Jasper County Democrat, Volume 2, Number 30, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 November 1899 — ANOTHER LAWSUIT! [ARTICLE]

ANOTHER LAWSUIT!

W. B. Burford Begins Action to Recover $714-53 A»r Stationery Furnished the County. W. B. Burtord, the Indianapolis book and stationery dealei* whose bills have been mentioned from time to time in this paper, has begun snit in the circuit court against the commissioners of Jasper county to collect $598.25 and $116.27, respectively. The former claim is that recently mentioned by us as having been cut from $608.25 to $95.75 at the August 1899, term of commissioners’ court. The latter is a claim dismissed by the commissioners at the September term. Following is a part of the complaint: “That the defendant through its agents and servants bought of this plaintiff, goods, wares and merchandise, to-wit:—law books, blank books, fee books, tax duplicates, stationery heretofore, between the 24th day of Dee., 1807 and the 15th day of Nov. 1808, sold and delivered by this plaintiff to this defendant at this defendants special instance and request and at divers times amounting to five hundred ninety-eight dollars and 25-100 dollars, and interest thereon from the 30th day of November 1888. a bill of particulars of whieh is filed herewith and made apart hereof, matted exhibit ‘A,’

“TW a verified claim for said goods was duly filed by this plaintiff with the Auditor of Jasper county. Indiana, on the 28th day of November, 1888, and afterwards to-wit. on the day of August, 1888, the said board of commissioners allowed said claim at $86.75, which said sum this plaintiff refused to receive in settlement therefor. “That said sum of $888.23 is now due end wholly unpaid, and there has been long and unreasonable delay in the payment thereof. “Wherefore plaintiff demands judgement for the sum of five hundred nine-eight and 28-100 dollars and interest thereon from the 30th day of November, 1888, and all other proper relief.'' Another paragraph of the complaint avers that plaintiff sold and delivered to said defendent supSlies between the 17th day of une, 1899, and the Bth day of August, 1899, to the value of $116.27, which is wholly unpaid, and on the 4th day of September, 1899, was dismissed by the board, etc., that there has been long and unreasonable delay, etc., and plaintiff asks for judgement for $116.29 and interest thereon from the Ist day of September, 1899.

It will be seen from the above that the supplies for which Mr. Burford sues in the first paragraph of the complaint were furnished during the time Jaspercounty had a contract with Wilson, Humphreys & Co., of Logansport, whereby said firm was to furnish EVERYTHING in this line for one year from September 11, 1897, for $1,450. and which amount they were paid in full. The “official organ” vigorously denied our statement made in* the campaign of last year, that supplies of this nature had been purchased from other firms during the period this contract was in force, but, like every other statement made by us in regard to county affairs, time discloses the truth of our assertions. For the benefit of our readers who have never seen the Contract made and entered into with Wilson, Humphreys & Co., on Sept. 11,1897, (Com. Rec. 10, Page 517), we republish same as it appears on record:

“In the matter of supplies for the several county offices. “Comes now Wilson, Humphreys a Co., of Logansport, Ind„ and submits proposal to the Board to furnish all blanks, books and stationery of ever kind and description and all other supplies for the Auditor, Treasurer. Sheriff, Clerk, Recorder, Surveyor, Superintendent of Schools, Prosecuting Attorney, Board of Review, County Assessor, Township Assessor, Board of Commissioners, Board of Gravel Road Directors, Board of Auditors, Election Boards, Boards of Health. Superintendent of Poor Farm, and supplies which the county is required to supply to Township Trustees, for one year for 51.450.00 payable quarterly. “Said proposal is now accepted and signed by the commissioner* and is made a part hereof." We have carefully examined the bill of particulars filed, and the supplies alleged to have been furnished were principally for the auditor, treasurer and county superintendent, with some items for the sheriff, surveyor and clerk, the latter probably not amounting to more than $lO. Following are the pencils and pens alleged to have been furnished the auditor alone during the period mentioned in the first bill: 1 gross Faber pencils No. X asm X “ pensNoi 300

W “ Dixon’s pencils .....3 00 2 “ pens.... 300 1 “ ’’ 150 M “ Golden Rod pencils 300 M “ Graphite pencils 225 H “ A. W. Faber's pencils 3 00’ 1 dom. anti-nervous holders...., lot 2 gross pens sot 1 “ Faber pencils 000 1 “ Golden Rod pencils 600 1 “ Pe*»» ..2 50 Total for pens and pencils .343 3 It will be seen that 676 lead pencils and 1,300 pens were furnished by Burford during a period of less than eleven months! Wilson, Humphreys & Co., were under contract to famish these supplier but what amount in addition te the above was furnished by them we are unable to state. We would ask the taxpayer to carefully ponder over the above figures and then ask himself if he honestly believes that all this stuff was really used daring this time. The bill of particulars also contains grain and cash rent leaser and many other articles for the auditor’s office not generally sapposed to be necessary for county use. Hanley & Hunt are Mr. Burford's attorneys. 100 good envelopes with your return card printed thereon for only 50 cents, at this office.