The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-08-06

had reported on HaFsOn De pdlu OVER
part of the money-part Clerks fees and
part Sheriffs fees-leaving the balance
| against him as now claimed by the Coun-
ty.
What he did pay over was in the same
report that the items composing the bal
ance are 1t was all one report.
The Sheriff's fees charged to Harson
were no part of the settlement with Per-
kins, as Perkins never received the
money. ..
Respectfully yours. -s
d. ZIMMERMAN.
FROM EX-sHERIFF PERGINs.
KELLEEToN, Iowa, May %, 1888.
To James Taylor.
Yours of the 18th is at hand, and in
reply to your questions would say that
| have no recollection of receiving from
| Circuit Clerk Harson any Sheriff's fees
collected in his office, except by signing
| the Clerks fee book for the same, and the
said amounts were always credited TO the
| County accordingly.
am very much surprised at the posi-
ton Mr.. Harson has taken, as he must
know that was always required by him
to sign his fee book in order to get the
| Sheriff's fees.
would be glad to further hear from
you, and if possible, for you to come and
| see me.
Yours respectfully.
j. L. PERKINS
1t appears to your committee, from the
foregoing letters, and from the books and
reports that the 1926 65 belonging to the
County is still in the hands of Circuit
Clerk Harson What further shall be
done in order to recover the money be
longing to the County, is for the Board
| to direct.
All of which is respectfully submitted
JAMES TAYLOR,
|. s. KNOWLES,
j. S. ROBERTSON,
W. E. BROOKS,
Finance Committee
Supervisor Wray moved that the fore
going report be placed on file
Yeas-Aster, Barton, Blomberg, Brooks
| Campbell, Clarke, Gordon, Kistler McKin-
ME, Pearsoll, Robertson, Shallene, Tay-
lor, Viereich, John Warnock. JamessD
Warnock, Wray.-17.
Nays-None.
Not voting Chairman Heath
Absent-Knowles, Martin, Shafer.
Schneider, Trent, Weatherhead-6,
Supervisor Campbell moved that the
committee on finance be instructed to
employ counsel and bring suit for the
collection ot the money alleged to be due
the county as per the foregoing report of
the finance committee.
Geas-Aster Barton, Blomberg, Brooks,
Campbell, Clarke, Gordon, Kistler, Nc
Kinnie, Pcarsoll, Robertson, Schneider,
Shallene, Taylor, Viereich, John War
mock, James D. Warnock, Wray-1S.
Nays-None.
Not voting-Chairman Heath.
Absent-Knowles, Martin, Shafer,
Trent, Weatherhead-5
1t appears that the money is traced in
the hands of Circuit Clerk Harson and
that he has no evidence that he has ever
paid it to the county or any one else
Ex-Sheriff Perkins's letter shows that
he never received any money of Mr.. Har>
son without giving receipt for the same.
As chairman of the finance committee
of 1888, and by direction of the board l
took steps TO carry out the will of the
board in regard to bringing suit. con-
suited Messrs. Connolly & McNeal on the
subject.
Mr.. NcNeal said he had no doubt that
Harson was officially responsible for all
money coming into his hands belonging
to the county and would be legally liable
for the same
Mr.. Connolly thought that Mr. Har>
sons bond could not be held for sheriff 8
fees collected by him as it was no part of
his business to receive such fees, but that
circuit clerks were in the habit of doing
so as al accommodation to the sheriff
Under these circumstances | did not
order suit commenced as Mr.. McNeal
had left the state and could not well give
the attention to the matter which it de-
served
Your Finance Committee of 1888
thought, and the members still think, that
whatever money the Circuit Clerk res
Ceives as Sheriffs fees his bond is holden
for, as he cannot receive such money ex-
cept in his official capacity. The money
is paid to him because he is Circuit Clerk.
and not as private citizen. Besides, it
has been the custom | suppose. eyer since
the County was organized, for the Circuit
Clerk to receive all the fees due the
County, when a suit is settled, and pay
the fees to the officer earning the same.
He does it as an official under bonds to
the people for his official acts. This has
been a custom so long that custom has
made it law. and it ought to be, and no
doubt can be. enforced-if not in the
name of the County, then in the name of
the Sheriff, for the use of the County.
Under this state of facts it remains for
your Board to take such action as may
to them seem best in order to recover the
money belonging to the County.
If nothing is done now about the mat
ter, have no doubt that when Harson
goes out of Office and the Board looks up
his accounts for final settlement, this sum
of $525.65 which is shown to be in his
hands, will have to be accounted for.
All of which is respectfully submit ted.
JAMES TAYLOR
We leave the people to draw their own
conclusions. The money is certainly traces
able to the circuit clerks office, or to Ex-
Sheriff Perkins. The way the matter now
stands it looks as though the money can
not be recovered without considerable ex>
pense being entailed even it the attempt
were successful. The ARGUS would be
obliged to any one that can throw addi-
tionsl light on the transaction.
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