personal profit,
continued under the control of Curtis
after Sterling. Small's successor. be-
came treasurer.
Curtis. according to bill, issued pre-
tended certificates Of deposit in the
Grant Park Bank an institution
which, the prosecution declares, did
not exist.
A large part OF the money handled
through the arrangement was invest
ed in notes Of Armour and company
and Swift and company, Chicago pack
ers. and the bill charges that Curtis
collected approximately S2,oo0,0oo in
terest from the packers.
These particulars Of the civil suits
are similar to and cover the same
charges made in the criminal cases
pending against Small, Sterling and
Vernon Curtis, who is brother Of
Senator Curtis, whose death OCCURRED
in 1920.
Although Sterling's aggregate inter
est return amounted TO S996,i the
only available records, the bill con
tinues, show that he collected ap-
proximately S5O0,000 from banks and
that the amount collected by Curtis
from the packers was greatly in excess
OF the difference between the sums.
The bill adds that interest unaecount-
ed for exceeds one million dollars.
The bill against Governor Small
charges that interest unaccounted for
exceeds Sl,o0o,oo0 during Sterling's
term.
Bills against Russell. Ryan and
Mitchell contain substantially the
same general charges except as to
amounts
Inclusion Of Ryan in civil eases ear
ries the alleged treasury scandal across
party lines. Ryan, Democrat. was
treasurer during the first two years Of
the Dunn administration.
All the other defendants in the Grim
inal and civil cases are Republicans.