The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1875-08-05
rs Il A COnSpiraCY"
On page 248 of the Compi

On page 24S OF the Compiled
Laws of 1871, we find the follow
ing:
"SEC. 50. The Prosecuting Attorneys
shall scvcrally receive such cOmpeils;l-
ton for their services, as the Board of
Supervisors of the proper county shall,
by an annual salary or otherwise, from
time to time, order and direct"
Most of our readers are aware of
the attempted prosecution of sew
eral citizens of the west side of
Lake county, for alleged "conspir-
acy;" that the Prosecuting Attor-
ney either neglected or refused, or
both, to provide security from the
complaining witness, for costs; that
the whole case was promptly
quashed by Judge Wheeler; but not
until the better part of 500 costs
to taxpayers had been made, be-
sides the trouble and expense
caused the parties arrested. 1t will
further be remembered that at a
session of the Board of Supervisors,
held June 18th, the following pre-.
amble and resolution was adopted:
"WHEREAs, ID. C. Warner, Prosecut-
ing Attorney, authorized Justice
Whitcomb to enter prosecution
against certain parties for conspiracy;
making unnecessary expense in the
amount of 1924, therefore be il
"ResOtUed, by the Board of Super
visOrs, that his salary he reduced i'm
said amount of Eighty-three and Twcn-
ty-four Hundredths Dollars"
1t may perhaps be true that the
above action of the Board was pre-
mature; but there is no question
that it was intended to be = bona
tide decrease of the salary of the
Prosecuting Attorney, to the ex-
tent of 1924. We are informed
that there is law, or a rule, requir-
ing the County Clerk to notify the
County Treasurer of all changes in
salaries of county officials. This,
Towner has failed to do; but on the
other hand, issues a sub-voucher to
Warner, as usual, treating with ut
ter contempt the action of the
Board.
Although there may have been
some Irregularities in the proceed
ings, yet enough has been done by
the Board of Supervisors to show
plainly and Enthusiastically that, as
body, the Board has hired for one
year, the building in Baldwin,
owned by G. IL. Chick. When,
however, Towncr is requested to
issue u sub-vouchcr for rent due on
the quarter just past, he positively
refuses to do so. His main reason
for refusal is, in substance, that it
would be an admission, OIL his part,
that the steps to procure the build
ing were legal and proper. Shades
of Blackstone! Here's an ex-
FOUNDER of the law, for you! And,
pray, how long since the clerk of
the Board of Supervisors became
the judge of the legality and cor
rectncss of their measuresY We
had supposed the clerk simply an
agent of the Board; but if he is the
head, and has power to veto any
act of the Board he sees fit, we
move that some other parsonage
than Augustus Towner be placed
in the position.
Never, we venture to say, in the
past or future history of Lake coun-
ty, may be found such record as
that made by certain county off,
Gals within the past three months.
In a candid review of the whole
matter, we are compelled to say
that it looks greatly as if a COM
plcte conspiracy had been formed,
to prevent the people of Lake coun-
ty from carrying out their wishes
in regard to moving the County
Seat. People who love peace and
harmony; who delight in seeing JUS
tice meted out, what do you think
of it? Is it conspiracy" or not?