The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-08-27
PINKLEY's CONSCIENCE,
A Question Of vsracity Between Him
and Krell,
Krell Refuses to Show the Public
= Records,

Krell Refuses to Show the Public |
Records.
One day last week, Justice Pinkley, one
Of the members Of the unauthorized and il
legal meeting of town auditors, on the 22d
ult, and who took illegal pay for his SER
vices suggested to an ARGUS reporter
that he would do well to look at the town
books and see if there was any credit for
money returned. Pinkley said he had re-
turned to Krell the oyercharge which he
had taken. He said that immediately af-
ter the auditors meeting Krell paid all
the bills allowed. but after The ARGUS
showed that they had taken more than the
law authorized them to take, Krell brought
him book with report written up in
the book, for the auditors to sign, and in
this report their per diem was carried out
at the legal sum $3.50 day. and that he
signed it and paid back the half dollar to
Krell.
The reporter called on Krell and asked
to see the.township treasurer's cash book.
Krell replied that that was a private ac-
count; that he didn't keep any regular
book he only had memorandum on pa
per. He said he didn't propose to show
anything to THE ARGUS unless he was
obliged to. He didn't know of any law
requiring him to show the town books to
anybody, If he will look at Sec. 5, Of Art.
XIII, of the Revised Statutes, entitled
Township Organization, he will find that
all the accounts audited or rejected shall
be kept, with the certificate of the audi
tors, on file '.Jor the inspection of any o,
the Inhabitants of the tom. They shall also
be produced by the town clerk at the next
annual meeting. and shall there be read by
him" These are the words of the law,
All the books and papers belonging to the
town are public property, and any citizen
has right to inspect them at any time. Of
course when not interfering with the du.
ties of public officers.
The reporter then asked to see the rec.
ord or report of the auditors at the last
meeting. Krell replied that it was no
signed by the board vet. He did show
the town clerks record (the clerk is absen
and his books and papers are in Krells
charee) which was not approved by the
board of audit, and in that the per diem
was recorded at 81 per day.
The reporter then asked to see the bool
which Pinkley said he signed, and Krel
replied that Pinkley had signed no book
and he denied that Pinkley had paid hin
back any money. Here lisa slight discrep
ancy, between him and Pinkley, whicl
they will do we'll to reconcile.
The reporter then asked to see the bool
which he (Krell) carried to Pinkley's ofic
the other day, and which Pinkley said h
signed. Krell replied that the book wa
at Beardsley's. The reporter went t
Beardsley's and.i was not there. Boards
ley is at Quincy, and the reporter was in
formed that all public books and paper
were with Krell. Here also seems to b
; something wrong. Did Krell tell the trut
when he said that book was at Boards
, ley's? Or was the reporter misinforme
when he called there to see it?
e Mr.. Sup'r Krell need not attempt
cover up the illegal doings Of his board {
t audit--he can not do it. He, and the ba
i ance of the board, had best refund to II
+ town that little grab they made, and II
u and conduct the public business, hereaite
/, according to law.
l. ?. S.-Since the CONVEX sation betwet
|. Krell and the reporter, Krell went to Pin
d ley's office and said: What did you t.
that ARGUS reporter that you paid 4
.e back that money for?" Pinkley repli
g. that the reporter asked him the pla
question, and he, being like George Was
ington, couldn't tell lie.
"a Mr., Pinkley has taken a commendat
n course in returning his share of the 'gral
- AOl TIC idS6 uSoIluS' AAo has uOt IIlSu
q shirk responsibility for his acts or to eva
i; the truth or 10 cover up anything
% Krell has. But Mr.. Pinkley has not flu
ID purged himself yet. He has taken
same ''grab" at previous meetings and
ed the money in his pocket and it belongs
ee the people. Let him look up the numb
as of meetings and return the money he l
OF lawfully took, and make clean breast
+. it.
How is it with the other members of t
re auditing board? Have they returned t
ng money they unlawfully took from the p'
he pies treasury? They had best do it,
"a they wish to clear their skirts.
p And how is it with the clerk and ott
%. town officers? Do they propose to 7
rs back into the treasury the money they l
ne lawfully took from the people?
to The people are watching this busine