The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1875-02-10
From the Orangeburg Free Citizen. Rep
The OransebHrg Frauds.


The Oranseburg Frauds.
4 RADICAL NEWSPAPER CONF ESSES
TIE WRONG. AND DEMANDS THE
PUNISHMENT OF THE wRONG-DOERS.
As yet. we get no report from the
investigatin" committee Of the Senate
in reference to our senator. In the
meantime al parties are interested in
the results. As far aS We know. the
siucere wish is that only the parties
guilty Of the wron@ should suffer the
punishment justly due them ior their
wrong-doin-. While some things seem
70 be involved in doubt and mystery,
others connected with our short-con-
incs are painfully obvious. That We
have suffered loss Of funds from our
county treasury 70 the no small amount
OF souic s224 900, al are compelled to
coucedc. It is also we'll known that
this simple loss from the treasury does
not reveal al in reference to the llle-
cal use Of county funds. There has
been i deep and constant shave on
county orders. \ poor school-tcach-
er with a small claim for hard-earned
money has been often obliged to sacri-
fee about fifty per cent. to get that Oh
der cashed. lie has been told that there
was no money in the treasury, and III
the meantime outside parties have been
found ready to purchase at large
discount. 1t is well known that such
2 continued and extensive speculation
in county paper cannot be carried on
short of the connivancc and co-opera-
ton of the county officer who has
charge of the funds. 1t is known
that when We had q county treasurer
who refused 70 debauch himself: bleed
the public and enrich himself and his
friends, he met with an opposition
from certain quarters that, if it did
not threaten his life, rendered his Of
fetal position scene of conflict and
discomfort which was beyond endu-
rance, and the Office was abandoned.
His successor found q more concenial
place as county treasurer, with many
friends ready to cooperate in pet fin
ancial measures that had been so stu
pidly retarded by his scrupulous pre-
decessor. The money and the friends
gave Judge Andrews a splendid ad-
vantage in entering the contest for
the vacant Senstorship. 1t was sharp
" contested, but these who know how
to speculate to get money, and how to
get money to speculate, were in the
lead. and the judge was elected. This
gave him the key to the coveted treas
ury, and how it was used is an item in
our financial history which is now ex-
citing much public attention. Here
tco are promincut certain facts that
cannot be overlooked. An inexperi-
enced young man was appointed,
through Judge Andrews, to the re-
sponsible position Of treasurer. Mr..
Williamson, who had served in that
capacity fer Judge Andrews was
Eumbert's chief clerk, and held key
to the safe. No person in the Office
could better know of its management
than Mr.. Williamson. If anything
was wrong to his knowledge he Was
in a position to Inform Judge An
drews, who could have the treasurer
removed at pleasure. But the inter
nal workings Of the Office are kept
carefully concealed, until funds have
escaped from its carefully guarded
vaults to the amount Of s24, 4,000.-
Then when the facts are forced upon
the public. they are asked to believe
that no one is guilty but the unfortu-
nate young man who has been taking
his official lessons under the guardian
ship Of experienced tutors. Hum
bert has been promised exemption
from punishment on certain conditions,
and in the meantime adroit plans have
been laid to ruin his testimony.
Now, in regard to this whole mat
ter, there is fearful responsibility
resting somewhere. No one believes
that Humbert is the only guilty party.
We DO not say that it beloDgsto Senator
Andrews; but we do say that if an honest
man he will court investigation of the
most unsparing scrutiny. He owes tt
to himself and to the Republican party
llc claims to represent. The interests
Of our county in its reputation and IL
nances demand that We show ourselves
anxious to protect the innocent and
punish the guilty. "Lct justice be
done although the heavens fall"