Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1879-05-01
More Official Misconduct.

At the March session of the Board Of
County Commissioners Deputy Sheriff
d. II. Stimson presented a sworn bill for
boarding (prisopers, Edwin Horner, Joe
Coburn, John Fi,zsibbons and others.
between January :, 1879, and March 4,
1870 This bill was allowed by the CON-
i.issioners and an appeal was duly taken
from such allowance by the county attor-
ney, on the petition Of seven tax-payer
Of the county. While this appeal was
pending and undetermined, Sheriff H.
B. Corey, on the 12lh day of April, 1879,
at special session of the Board, when
only three commissioners were present,
namely, Richards, Trowbridge and La
Bar, presented a bill for boarding the
same prisoners, during the same period,
and swore that he furnished the provi.
siOns, and the three commissioners named
allowed the bill, we'll knowing that
Slimson had sworn that he had furnished
the board Of said prisoners at the same
ide n,cal time that Mr.. Corey has since
sworn that he had furnished it. This is
swearing with vengeance, and is dupli-
eating charges against the taxpayers
precisely in accordance with the license
given by the Deacon's grand jury.
Fer fear some taxpayers may think
that the above allegation from the Repu6-
licuu OF last week, is some terrible offensc,
we have. Concluded to notice it, and Show
the shallowuess Of the conclusions drawn
In the first place, no one will claim that
it was wrong or illegal for Slim son, or
any one else, to withdraw claim against
the county, even if it had been allowed
by the Board. Well, it is fact that
Stimson didlwithdraw the claim, and the
Commissioners ordered the county war.
rant which had been drawn to pay the
same Cancelled. Then ii IS fact that
Sheriff Corey presented bill covering G
the same charges contained in S,imson's
bill, with the addition of some charges
which had accrued since that time, and
the Commissioners allowed the bill in
stanter. Now, there was nothing in the
least wrong about this, either. Mr..
Corey ascerlained that deputy sheriffs
were not the proper ones TO render bills
for boarding prisoncrs-that the sheriff
must do that-and as an appeal from the
allowance Of the bill had been taken, he
thought it must be Oh that ground, so the
bill was Withdrawn and another one pre-
sented In his own name. There can be no
fraud about the matter. The lawful
amount only which a sheriff is entitled
to for boarding prisoners is charged, and
the bill sets forth plainly who these prison.
ers were, and the time for whick board
is charged. The philosopher OF the Re-
publican attempts to make point by
saying that Mr.. Corey swore that lie fur
nished the provisions for the prisoners and
for the same Identical: time that Stimson
had eworn that he furnished them. Mr.
Corey swore to no such thing, and Hotch.
kiss should have examined the records
before making such statement. His
affidavit was simply 20 the effect that the
property, goods, merchandise, labor or
services charged in the bill aoas actually
delscered and Of the value charged or al.
tosoed dy lao, and no part had been paid.
And the atidavits of both Stimson and
Corey were alike in this particular, and
we hardly think any sane man will accuse
them of swearing falsely. Finally, if
there is anything wrong about the bill
last allowed, J. P. Williams & Co. have
the same right to appeal from its allow
ance as they did from the first one. We
believe in fair and honorable dealing
with every one, but the County Commis-
sioners or county officers need never look
for fair treatment at the hands of the Re-
publican.