Jasper County Democrat, Volume 13, Number 84, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 February 1911 — WANTS OFF TRUSTEE’S BOND [ARTICLE]

WANTS OFF TRUSTEE’S BOND

Fred Karch, of Walker Twp., Having More Trouble FAILED TO MAKE REPORTS To Surety Company of Receipts and Expenditures Of His Office and Balances In Bank, As Agreed, Says Complaint Filed Against Him in the Circuit Court To Be Relieved of Further Liability. Township Trustee Fred Karch of Walker tp., is again in the limelight, this time because of falure to make agreed upon reports to the National Surety Co., of New York, who went on his official bond, and suit has been filed in the circuit court by the bonding company for release from further liability. The complaint alleges that defendant, at the time of plaintiff furnishing said bond, Jan. 19, 1909, promised and agreed to render to said company, whenever it should require, a statement showing all receipts and disbursements of his office during any fixed period and balances on hand in bank or banks, covering said balances ; and upon failure to do so he agreed to pay the premiums as set forth, as well as all the costs and Expenses of any kind incurred by said company, in investigating, resistng, adjusting and payingclaim or demand made against -him or his estate. Plaintiff avers that defendant has wholly failed and refused to render an account of his receipts and disbursements, etc., and that by reason of such failure on' his part to comply with the conditions of the bond, plaintiff feels insecure and asks to be released from further liability and that it have judgment for costs and other proper relief. Mr. Karch, it will be remembered, was reported some S7OO short last spring by the field exa i : ners who examined tlie township trutees’ offices in this county, hy reason of his books showing certain balances that he did not have in bank. They also found a number of other irregularities that should not have existed. The amount of the shortage was paid and there the matter ended, apparently. No action was ever taken, to remove him from office and the matter had been almost forgotten. Just what has prompted the bonding company to seek relief fpm the bond at this time is not apparent, but the examiners reported that he was very loose in his business methods and there are probably certain matters that have not yet become public which prompts the action. Mr. Karch is a republican and was appointed to fill out the unexpired term of Albert Bouk, democrat. He was nominated by the republicans to succeed himself and was elected in 1908. His term would expire Jan. 1, 1913.