Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1878-06-12

orders were not reported by him as
outstanding at the last annual meeting
nor was their payments provided for at
that time. Still, the treasurer takes
them up and for that purpose uses the
funds appropriated to pay the current
expenses for this year. This 10 the
opinion of the committee, is an unwar-
ranted diversion of money appropriate
ed tor specific purpose.
For the years 1875, '76 and IT the
committee have obtained the informa-
tan desired to the best way possible
from the town treasurer and have sue
ceeaed in obtaining and complying
statistics that show nearl y if not all the
transactions for the years stated
Mr.. Traynors last settlement with
the board shows that be is allowed a
credit on account of school monies of
S7,Ol8.79 more than belongs to the
current year, and in excess of the total
amount belonging to the three yearssin
which he has held the office. Mr..
Traynor,s settlement for the two years
of his term Of 1874-75 shows this ac-
count balanced for both years. 1t is,
therefore, fair to presume that if any
fraud exists in regard to this fund it
has been committed since Mr.. Tray
nor's first term of Office. The opinion
OF the committee is that the allowance
of the above amount has been secured
by fraudulent means, and that the
means used were fraudulent vouchers
for the year 1875.
The excess allowed on account of
salaries for the year 1877 is Sc, 593 Oh
or rather, this is in, excess of the
amount allowed for the year of 1875,
'76 and TT. This is upon the theory
that there were no back salaries due
at the time Mr.. Traynor took the office
in 1875, and that all the salaries for
the year 1877 had been paid. The
latter was, however, not the case, as
one quarters salaries for 1877 we're
not paid. This will swell the excess
to SO .2l2.15. The allowance of this
amount was also, in the opinion of the
committee, brought about by traudu.
lent means, and under cover of "or-
ders burned" for proof of which refer
ence Is had to the sworn testimony
submitted. 1t is the opinion of the
committee that the funds with which
to take up so large amount of fraudu.
lent receipts were gradually accumulate
ed from year to year by the excess of
the amount appropriated over the
amount actually used.
The county clerk is charged by the
committee with gross carelessness if
not gross negligence in permitting the
sararies of school superintendent to be
raised twice in each year. Had that
amount not been raised and had the
outstanding poor orders and the bridge
orders been reported as outstanding, it
is more than probable that this fraud
would not have been attempted
From all the information obtained
the committee arrive at the conclus-
ion that the county treasurer is de-
taulter to the amount of S16,23O.94,
providing the apparent deficiency for
the present year is made good; and
that the defalcation occurred mainly
in the year 1877. The amount that
now ought to be on hand is S27,766..
OF, while the amount actually on hand
is only S7,l74 80.
Accompanying the report IS a mass
of statistical information obtained from
the several town treasurers, showing
their transactions with the county
treasurers during the years iS74::to
1877; also great deal of testimony
taken by the committee from witnesses
brought before it, as we'll in behalf of
Mr.. Traynor as on the part of the
committee; and also statement made
by Mr.. Traynor and signed by him,
giving his explanation of the receipts
used by him in settlement with the
board Of 1875 He states that after
having settled with Mr.. Wagner in
January, 1875, he was induced to
purchase from him (Wagner) some
old receipts of town treasurers for
school money, and of county officers
tor salaries, for which he paid Mr.. w.
the cash. This statement Wagner
denies under oath in his testimony,
declaring that nothing of the kind
ever occurred on his part. Other
testimony would seem to bear out the
statement of Mr.. Wagner, and the
committee in making cut their report
have evidently ignored this statement
considering it as too absurd to be en-
tertained
The committee, as all our people
here can affirm, have: worked assidu-
ously since their first meeting. They
have been in session every day until
six o'clock in the evening aud for the
last week even some part of the even
ing in addition. Mr.. Tray nor has
been almost constantly with them, and
b,, boon i, ffor1o1 o,oru .o,oo,t~.;.u -