Jasper County Democrat, Volume 3, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 April 1900 — County Investigation Matters. [ARTICLE]

County Investigation Matters.

Bluffton, Ind., April 6.—Judge J. 8. Dailey, as county attorney of Wells County, has filed his report, in which he states that officers owing the county money in any official capacity are liable on their official bonds, except in cases barred by the statute of limitation. W hen the books of the county were examined it was found that the shortages of various ex-county officers amounted to over $13,000, all of which, excepting those of ex Treasurers James P. Dean, J. E. Sturgis and William Cover, are within the six years’ statute of limitation. The county commissioners at Wednesdav’s session acted on the report of Judge Dailey concerning the investigation of the county books, by instructing the county attorney to notify all ex-county officials reported as short, except those barred by the statute of limitation, that if they did not pay back the amounts reported against them into the county treasury on or before May 1, suits will be brought against them. . . II II II Hartford City, Ind., April 7 The experts who examined the county officers’ books report deficits of $4,400, as follows: Ex-Coun-ty Clerk D. 0. Caldwell, $2,800; ex-Bheriff E. C. Covault, $800; exSheriff Jesse Bugh, $400; exCounty Auditor Painter, S2OO, and ex-County Treasurer John G. Wood, $lO7. The two former are Democrats and the three latter Republicans. The ex-officials all contend the deficit is due to their construction of the law in regard to fees. The Blackford County commissioners will take steps to recover the deficit. ’ II II II * Many will remember quite a

feeling that existed in court house circles here-in 1898 over the refusal of the commissioners.to allow Auditor Riggs some $240 claimed as due him for services as a member of the board of review, over ,and above his regular salary. The boacd expressed its willingness to allow the claim if it was just, and suggested that he bring suit to test that point, but he did not do so. Just lately, in some counties where there has been an overhauling and examination of the books, county officers who were allowed for service on the board of review are declared to have received such amounts unlawfully, and to be justly in debt to their respective counties in those sums, thus substantiating the position taken at that time by the commissioners of this county.—Pulaski County cratH II II The commissioners of Washington county have ordered fonder Treasurer T. B. Cauble, or his bondsmen, to pay into the county treasury $1,543, making a total of $2,503 toward the alleged deficit at the close of his term, which amounted to $3,291. —Indsapapolis Press.