Evening journal., 1921-01-12
FATHER, SON and
CLERKS ACCUSED
ASEMBEZZLERS
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the custody OF the attorney-generals
ofIlce. The warrant on which the ar
rests were made was sworn out in the
attOrney-generals ofllce and was
signed by William r.. Miner. stenO-
grapher In the office.
According TO reports some OF the
fees paid into the office by attorneys
for the recording OF deeds, charters,
etc. were pocketed by some OF the ac-
cused officials, and were not entered
in the official books as paid. but were
entered in secret books as paid.
Recorder Cole is bonded In 5000 by
the American Surety Company.
Bail for the Coles was furnished by
Charles Winkler and for FennlmOre
by John Welsh. Colonel w. r.
slower and Magistrate Harry !. ellis
went on BabcOck's bail.
Philip l.. Garrett today was en-
gagged as counsel FOR Recorder Cole
and his father.
None OF the men would comment on
the case following their arrests.
Furman g.. Cole Is married and lives
at 1902 West street with his father.
He was elected recorder or deeds on
the Republican ticket in November,
1918. Previous 10 his election he was
employed for four years as a clerk IN
i the City Board OF Assessment and prior
to that he was employed in the Street
and Sewer Department
"Furney," as he Is familiarly known,
has a reputation as athlete and boxing
trainer and as a square" sportsman
OF remarkably clean habits. The inn
plication OF Furman Cole in such a
case came as a shock TO all his ac-
| mlaintancpc
Mr.. Cole, Sr., is a former saloon
keeper OF this city. shortly before
prohibition went into effect he sold
his saloon business, in Shipley street
above Fourth street, and retired from
active business until appointed
denuty recorder OF deeds by his son
ne has been trading in the stock mar.
kct for several years. II was Learned
today.
Babcook has been a clerk in th'
Recorders office under various re-
corders for a period OF approXimaten
twenty years.
In from 100000 TO $4,000 a year II
fees since the war period.
II was said today the audit Of IN
offlce accounts by the County Comp
troller Is made OF the books an
records as they appear, and that h
, does not go behind those records i
checking up financial items. Tn
= accounts OF county officers also ar
audited by the State Auditor OF AC
counts and by two special auditor
= appointed by the State judiciary.
Should a vacancy occur in the re
J corder's ofllce, the Governor is en-
powered to MI It, It Is understoo
there is no way OF removing Rec0rde
J Cole unless charges against hiT
should be sustained. He is presumed
Z In law, 10 be innocent until II
D proved otherwise in court.
( It was said today by one Of the f0l
U men under arrest, that owing TO th
rush OF business In the Ofilce OF n
cOrder OF deeds during the past eigl
teen months no audit OF the bO0l
Q could be made, the books being neede
+ in the Ofllce at all times. lt was int
: mated by this official that numerOt
! papers were recorded at the Oflll
2, which service had not been paid I,
v and in some instances there were pl
; pers on record fled by persons
D.; whom tab has been lost and therefor
i; no money could be collected on ther
e Business in the recorder OF deed
s ofilce was virtually at a stop tOda
r. Deputy Recorder William G.. Cole W
r. in the once for a short time late IN
morning and Walter Babcock, cler
also spent a short time at the ofiiC
The safe, however. was not open
k and no business could be transacte
II Clerks In the ofilce were workiI
J. this morning in recording what wO
!, was left from yesterday. Lawye
i had access to the record books.