Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1884-03-07
THE COUNTY RECORDS.
THE "TIMES" MAN is GIVEN ACCESS
TO THEM:
Recorder and Auditor Fox RecedeS from
an Cntenable Position, and Agrees to
Permit "Times" Reporter to lnves.
tigate Them Thoroughly.

an Cntenable Position, and Agrees to
Permit "Times" Reporter to lnves.
tigate Them Thoroughly.
About half-past 8 o'clock this morn
ing the editor Of the TINES appeared
before Probate Judge Parsons, and
said that he desired to enter complaint
against County Recorder and Auditor
Fox, for lnisdemeanor.
Judge Parsons said that he would
order the District Attorney to draw
up complaint, and if the TIMES man
called in an hour he could swear to it.
About II o'clock the TINES man
called at the Probate Courtroom.
District Attorney Bruner said he did
not believe that Mr.. Fox had violated
the law.
The editor of the TINES replied:
'ln that case l will be compelled to
employ special counsel to prosecute
this matter"
Mr.. Bruner thereupon said he did
not consider the warrant book public
record within the meaning of the law.
The Reporter.-Well | do; but l
will waive that, for the present.
There is no doubt that the minutes of
the County Commissioners is public
record; is there?
Mr.. Bruner-No. hold that Mr..
Fox was wrong in denying you access
to that.
The Reporter.-Then you will
please draw up complaint covering
that otfense.
The Probate Judge thereupon IN.
terposed and said that Mr.. Fox had
been spoken to by County Commits
sioners Morrill, and Nanlandingham,
by himself (Parsons) and others, and
that he averred himself willing to not
only permit the TINES man to exam
inc all the books, vouchers, accounts
etc, of the office, but to assist him in
any investigation which he desired tc
make. And the County Commits
sioncrs and other mutual friends
would vouch for Mr.. Fox, that he
would fulfill the agreement.
This beng all that the TINES mar
had been contending for, he ex-
pressed himself satisfied, and request
ed stay of the criminal proceedings
until he called again.
A few minutes afterward Mr.. FoN
met the TINES man at Whitman &
Walkers corner, when the former
gentleman said the disagreement be
tween the two was all nonsense, that
the records were public property, and
he had no right to refuse their in
spection to anybody; and if the
TIMES man wished to see them he
could call at the Office.
At 2 o'clock this afternoon the
TINES man called at the Recorders
office and asked to see the warrant
books. Both the general fund war.
rant book and the hospital fund war.
rant book were handed out. They
were hastily glanced over, and the
TINES man then asked:
81 suppose, Mr.. Fox, that I can see
any other public record in this office
that l want?"
eyes, SIR"
"Thanks. Good day, sir"
"Good day"
The result is of course complete
victory for the TINES. But the fac
is that Mr.. Fox had taken position
that was untenable. And Will.
county officials have been know
though very seldom, indeed to REFUSE
to permit an examination Of specia
papers for good and sufficient reason
none that we know of have ever be
fore made such sweeping denial a
Mr.. Fox did. For his sake, for thu
sake of the people of Alturas county
and for the sake of the TINES, we ar
glad that he saw his error and had tn
manliness to correct it before one 0
more expensive suits to compel him t.
do so were commenced.
There is really no reason why ar,
honest official should refuse to permi
a newspaper man to examine his pub
lie accounts. If he is honest he ca
afford to laugh in his sleeve at all in
vestigations, while if he is dishones
he is bound to be found out, and a
his efforts to stave off inquiry onl
cause an argus-eyed reporter and