The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-12-31
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and s cents. Twelve dollars and
forty cents. Twenty-six copies Of
Sunday Star 10 cents. total $3.50.
Grand total, SIS. Signed, Crane
Company, per Mrs. Viola Ball"
The thirteenth count charged
Smith with intent to defraud the
State by making out and filing in
the auditors office a claim for
services in securing records at
Washington, D. c., which amounted
to $36. This was also signed by
Viola Ball. The count further
charged that the claim was so made
out that Smith also procured a war
rant from the State for $50 and $50,
a total of $92.
Smith, former Marion County
auditor. was appointed adjutant
general Jan. 0, 1917, by Governor
James p. Goodrich and reappointed
Jan. 10, 1921, serving eight full
years. He was held in high regard
by officers and men of the Indiana
guard and was honored with the
presidency of the Adjutant Generals
Association of the United States.
During his eight years as adjutant
general many Improvements in the
management of the Indiana guard
were accomplished. He directed the
work of compiling the lists Of Indi-
ana soldiers OF the World War. in
itself a monumental task. During
his second term Of office he was
married.
Since his retirement from public
office Smith has built up a whole
sale poultry and dairy business. He
has been active in Republican poll
tics for more than twenty-five years.
Cash Discrepancies
Cash discrepancies OF $14, 954.16 in
Smiths accounts and a clals1 of
SIS. 735 against Smith by the War
Department audit bureau were re-
vealed June 20 in a report to
Lawrence f. Orr, chief examiner OF
State board Of accounts by A.. b.
Walsh and b. B. Mcdonald, ex.
aminers.
The $14,954 item represents
charges Of $13,S03 against Smith
personally and 81 $50 against others,
but which revert to Smith. While
the report covers the period from
Jan. 10. 1921 30 Jan. u, 1925, ex-
aminers checked from the time
Smith took office. Shortage of
SS,4S5 which is charged against
Smith is alleged by examiners in
connection with the purchase and
disposal OF army uniforms.
To reimburse National Guardsmen
for clothing taken into Federal
service in the World War Smith is
said to have drawn a voucher in
Sept. 1919 for $22,332 against the
State, which was $6,524 in excess Of
the mount necessary.
Proceeds from the vouchers were
deposited in a local bank to the
credit of Smith as adjutant general.
At the end of 1921 with a record
balance of $13,425, checks to the
amount Of $14,546 were drawn for
purposes which the report described
as foreign to the law"
Examiners said shuffling of the
accounts in a ~haphazard way
brought about the shortage. The
second largest State charge is one
for $4,e27 in connection with de-
tachment of guardsmen sent to
Staunton, Ind, Aug, 1922, by War
rem T. McCray, then governor, when
coal miners there struck.
Missing Equipment
Officers Of 151st Infantry were re-
quired to make lists of lost Army
equipment. Smith is alleged to have
drawn checks payable to the officers
for missing equipment and directed
them to return the checks to him.
They were then deposited in another
bank in the Harry B. Smith cloth
ing account" Later his money was
and placed in the State
treasury clothing account to cover
an existing shortage. examiners al
Examiners said on interviewing
subordinate officers they learned the
Government never released the
charge against them for missing
equipment. Some of the equipment
shown by Smiths records to have
been lost included o~vercoats, al.
though the strike was in August,
and cavalry equipment. when no
cavalry men were on the expedition.
Many checks drawn out Of the
military fund were made payable to
Smith himself, the report said.
Services indicated on
receipts presented and filed by Smith