The Wrangell sentinel. (Wrangell, Alaska) 1909-current, 1949-10-21
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THE SENTINEL
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territorial funds during the tenure
of Oscar G. Olson as treasurer from
April l, 1895, to May z, 1949, to-
tailed $43,351.91, according to a
final report submitted this week
by Arthur Anderson Company, an.
ditors, Seattle, who have been au-
diting the territory's books. The
auditors first report, made in May
indicated a shortage of a little
over $3.50 for the last bienniun.
Authorized to go back to the be-
ginning of 0lson's term, the al
ditors have come up with the new
figure. The report is being turned
over to District Attorney Pat Gil
more for criminal action. Olson was
previously charged with embezzle-
ment following the first report and
bound over to the grand jury un-
der $4,000. Meanwhile, the terri
tory ia moving to collect from the
bonding company. Olson as treas
urer until May of this year, when
he resigned, was under 5000, 900
bond.
While the auditors report totals
the alleged shortages, or what they
term Unauthorized Withdrawals"
as $43,35i.91, it refers to other
transactions to which they were
unable to find answers because the
records had been destroyed.
These transactions dealt with the
handling of liquor stamps and in
Volved amounts totaling over $780,
600. The auditors said there ap-
peared tc be no way of determin-
ing whether certain agents who
handled liquor stamps for the ter
ritory during the years when IL
qnor stamps were in use had made
final settlements to the territory
They reported one incident of an
agent making payment with a bum
check for 5000 which had been
carried as a cash item for "a couple
of years and then mysteriously dis
appeared. They reported a total of
$26, 245.44 in deposits which ap-
peared to have been made at banks
of which there were no records in
the treasurer's office. They said
there was apparently no effort at
restitution but that there was in
dication of effort at concealment.
The unauthorized Withdrawals,
according to the report, began back
in 1897, two years after Olson took
office, April 1, 1885 The amount
at that time totaled only 1896 and
some odd cents. From then on,
the unauthorized Withdrawals grew
through the years until in the last
four years they amounted to sub
stantial sums.
Four audits of territorial books
were made during those years, two
by James C. Cooper, one by Archie
Belts of Juneau and one by j. A
Stern. Cooper is now serving a sem
tence at Mcneil Island penitentiary
for embezZlement in connection
with income tax troubles and Stern
is dead. The last audit was made
by Stern in 1914. No audits have
Oeen made since that time until
this year, due to lack of funds be-
ing appropriated for that purpose.
In checking certain deposits
made to the treasurer's office by
other agencies, the auditors said
they were unable to verify because
the agencies concerned appeared to
have no record of the transactions.
The agencies were not named III
the report.
Apparently there are no poems
in the Pribilofs. At any rate, that's
what the inquiry commission which
went ont there recently indicated
on arrival back at Anchorage.
Members of the group told the
Associated Press they would refute
the implication made by Oliver La
Fargo, president of the Association:
of American Indian Affairs, tina
the natives of the Pribilofs may
be in virtual peonage." Member:
withheld further comment and in
dicated statement would BIZ
forthcoming from Mark A. Dawbel
of New York City, executive secre
tary of the Home Missions Council
of North America and director q