Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 218, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 September 1920 — KELLY DENIES SHORTAGE [ARTICLE]

KELLY DENIES SHORTAGE

MANAGER OF RAUB GRAIN ELEVATOR NOW AT FRANKFORT—DENIES SHORTAGE ' < Lee Kelley, former manager of the Raub Grain company’s elevator at Raub, Ind., who disappeared two months ago, leaving the books of the company in confusion and an alleged shortage of $70,000 in his accounts, has arrived in Frankfort to visit his wife and family, who went to that city immediately after he left Raub so mysteriously. Mr. Kelley has offered no explanation of his long absence, it is said, but insists that he . did not misuse the funds of the company. Frankfort newspapers, in mentioning Mr. Kelleys arrival in that city, say that he has been cleared of the.charge of having left a deficit in the Raub Grain company's funds. One Frankfort paper says: ‘‘Mr. Kelley has been entirely exonerated of the embezzlement of which he was charged, a complete I audit of the books 1 having failed to disclose a shortage. Mr. Kelley is -visiting here before taking a new . position which he has been offered. Auditor’* Statement. A newspaper has communicated with the Raub Grain company Wednesday regarding the Kelley case and was referred to Lemuel

1 i-u——-u.--.fc Shipman, of Fowler, who is stiH at work on Kelley’s books. Mr. Shipman when interviewed by telephone said:" “The audit is pot yet complete but we are in position to answer questions. We know that the grain company, as a result of Mr. Kelley's manipulations, is badly involved. The Sawyer Grain company, of Chicago, and the McCardle, A Bright company, of Indianapolis, have filed claims for $60,000 against the Raub company. Whether they can collect or not remains to he seen. It will take a brittle in the courts to determine who shall stand the losses. “The question of liability for the money that has been lost remains unanswered. We know that the shortage in the accounts is very heavy. So far as I know there has been no step taken to bring any criminal' or civil action against Mr. Kelley. The company probably will be able to weather the storm and. the courts must decide who must pay this money.” It is said that Kelley holds that the grain company losses were incurred through legitimate ttansactions during his term as manager.