Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1921-11-26
GENERAL.
FILES SUIT NAMING
five AS Defendants
Springfield ILL.,, Nov. 26.-(By the A. P.)-
Suits for accounting against five former state treas
urers alleging shortages approxmating So, 500 900
were started today by At
torney General Edward
]. Brundage. The suits

tOrney General edward
]. Brundage. The suits
cover the six terms preceding that of
the present treasurer who held office
between 1909 and 1921. State Audi
tor Andrew Russell, who was treas
urer twice during the period, is de-
fendant in two suits.
The other former treasurers involv-
ed are: Gov. Len Small, Lieut.. Gov.
Fred L. Sterling, William Ryan, Jr,
and Edward L. Mitchell
The Small, Sterling and Russell
suits were filed in the Sangamon
county circuit court at Springfield
their official residence. Suits against
Ryan and Mitchell were to be filed
today in Cook county. Bondsmen of
all the former treasur3rs were made
defendants. Disclosures made thru
the investigation of the state treasury
which resulted in indictment Of COY.
ernor Small Lieut.. Gov Sterling and
Verne S. Curtis, banking associate of
Gov. Small last July, furnished the
evidence on which the civil suits were
based, the attorney genera! cthces an
ncrnced
Similar To Criminal Cases.
The civil suits are similar to and
in fact cover the Same charges made
in the criminal cases pending against
Small, Sterling and Vernon Curtis, who
is brother Of the late Senator whose
death occurred in March 1920.
All of the bills charge thai the five
former treasurers made only two re-
ports each on interest earnings dur
ing their terms; thai the interest &C
counts We're not itemlzed but submit
ted in lump sums
Interest turned over TO the State by
these former treasurers according TO
figures given BY attorney Brurdage's
office follow:
Russell G909-1011l 500 306.42, Nit
chell 1911-1913) St66. .221.93, Ryan
f1913-1915l $1S0,95393, Russell tl9l5.
1910 $142,S8339
Small G917-1919) $4500i012,
Sterling 0919-1921) 1896. .t2185
COMPARISONS of these figures with
interest paid by John Smulski whose
term as treasurer extended from 1907
to 1909, We're made here today by the
Brundaee Office
Smulski, altho the law was not
passed until after his term begau,
paid in $163 j1497, according to the
Brundage figures Smulski made lis
returns quarterly.
Altho Sterlina's aggregate ratura
amounted to $99612t, the only avail
able records the bill continues, show
that he collected approximately $780,
600 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 unaccounted for exceeds one
million dollars,
The Sterling suit also contains the
charge that during the entire term
there were at all times, several mill
ion dollars on deposit with Dunlap.
Russell and Company Of Jacksonville,
bank in which Auditor Russell is IN
terested and that the treasury Office
holds no records showing payment OF
anv interest to the state by the Rus
sell Bank
Carried S245o0ooo on Books,
Records show, according to the AL
lOIHtN EPItlti, litbi tllt LNClu|C
monthly balances carried on tha
books during Sterling's term were
approximately $24.5O0000
The bill against Governor Small
contains many ALLEGATIONS similar tA
the Sterling bill It charges that Small
while treasurer, collected from the
packers over Sl00nG00 reported only
S450010 uHitemized and that interc@'
unaccouuted for is approXimatelt
! 81 600 600
Small's average monthly halanco
was approximately $14,c09,o00 Il
states
Bills against Russell, RYAN a70
| Mitchell contain substantially the
same general charges except as TO a.
mounts Each is charged with remov'
| ing records and failure to make
| itemized returns.
! The Monthly Balances.
Monthly balances. returns and col
! lections as set forth in the bill follow;
Returned Collection
| com nan