The Evening Argus

THE DAVENPORT DEFALCATION CASE.
Fluke Cleared by the Suicide's Confession.

As was announced by a special dispatch
in Saturday's Argus. The celebrated trial
of Thomas K. Fluke, ex County Treasurer
of Scott County, Iowa, for embezzlement of
County funds, closed very summarily on Sat-
urday afternoon, by a most unlooked for and
startling occurrence, that had the effect of
producing a most profound sensation in that
usually quiet city. For over forty days, this
case (the civil and criminal) has been before
the court and just as it was drawing to a
close, Judge Linderman testified to the effect, that Fluke's deputy-Brotherlin, who com-
mitted suicide about a year ago, admitted to
him
that
he
did
the
stealing,
and
"doctored
the
books"
to
cover
the act, and that Fluke was innocent. There
was a profound sensation in the court. The
attorneys held a consultation and the re-
sult was the Jury, under instructions from
the court returned a verdict of "not guilty"
without leaving the box. The defendant
bowed his head upon the table and wept
like a child, as also did his wife and
son
present, and the attorneys were also visibly
affected.
The news spread through the city and
was the general theme of comment, and
many there were who did not conceal their
disgust for the man who had thus held the
key to Fluke's deliverance for twelve long
months, while public opinion was branding
him as a villain, and causing himself and
family so much anguish and disgrace. How
could he see all this misery and see the
county
sinking
thousands of dollars
every day in trying to find out the real culprit, and be all the time drawing a fat salary from the treasury and thus hold the key to
all the mystery.
There remains but one
thing more, and that is, for another great recipient to come forward and tell what disposition was made of the missing parts of the
"stolen books."
Let all the acts in this
political drama be cleared up. What shall
we think of that spirit in man that can sit
quietly by for twelve long months and play
pitch or cribbage while his neighbor is being
dragged down to perdition. It is said Nero
fiddled while Rome burned, but it was not
equal to this.