Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1874-07-16

The report of S. NJ. Burnham, ap-
pointed as special examiner of the
Holmes county treasury, has been re-
ceived by the Auditor of State, and
shows defalcations to the amount of
s23,
Mr.. Barnham reports having found
informality in the manner of keeping
accounts of receipts of taxes, the record
of receipts being kept On slips paper, of
and the only evidence of disbur5e-
ments being the Auditors vouchers.
Otherwise the treasury, SO far as the
Treasurer is concerned, was in satis-
factory condition.
At the Auditors Office demand was
made for all books and papers pertain
ing to school funds since and including
the wear 1865. The Auditor claimed
that returns of youth of school age, eX-
cept for the year 1873, had been lost,
and failed to produce the warrants on
the treasury prior to 1872, claiming
that the stub books from which the
warrants had been taken were acci
dentally sold TO a paper peddler. All
the township clerks and tfeaSurers of
Holmes county were then subpenaed
and examined, and from their teSti-
mUny, together with the books and pa
perS Produced by them, it was discOv-
cred that distribution of the school
fund has not been made since 1865, and
that the distribution to each township
has been almost uniformly less than it
Was entitled 10, except the township of
Millersburg, which received an excess
ofit5 quota.
Making due allowance for this ex-
cess there has still been drawn from the
State Treasury ON account of the school
fund, by the present and preceding
Auditor, Sl9,413 80 more than has been
distributed, viz: sc, ,645 90 by Auditor
George Reed, and $12,76S % by the
present Auditor, Joseph II. Newton,
who has also been clerk of the N[illers-
burg district since 1866, and whose Off
ciaI records as such are mutulated, pa
geS ii to q inclusive being torn out.
"Millersburg," says the Examiner,
sis undoubtedly the leak through
part found its way oui Of the Treasury,
and into the pockets OF those not eUti-
tied thereto. That there has been
systematic effort to mutilate and de-
stroy papers aud records, and to SO
ACOp dCCOuHtS do ~ CONGT vi tDiS ifduu,
is abundantly shown by the evidence
adduced before me-"
1.-THE AUDITOR" continues Mr.. Burn
ham, "has increased the returns of
school youth made to him by town.
ship clerks, each year since 1865, and
certified them so increased to the
School Commissioner. On these false
returns, raised in some instances 80 per
cent above the original, money was
drawn from the State Treasury. BY
this means the Auditor was enabled to
and did generally apportion to the sew
eral townships what was due them
upon the true enumeration, in fire.
quent instances going above and in a
few below the true amount. This
amount therefore belongs to the State,
and when paid the State will be still
loser on account OF the 'springing.'"
"The amount due the State from
George Reed during his term, from
1866 TO 1870, on account of money
drawn by him and not distributed ac-
cording to law, including interest to
date, is $9,050 OF. The amount due the
State from Joseph III. Newton, on like
account during his term of Office, from
1870 to the present time, including in-
terest to date, is $i4, ,591 81"