Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 35, Number 38, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 January 1903 — A Lamentable Discovery. [ARTICLE]

A Lamentable Discovery.

A Big Shortage in the Finances at the 4 County Asylum. The many friends of that genial, kind-hearted, whole-souled man, and almost surpassingly goo 1 and efficient poor farm superintendent, Theodore F. Clark, and that includes practically everyone that knows him,have been gieatly shocked and surprised at the fact that a very serious shortage bad been discovered in the amount of money reported by him as received from the products of the county farm. It was accidentally learned that the proceeds of certain cattle sold from the farm had not been properly Accounted for, and the county commissioners then set on foot an investigation. A total shortage of about SI,OOO was discovered. This sum Mr. Clark has paid into the county treasury, to the credit of the poor farm, with the understanding that if the shortage proves to be less than that amount the excess was to be refunded. A new superintendent will be app'iiuted, at the commissioners’ meeting in Feb-

ruary. Mr. Clark has been one of the very best of our many excellent poor farm superintendents. He has managed the inmates with unfailing patience and kindness and yet with the firmness necessary in dealing with unfortunates of that character, He and bis excellent wife have kept the house and grounds in apple-pie order, and done everything possible for the health and comfort of the inmates. In working and managing the farm, Mr. Clark has also been wonderfully careful and successful; and hence that he should have made a mess of the finances is all the more surprising and aU the more a misfortune, both to himself and to the county. For though the money loss is made good; it will be hard indeed to replace his management with another equally as good in all ways. But of course, under the circumstances, the commissioners could do nothing less than insist upon a change.