The Treasury Scandal: Thirty-Three Indictments
Former City Treasurer Adolph Krug and several prominent associates are indicted in a massive public money corruption scandal.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
The grand jury yesterday returned twenty-two true bills against Adolph Krug, the defaulting city treasurer, and in each of several of the bills joined one other defendant with him, making in reality a total of thirty-three indictments. Against Adolph Krug, nine indictments were returned for larceny. Furthermore, Krug and several others are charged with 'using public money in a manner not authorized by law.' Those indicted with Krug include David T. Denny, Henry Fuhrman, Luther H. Griffith, and L. D. Ross. The indictments allege that Krug used public funds and that the co-defendants 'unlawfully, willfully, and feloniously' counseled and abetted the transactions. Judge Humes fixed the bonds for each defendant at $5,000 per indictment. The proceedings took place while the courtroom was nearly empty, and secret indictments were served by the sheriff later in the evening.
“Adolph Krug, the defaulting city treasurer... 'using public money in a manner not authorized by law.'”
This deep-seated graft scandal involving the city treasurer and prominent civic figures like David T. Denny highlights early Seattle’s struggle with political corruption. It serves as a reminder that the city's 'founding' families were deeply involved in the complex and often illicit financial machine of the 1890s.
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