Cavalier County farmers press. (Langdon, N.D.) 1920-1921, 1921-07-28
100000 Steal is Charged
Against Illinois Executive
and Lieutenant.
BAIL FIXED AT $4,000
Grand Jury Returns Four True Bills
Involving Alleged Use of inter-
est on State Funds for Per-
sonal Gain.

Springfield, lI.-Governor Small,
1t was said, will stand on the
opinion of his counsel and refuse
to submit to arrest on warrants
charging him with embezzlement.
conspiracy and operation of a con.
fidence game as a result of indict-
ments of the governor, Lieutenant.
Governor Sterling and Vernon
Curtis, Grant Park, ILL.,, banker.
Springfield, Iu.-Warrants were is
sued for Governor Len Small, Lieuten-
ant Governor Sterling and Vernon Cur
tbs, Giant Park banker, following their
indictment on charges of embezzle-
ment. conspiracy and confidence game
through the alleged use of interest on
state funds for their personal gain.
-Four indictments were returned.
They covered charges of fraud by the
trio during the terms of Small and
Sterling in the state ~treasurer's office
between 1917 and 1921.
The first indictment charges the gov
ernor, lieutenant governor and Curtis
jointly with embezzlement Of $500, 900.
100000 Fraud Scheme Charged.
A separate indictment against Gov
ernor Small charged him with en-
bezzlement Of $4,000 while Lieuten-
ant Governor Sterling was individually
charged with embezzlement Of $780,
900. The fourth Indictment charges
the three with conspiracy and conf
dence game involving $2,O0O,O0O inter
est on state funds.
Small is thus involved in $3,200,0O0
alleged frauds, Sterling, $4,000, 900 and
Curtis, $4,000 .q
Alleged illegal operations by the gov
ernor, lieutenant governor and Curtis,
named in the indictments, conferred
around deposits Of state funds with the
Grant Park Bank" held by the grand
jury to have been a fictitious institu-
ton since 1908, when it ceased to func-
ton. &t
$4,000 Bail Per Indictment.
Individual bonds on each indictment
were fixed at $4,000 by Judge E. S.
Smith.
Governor Small was notified Of the
indictment at his Office through his
secretary, George Sutton. Sheriff Bald
win Of Winnebago county was instruct
ed to notify Lieutenant Governor Ster-
ling at his home in Rockford and the
sheriff of Kankakee county received
similar instructions of notification Of
Mr.. Curtis, who is a brother Of the late
Senator e. C. Curtis, conidant and col
league Of Governor Small for many
years.
Grant Park Bank Defunct.
The Grant Park Bank" Established
many years ago by Alonzo Curtis,
father of Vernon Curtis and the late
senator, although having ceased to
function several years prior to SmalPs
term as treasurer, was used by the al
legged conspirators as the agency
through which to make loans Of state
funds to Armour and company and
Swift and company, Chicago packers,
according to the indictments. Although
the packers notes drew Z and 8 per
cent interest, it is charged that less
than 2 per cent was turned into the
state treasury during the Small and
Sterling terms.
Under the law in operation the state
treasurer was required to obtain at
least 2 per cent on state funds; but ac.
cording to Attorney General Brundage,
who quashed the investigation, the law
did not permit the treasurer to use for
private gain any interest earnings in
excess of 9 pei cent.