Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 63, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 January 1909 — SHORT $7,5000, [ARTICLE]

SHORT $7,5000,

Was Ex-County Treasurer M Doc.” Nichols. COMMISSIONERS DEMAND AMOUNT Shortage, After Deducting *1,500 Due Him, Leaving the Net Shortage Mt *8,549.47. At the meeting of the County Commissioners this week the matter of the shortage of ex-treasurer, S. R. Nichols, which has been quiet rumor for the past year, was taken up and a demand made that he make good. The books show, according to the record made by the commissioners, tfiat Nichols was short >5,026.48, but on examination and checking over the accounts by his daughter Bertha Nichols with some assistance from Auditor Leatherman, shows some-credits due him amounting altogether to >1,525.01, leaving the net shortage, >3,549.47. The shortage was really $7,526.48, according to the , figures of Nichols’ own daughter, and has existed no telling how long, but at least one year, as he has been out of office that long. There was paid >2,500 last Monday, we understand, which reduced the apparent shortage to >5,026.48. Of the credits as shown by the figures here given, only some >79 was in the auditor’s office, all the sest being mistakes in the office. - - The credits are due to clerical errors and are as follows: June term 1907, Knowlton Stone Roads, >3,460.83, through a clerical error, was allowed at >2,460.83, making a. mistake of >I,OOO in Nichols’ favor. May 4, 1904, interest on South Barkley gravel road >4OO, coupons were never filed, making >4OO more due Nichols. Spring collections 1906, same road, figures transposed from >948.34, to >984.34, making >36 due Nichols. Bonds Garrison ditch due 1 907. >1,725.54, been >l,754.95. Due Nichols >29.01. penter tp., duplicate, certain tax December, 1904, settlement Carcollected was >17.13, when it was charged against Nichols at >77.13. Due Nichols >6O. Bonds Nessius ditch, error of >4B in Nichols* favor. Nichols had. very little to do with the treasurer’s office in the way of keeping the books or making out tax recqjpts, and while he was treasurer in name and probably handled a part of the money, this was about as far as it went. He went out of office January 1, 1908, after two terms of two years each, and it is evident that the accounts were in bad shape. Last spring Ex-Auditor Hayworth of Winamac, and a Mr. Smith of Logansport made a sort of an examination of the ex-treasurer’s accounts, at his instance and expense, and while we are not aware of the nature of their report made to him, we are informed that they told Auditor Leatherman that the accounts agreed to a penny. Just what a real, thorough expert examination of the county records would disclose can only be conjectured. The statement made by the Republican that the commissioners had ordered an expert examination of the books and accounts of the extreasurer is not correct. No such examination was ordered or contemplated, so far as we can learn, but the record was written up so that if there should be an investigation made at some future time and it is shown that Nichols was not owing the amount, now stated, he is to be refunded same without having to brihg suit. Neither is the Republican’s report z correct that the net shortage of >3,549.47—after >2,500 had been paid and the credits allowed—-has been paid into the county treasury correct so far as The Democrat was able to learn yesterday morning. Nichols is generally believed to be in rather hard straights financially, and whether he can make good or the shortage will fail on his bondsmen is a question. ,