The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-11-26
|. FIVE ARE SUED
Illinois State Treasurers Called
to an Accounting.
Attorney General Claims Short
ages of Nearly S2,5OO,OOO.
FOLLOWS GOV. SMALL CASE
Fictitious Bank Used to Deposit
All Interest.
Amounted to Over Million in
One Term.
FOLLOWS GOV. SMALL CASE

Springfield, ILL.,, Nov. 26.-Suits for
accounting against five former state
treasurers, alleging shortages of APP
proximately $2.5O0,O0O, today by At
torney General Edward ]. Brundage.
The suits cover the six terms pre-
ceding that of the present treasurer,
Edward E. 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.
Four Others Involved.
The other former treasurers in
VOWED are Gov Len Small, Lieut..
Gov. Fred E. Sterling, Vim. Ryan, Jr,
and Ed ". Mitchell.
Disclosures made thru the investi-
CATION of the state treasury which re-
suited in indictment of Governor
Small, Lieutenant Governor Sterling
and Vernon S. Curtis, banking as
sOciate of Governor Small last July,
furnished the evidence on which the
civil suits were based, the attorney
generals office announced.
Lieutenant Governor Sterling is de-
PENDANT in a suit which alleges that
ten million dollars of state money was
used by Treasurer Len Small and the
late Senator Edward c Curtis for their
own personal profit. loan which was
continued under control of Curtis after
Sterling, SmalIs successor, became
treasurer.
Used States Funds.
The bill alleges that shortly after
Small became treasurer in 1917, he
entered into a scheme with Curtis to
use large sums of state money for their
private gain. Small at the expiration
Of his term, the bill continues, re-
moved from the treasurer's office
books and records relating to deposits,
Ina ne mi M aGf Ga
Immediately upon the commence
ment of his term as treasurer the bill
further alleges, he became a party to
a plan thru which the money was to
continue under the control of Curtis,
that additional sums were to be turned
over to him, and that the scheme was
carried out to the personal profit OF
all in the alleged plot. Money thus
handled was carried on the BOOKS IN
an account characterized as the "saIe
fund" in order. the bill states, to con-
ceal the real facts.
Used Fictitious Bank.
Curtis. according to the bill, issued
Dretended certificates of deposit in
the Grant Park bank" an institution
which, the prosecution declared, DID
not exist. A large part OF the money
handled thru the arrangement was IN
vested in notes of Armour q co. anu
Swift & Co., Chicago packers, and the
bin charges that Curtis collected ap-
proximately two million dollars inter-
est from tn packers.
Interest turned over to the state by
the former treasurer, according to
figures given by Attorney General
Brundage's office, follows: Russell
(19O9-1911). $50, 306.42; Mitchell
(1911-1913), $166, 221.93; Ryan (1913-
1870, $18O,95S.92; Russell 0915-
1910, $142,8S3.39; Small (1917-
1919, $45O,O1O.12; Sterling (1919-
1920. $3.50, 1915.
The bill adds that interest unac-
counted for during Sterling's term ex-
ceeds one million dollars.
The Sterling suit also contains the !
charge that during his entire term
there were at all times several mil |
lion dollars on deposit with Dunlap, |
Russell & Company of Jacksonville, a |
bank in which Auditor Russell is in
terested. and that the treasury office |
holds no records showing payment of |
any interest to the state by the Rus ]
sell bank