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About The Alliance-independent. (Lincoln, Nebraska) 1892-1894 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 20, 1892)
THE ALLIANCE-INDEPENDENT. THAT INVESTIGATION. Eewick'i Chargei Pally Confirmed Other Damaging Pacts Brought . Oirt-Boyd Writes a Letter- TWO MEH FLEE FROM THE STATE The Board Recommends That a Grand Jury Be Called Some Counts - Against the State Officers. The fcpccch made by Hon E. C. R'.w ir-k nn St t. 27th came to the remibl:- - x can party like a "clap of thunder from a clear sky' They wore just congratu lating themselves en the prospect of getting through the campaign without having any of their corruption shown up, but that bright prospect was sud . denly dispelled. Mr. Bewick's speech was the sensation of the campaign. It caused the hearts of the republican office-holders to grow sick, while their knees smote together with fear. So soon as they partially recovered their wits they looked about them for means to stay the on-coming disaster. "Ah, then and there was hurrying to -and fro. And whispering . with white lips, 'the foej they come," they come." ' . ( But for once their magic gall desert "ed them. They could think of nothing on-the spur of the moment, but to grasp their old weapons, slander and vitu peration, and attack the author of their troubles. Hence they hurled at Rew- ick's devoted head Eucti missiles, as "disreputable character,"udisappointed office seeker," "black-mailer," etc But all In-vain, f The news'flew. The peo ple talked and shook their heads. They did not care so much about Mr. .Rewick 'as the truth of his' nharyea. Then 0 , came Governor Boyd's letter demand ing an investigation. Something had to be done. At last the members of the board shook off their consternation sufficient ly to call au investigation. Mr. Rew ick came before '.the board and in a straight forward candid way laid be fore them an array of evidence which as he said, was enough to send more than one man to the penitentiary. Then Attorney-general Hasting under took to bulldoze Mr. Rewick and sig nally failed. . There was nothing left for the board to do but to call the wit nesses Mr. Rewick named and proceed with the investigation. Fortunately for the guilty parties, the investigation had to be adjourned for a week 4 on account - of Governor Boyd's absence. During that week what scheming was done will perhaps never be known by any save those who did it. At any fate when the investi gation was resumed Oct. 13, it was dis covered that two of the GUILTY MEN HAD FLED to parts unknown. Frank Hubbard, the man directly charged with the crooked work in the cattle purchases was nowhere to be found: and the same was true of Gorham Betts the man who had the coal contract. That these men fled solely on their own account is ab 'surd. They were undoubtedly conceal- - ' 1 . 1 . it. . A A i IV jed or raiiroaaea out. oi we smiwj in me interest of the men who had used them . as-pliant tools in robbing the stato. Then it appeared that a change had " cme over the board itself. The mem- "hera seemed more . resigned to their ate and made very little effort to hin der the witnesses from telling what they knew. It is not necessary to repeat the evi dence submitted. One - after another the charges of Mr. Rewick were taken up. The witnesses appeared, and ful ly confirmed the charges. Only in one or two minor points were his charges disproven, while a large number of equally damaging facts, not exposed by Mr. Rewick, vvtro brought to light And all this in spite of the fact that several of the most important witnesses ubaolutely refused to testify, and some others testified in tuch a way as to shield i he guilty parties. Dr. Knapp and Dan Lau!r with their attorney made great efforts to throw the blame on Hubbard who had fled; that they failed is amply shown by the report of the board. The investigation continued through the 12th, 13th, 14th and 15th. Right hero let it b3 said that great credit is due . GOVERNOR BOYD. Indeed there is a strong popular sus picion that the whole investigation would have proved a farce and a white wash if it had not been for Mr. Boyd He took a place among the questioners at the investigation and made a most vigorous and determined effort to get the wholo truth from every witness. It is an open secret among those who at tended the 'investigation, thai; the governor was several times on the point of dismisslng the whole affair and calling a grand jury. Undoubtedly the knowledge of this fact caused the members of the board to give reluctant aid in bringing out the facts. The recommendations of the board were mo doubt shaped if not forced by the following LETTER FROM GOVERNOR BOYD. Lincoln, Neb., Oct. 14, 1892. Gen tlemen of the board. Though I have no voice in your deliberations, I have been attending all the sessions of this investigation in my capacity as execu tive of the state, and officially interest ed in its proceedings. It is evident to me that the sittings could be prolonged indefinitely; but, inasmuch as this board has no power to compel the at tendance of witnesses, nor to compel witnesses to produce books or papers and as some of the most important witnesses have left the state, and inas much as the board has no power to pun ish guilty parties or compel them to refund to the state moneys unlawfully in their possession, I deem it proper that I state at thte ' stage of the pro ceeding that sufficient testimony has already been produced to convince me that the whole affair should be made the subject of an investigation by a grand jury; and I further declare it my purpose as governor of the state to bring the same to the attention of the prosecuting attorney of Lancaster coun ty. Very respectfully, James E. Boyd, Governor. To A. H. Humphrey, Chairman. In accordance with this suggestion of the governor, the investigation was cut short, and the following report submitted: the board's report. Lincoln, Neb., Oct. 15, 1892. rHon. James E. Boyd, Governor of the State of Nebraska.' Dear Sir: We have the honor to submit for your consideration a report of our findings, as well as the testimonv taken in the matter of inves tigating alleged irregularities in the management of the hospital for the in sane at Lincoln, Neb. The , investiga tion was besrun on the eta day of Octo ber, 1892, and was concluded on the 15th dav of October. 1892. As you will ob serve, the fullest latitude was given all witnesses and counsel. Much of the testimony is hearsay and irrevelant, but as we are seeking light upon the several sumects . under consideration, we deemed, best that no check or re straint be placed upon the testimony offered. First. We find that from the 7th day of December 1886, to the 23rd day of reoruary, iw Ur. William M. Knapp was the superintendent of said iDsane hospital, and that during all of said timeJ D. Laoer was the s'evrard. That among other things it is the du ty of the superintendent to employ all attendants, servants and such other persons as he deems necessary for the efficient management of the hospl'al, to have entire control or the medical, moral and die tic trea'ment of the pa tients, and to see that the several offi cers of the institution faithfully dis charge the duties respectively assigned to them. Second. We find that it is the duty of the steward, under the direction of the superintendent, but not otherwise, to make all purchases of supplies for the hospital, to keep the accounts. make engagements with, pay and dis charge employes, and personally super intend the farm, garden, grounds, stock, etc., etc. Ihird. 1 hat the supplies of all kinds are purchased, as far as practical, un der the contract system, that is to the lowest bidder, under the direction of the steward, and that when money is drawn in payment of supplies, furnish ed vouchers are first signed by the party furnishing the supplies in tripli cate, one of which goes to the auditor, one to the board of public lands and buildings and one to the superintend ent of the hosptal. On the voucher that comes to the board of public lands and buildings the superintendent makes a certificate in the following form: "I certify that the within ac count is just and correct and that it is a necessary and proper expense and has not been paid." lhls is signed by the superintendent and this is the bill upon which the board is required to act on the payment of hi Is Fourth. We find that when Dr. Knapp entered upon the discharge of his duties as such superintendent he employed one Frank Cir. Hubbard and that that said Hubbard continued in hs employ as farm boss and butcher so long as Knapp continued in charge of said hospital, and for sometime there after under the instruction of Dr. .bow man and it was the habit and custom of said Hubbard, with the knowledge of the superintendent and steward, to purchase cattle for the nse' of the hospital and to slaughter the same. That it was his practices in some in stances to induce the persons of whom he bought animals to sign vouchers in blank and afterward fill them up at a sum far in excess of the sum actually paid for the same and the difference appropriated to his own use. These raised vouchers were each duly certified by the superintendent to this board as just and correct. Of these raised vouchers discovered by this board were the following: ; J. P. Higgms, voucher $4od.l5 ac tually received, $370 15. G. A. Southwell, voucher $105, ac tually received, $75 75. 11. A. Smith, voucher ssis.io, actually received. $25. G. P. Loose, voucher $89, actually received $20. Frank Abbott, voucher $43.75, actu ally received, $28. U. W. Kaufman, voucher $oo, actually received $22. Benjamin Safford, voucher $66.25, actually received, $42. These sums evidenced by these cer tified vouchers were paid by the state, as is proven by the warrants intro duced in evidence. The vouchers nor anything else presented to this board at the time they were allowed, indi cated any raising or other juggling with the accounts. They were pre sented to this board fair on their face, and regular in every particular, duly certified by the officer whose duty it was to examine these accounts and certify to the board the amount justly due. Fifth. We find that the amount of coal purchased at the hospital during the year 1891 and up to the month of May, 1892, has been in excess of the actual amount used, and that there has been mismanagement of the part of the officers of the hospital regarding the coal supply. We were unable to probe the matter to the bottom for several reasons, all of which must be apparent to yourself, as you were present during the examination, among which, how ever, is that the board has no fund at its command f r persons or papers.' Sixth. Other irregularities in the purchase of supplies, the making and certifying of vouchers to the board, and in permitting subordinates to make contracts and handle voucher have appeared in the evidence. We therefore recommend that a searching investigation be held before a court of c mpetent jurisdiction of the several matters hereinbefore referred to at as early date as practicable, to tau end that all money unlawfully obtained from the sta'e may be recovered and all panies who have defrauded the state be brought to justice. A. R. Humphrey, John C. Allen, : ' . . J. E. Hill, George H. Hastings, Board of Bublic Lmds and Buildings. Homes and Irrigated Farms, Gardens and Orchards in the Celebrated Bear River Valle f on the Main Lines oi the Union Pacific and Central Pacific R. R. near Corinne and Sgden, Utah. Splendid location for business and in dustries of all kinds in the well known city of Corinne, situated in the middle of the valley en the Central Pacific R.S. The lands of the Bear River valley are now thrown open to settlement by the construction of the mammoth' system of irrigation from the Bear lake ad river, just completed by the Bear River Carnal Co., at a cost of $8,008,000. Tk com pany controls 100,000 acres of these fine anas and owns many lots aad busineu locations in the city of Corinne, and la now prepared to sell oa easy terms to settlers and colonies. The climate, soil, and irrigating facilities are pronounced unsurpassed by competent judges whe declare the valley to be the Paradise of the Farmer, Fruit Grower and Stock Raiser. N ice social surroundings, rood schools and churches at Coriinc City, and Home Markets exist for every kind of farm and garden produce ii the neighboring cities of Ogde and Salt Lake, and in the grsat mining camps. Lands will be shown from the local of fice &t the Company at Corinse. 15tf AUCTIONEERS. Z S. BRANSON, WAVERLY, NEB. LIVE STOCK AUCTIONEER. Makes gales in Nebraska and other states Best of references. Fourteen years experience. Prices reasonable, correspondence solicited and satisfaction auaranteed, BISCHEL BROS. FOR SALE. Long deep bodied U.S. P.O. PICS. Good color, short legs, broad back, good feet ind head. Alliance prices, satisfaction guaranteed 13tf Kearney, Neb. "t Furnas Co. Herd, I, t ri rnTTrni - biii Burma. m&WrmJ BEAVER CITY, NEB. Thoroughbreds exclusively. All ages, either sex. Sows bred. Stock guaranteed as repre sented. Prices right. Mention this paper. H. S. WILLIAMSON, Prop'r. J. M. ROBINSON KEJiESAW, ADAMS CO., KEB. Breeder and 6hip per of recorded Po- fT land umna nogs. Choice breedi stock for sale. Write for wants Mention Alliance L. H. SUTER s tfelierh. Neb. 3 - Breeder of fancy Po-k land China swine f and V. "R. fnwls Ma.l ioritv of Dies sired winw by Free Trades Best, remainder by Paddys Chip and Lytles Dandy. Free Trades Best is sired by Free Trade, the great show hog that was Bold for $800, being the highest priced hog In ex istence. Had a full sister to Free Trade In my , herd lor 3 years and have many fine sows from Iter, v L.H SUTER.
