The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-09-22
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
SEPTEMBER SESSION.

I
the position of Inspector of mines by numerous
candidates, reported that the committee ha'
made some progress. number OF gentlemen
had been examined rs to their qualifications fo
the Office under the direction of Mr. Cherry o
Strcator, an expert, and several applicants fount
to be unfit. The committee not feeling them
selves qualified to decide unaided by better knowl
edge, desired to summon Mr. Cherry to rs
sist them in completing their task. Boyer NOV
ed no more applicants be received after today
True amended SO as to permit them to come un
til Wednesday at noon. Donlevy added the hour
of , p. m as the better time. After some debate
today was fixed as the limit. Donlcvy denounc
ed the idea of experts n humbug and he spoke
from his own experience with them. Lynch
suggested that all probably qualified candidates
be notified to be present for examination before
the committee and the expert, and the commit
tee to report by 2p III. Carried.
The special committee to confer with the coun.
ty attorney relative to eX-shertf Mclntyre's legal
right to retain in his possession certain dockcts
taken by him from the sherih's office at the close
of his term, reported a written opinion from
County Attorney Mayo, in substance as follows:
The sheriff is required to keep a record of his
official acts and turn it over to his successor in
office Every county officer, who is paid in whole
or part by fees, shall keep fee book, and also
an account of all expenditures. He shall be al
lowed no fees for keeping these books, and this
is all the law says one the subject The sheriff
is required to keep but one book and this must
be turned over, and no other book can be requir-
ed to be turned over and he cannot be compelled
to do so.
The chair stated that Flaherty's motion, re.
qucsting ex-shcritf Mcintyre to turn over Il GER
tain book in his possession, was before the board
Lynch said this opinion of the county attorney is
by no means satisfactory one. The question is,
whether the book now in the present sherif's Of
flee is the one the law requires to be turned over
or is it the one the eX-sherif now retains in his
possession? He thought it was very mpcrtnent
in him to take any books from the sheritf's office
without submitting the matter to the board. l
now want to know whether the book he left is
the one required by law to be left, The attorney in
his opinion does not say whether the book Mcln-
tyre has taken away is the one he should have
left The book taken away has the printed forms
the book that is supplied to all sheritfs in the
state by Culver, Page & Hoyne, and is supposed
docket, to be delivered over with the office. This
book was paid for by La Sale County, and is a
county record, Mr.. Mcintyre has taken it, and
left in its place mere memorandum book.
Brown said the question hinges on this point
The law specifies that the sheriff shall deliver to
his successor all books and papers of his office,
except such as the law permits him to retain. He
is bound to show the law permitting him to re-
tain shs particular book If this book is of utl-
y to the present sheriff or to the people, it should
be In the sheriff Office. Mcintyre admits that
the county bought this book-what right has he
to the county's property? If Mcintyre wants a
copy fit, there can be no objection to his max
ing one.
Bowen said, does the book which is left comply
with the letter of the law?
Jackson-If Mcintyre was present he might
explain some items that we find in the book that
is left. The law requires of him an accurate ac-
C cunt of all expenditures made in the discharge
of his duties during his entire term of office, but
in this book which he leaves us, his expenditures
for about two years are omitted! This cannot be
the book which the law requires him to surren-
der to his successor.
+. C. Lewis-I regard this impeachment of
Mr. Mcintyre, in public, in this way, as highly
improper. He is an honorable gentleman, against
whom the breath of scandal has never and trust
can never be raised. | do not wish to investigate
his accounts, unless in the usual way through Il
committee regularly chosen for the purpose.
regard his integrity as unimpeachable
Lynch have not thought of such thing. !
regard Mcintyre as an honorable man, beyond
all suspicion. No questions as to his integrity
have been raised. The only question before us
is to the proper custodian Of this record 1t is
admitted that these records are public conven-
fence, and undoubtedly the present sheriff is the
right officer to keep them, and the sherif's office
the proper place for them.
Parr-As the county attorney has decided that
may keep this book, We therefore had
better send q committee or some one to get a
copy of it, If Mcintyre will allow access to it!
Flaherty-That the back fees due the
county from McIntyre's term OF Office should be
Mcintyre cannot lawfully collect them
the present sheriff can. This book shows what
has been collected and what has not, all arrang-
ed in convenient FORM 1t has been reported that
-uciuyTe HuS OtH CVUectUtJ JetS s"Nt "S "'" "
office expired.
Jackson-George Gott, of Bruce, present
deputy sheriff of this county, told me a
man had recently come to him and inquired
"who is the proper person to pay fees to" and
showed him letter from !AcIntyre demanding fees.
This was quite recently, and Colt told me only
yesterday of this fact. (Sensation.)
Lynch moved to re-refer this whole subject to
the committee for more definite and certain
opinion from the county attorney, for the one
before us is as clear Us mud.
Bswen-It seems that Mayo was Mcintyre
and he counselled Mcintyre on going
out Of Office and advised him that he might take
away this record. / desire that other attorneys
should also be called in.
Lewis-The opinion before us was carefully
considered by Bull, Widmer and Mayo! They
about it last evening. Lynch regretted
that McIntyre's character had in this manner been
assaulted, and he thought that parties making
those charges should be ready here now with