Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1921-08-12
GOVERNOR is ARRESTED
Len Small of illinois Submits to
Sheriff and Gives Bond.

weeks on CIle plea vi SAeSuliNC i'ii
munity, or that the king can do nc
wrong" as stated by his counsel, to-
day finally submitted to Sheriff Mester
after the latter besieged the state
capitol with deputies for several hours
The governor protested his arrest
until the last, charging persecution
and asserting his innocence, but the
sheriff of Sangamon county was ada
mant and insisted on taking the COVER
nor from the executive mansion to the
courthouse" where Abraham Lincoln
used to practice law, before accepting
the bonds There the governor gave
surety for $50, 900 and went his way to
await trial on the charge Of defraud-
ing the people of the state Of some ST.
100000, while state treasurer through
alleged failure to turn over to the state
the proper interest on state funds.
1t was a dramatic day in the capitol
of Illinois and the whole city was at
white heat for hours as the climax of
the long contest between governor
and county officers drew nearer after
| the governor had refused yesterday to
yield to service of the three warrants
held by the sheriff. The latter had told
him he would serve the papers today
or as soon thereafter as possible either
quietly or with any necessary effort.
Governor in Office.
When the sheriff went to the capitol
to perform his duty as directed by
Judge Smith, Of the. county court; Gov
ernor Small, attended by several ad-
vsers, was in his office and refused to
come out at the sheriff's request. The
sheriff then placed deputies around the
building to block any undeterred
egress of the governor and sat down
in the lobby to smoke until the chief
officer Of the commonwealth should
decide to emerge.
He announced that he had the ad-
vantage of the besieged man because
he had taken precautions to eat his
luncheon before going to the capitol
and laughingly remarked that he had
little else except the arrest Of the gov
ernor to occupy his time.
The governor finally sent out word
couple of hours after the luncheon
hour that the sheriff might come into
his office and serve the warrants, but
the sheriff declined, saying he was in
no hurry and would prefer to make the
arrest outside to avoid any technical
charge of interrupting executive busi-
ness. This tack Of the sheriff'was in
pursuance of the attitude adopted from
the time the indictments we're return
ed on July 20.
Crowds gathered around the state.
house as the afternoon wore on and
there was a holiday appearance with
in the structure as flashlights doomed
and the high rotunda filed with smoke.
But the governor kept at work in his
office sending out two lists of ap-
pointments during the evening.
AS the shadow of Linco!n's monu-
ment in the capitol yard grew long
under the declining sun, the chief ex-
ecutive finally sent out word that he
would surrender to the county officer
at the executive mansion at o'clock
if 1t could be arranged TO give bond at
once.
Truce Finally Arranged.
The capitulation was accepted by
Mester, who withdrew under the truce
with his troop Of deputies.
At o'clock the sheriff with his war
rants somewhat thumbworn from long
handling drove to the governors house.
Governor, 1 am here with the war
rants" he said when he met the gov
ernor. The sheriff then read the war
rants and said: Governor. you are
under arrest"
VERY well, what shall | do?" asked
the governor.
&. b. Gillespie of the governors
counsel then produced u bond which
had been prepared. and asked the
sheriff to take the SPreties in the man.
sion, but the latter declined.
You must go with me to the court
house." the sheriff declared.
Then the governor entered Mester's
automobile and went to the courthouse
where the bonds were signed by Roy
and Harry Ide, and c. H. Jenkins. The
governor then returned home.
Governor Small was indicted by the
Sangamon county grand jury July 20
on charges Of embezzlement of $780,
600 of state funds and conspiracy to
embezzle $2,000,000. The acts of which
he was accused took place while he
was state treasurer. Indictments also
! were returned against Lieutenant Gov
ernOr Sterling and Vernon Curtis
Grant Park, r., banker, both of whom
submitted to arrest and gave bonds.
Following his indictment Governor
Small came to Chicago, for a confer
ence with his advisers including Mayor
William II. Thompson. Later the gov
ernor notified Sheriff Mester that he
was willing to be arrested in Cook
county The sheriff replied that he
would wait to serve his warrants until
the governors return to Springfield.
Governor Small then began tour Of
| nf tho state highways dur