Jasper County Democrat, Volume 8, Number 25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 September 1905 — STATEAUDITOR'FIRED' [ARTICLE]

STATEAUDITOR'FIRED'

Governor Hanly Demands His Resignation and Then Declares a Vacancy. A f WARREN BIGLER GETS THE POST Man Removed Charged with “Violation of Law and Grose Betrayal of Public Trust.” Indianapolis! Bept. 15. Declaring that Governor Hanly. had made charges against him which are false and cannot be substantiated, Wiliam B. Wickard, secretary-treasurer and general manager of J. H. Murry & Co., says he will bring a suit for damages against the governor. - ■* Indianapolis, Sept. 15. Alleging that David E. Sherrlck, auditor of 6tate, is guilty of “a plain and inexcusable violation of the law and a gross betrayal of public trust” in that he invested funds belonging to the state in private affairs to the extent of about $145,000, Governor Hanly issued an executive order, in which he took cognizance of a vacancy in the office and appointed Warren Bigler, of Wabash, as Sherriek’s successor. This in effect amounts to a removal of Sherrlck by the governor, though the official statement is not made that way. Governor Has Been Investigating, The governor gave Sherrlck until noon to make his settlement. This was not done, and the governor, after having asked for resignation three times, effected the removal. Sherrick has not been arrested as yet, and in his statement Governor Hanly did not say that such action was contemplated. In a forma! statement Issued relative to the matter the governor says he has been investigating the eontlltions in the auditor’s office since the last of August, having received information that Sherrick had not made the July settlement for the state’s funds, whieh had accumulated from Jan. 1 to July 1, 1905. Value of the Assets Discredited. He immediately asked for a settlement, which was made. This amount was about $2:15,000. In addition to this amount the auditor in his statement to the governor admitted that he was at that time chargeable_with state funds paid in since the July settlement amounting to $145,197.80, for which he filed a schedule enumerating the assets he had to meet this amount which he owed to the .state—These items included’Viotes. stocks and securities amounting to $152,883.33, of which, according to the governor’s letter, only $37,335.01 could be realized on. Bigler in Charge of the Office. Later in the day Sherrlck forwarded his resignation to the governor, whieh was immediately accepted. Upon receipt of Bigler’s acceptance he was notified to nrrnnge for his bond as soon as possible, in order that he might take charge of the office at once. This was done, and Bigler became auditor of state this morning. Willard 8. Wickard, secretary and treasurer of J. H. Murry & Co., hardwood lumber dealers, who is mentioned in the governor’s statement denied that tlie indebtedness of J. 11. Murry & Co., to the auditor of state was In any way irregular. PAPER THAT IS 128 YEARS OLD Copy of the Boston Journal of March 12, 1777—Describes the Historic “Boston Massacre.” Kokomo, Ind., Sept. 15. W. E. Blacklldge, a member of the hoard of school trustees of this city, lias presented the Kokomo public library with an original copy of the Boston Journal of March 12, 1777. The paper was brought to Howard county seventy years ago by Henry Grantham, n pioneer justice of tlie peace. It was given by him to tlie late Clark Kennedy, of this city. Twenty-five years ago Kennedy gave the paper to John Bateman, who is still a resident here. Bateman presented the paper to Blacklldge a fortnight ago. It is age yellowed nnd brittle, and lias to be handled with great care Jest it fall to pieces. It is a three-col-umn folio, a size never seen in these later days of newspaper making. It presents many typographical curiosities and many old ideas of makeup. Its most interesting news feature is nn account of the Boston massacre, whieh took place just a week before the paper was issued. Its display advertisements nre nearly all for seine twine, cod lines, garden seeds and spermaceti candles. Frog Cries Like a Child. Anderson, Ind., Sept. 15.—There is a frog In Anderson that nas a voice so much like theA'olce of a child that several persons were misled recently. They were passing a vacant house on the bank of White river, when they heard plaintive cries resembling the cry of a baby in distress, and hurried to the supposed infant’s aid. Investigation. however, showed that the cries came from a frog that was firmly held by a snake. Family Is Sorely Afflicted. Evansville, Ind., Sept 15. A child of Burtls King is dead of diphtheria, making the tMrd death in the family in a week. Three other children in tbe same family are slmliaily stricken, and are likely to die.