The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-07-28

Respectfully submitted,
HENRY HELMIG, Probate Clerk,
Your committee further report that the
former custom of performing certain work
in this Office that properly belongs to the
functions of an attorney still prevails; and
that fees collected for such work are not ac-
counted for to the county. Owing to the
shortness of time that has elapsed since our
appointment as a committee, we have not
been able to ascertain the amount of said
fees earned and collected and not accounted
for to the county.
At a session of the proceeding Board OF
Supervisors the clerk was instructed to en-
ploy additional help in his Office, and an sp-
preparation of seven hundred dollars was
made for that purpose. He has accordingly
employed such helps and, at the time of this
semi annual accoun ing, to'wit: the 3lst day
of May last, had expended Of said appropri-
alton and out of monies earned and collected
ia his office to tue amount of two hundred
and seventeen dollars and seventy six cents,
OH 70 Said amount has been paid for
work at the rate of 81 so per day.
We find the situation of the records to be
as follows, to wit:
and guide to the condition of estates! The
first account with any estate bears date Nov.
LIST, 1883 We examined several accounts and
found them incomplete; and after talking 10
the clerk about that book were led to believe
that no account in the book is complete. IL is
an important book and is required by law
See Rev. Stat. 50, Sec. "a, "a.
The Guardians Docket is book for guar
dianships, the same as the above Is Tor estates
1t has never been used.
The Estate Ledger has never been used The
clerks excuse for not using them is that they
have had SO much other work that had TO he
done that they could not write these books up.
The Record OF Wills is written up to April
9th, 1888.
The Executors Record ls written up to
March 9th, 1888.
The Administrators Record Is written up to
April I'd, 1855.
The Record for Administrators with will
annexed is written up to feb'y 9th, 1888;
The Record for Administrators De Bonis
Non is written up to July 10Th, 1887.
The Inventory Record ID written up to May
2lst, 1888.
The Apprasement Record is written up to
April 18th, 1888.
The Public Sale Record is written up to
March 2lst, 1887.
The Private Sale Record is written up to
The Guardians Record is written up to
March 9th, 1888.
The Widows REIMBURSEMENT and Selection
Record is written up TO Oct. 21st, 1887.
The Conservators' Record is written up to
Feb'y 18th, 1888.
The Guardians Report Record is written W
TO April 2Sth, 1887.
The Judgment Docket has an unwritten gap
in which nothing is recorded between March
23d, 1888, and Dec. 9Th, 1886. Since the last
date it has been written up to June 18th, 'oS
The index TO said docket corresponds 10 the
docket.
The Record for Administrators and Execu'
tors Reports is written up TO Dec. I'D, 1887.
The Probate Recoid is written up to Dec
10Th, 1887.
The reason given by the clerk for this con-
dtion of the records q that he found the work
of the Office proportionately behind when he
came into the Office, snd that with the help
furnished he has only been able to about keep
even pace with current work.
Your committee are of opinion that he
speaks truthfully, and recommend that an APP
preparation be made for temporary assistance
sufficient TO enable the clerk to bring the
work OF the Office up complete.
Respectfully submitted,
BASIL GREEN, Chairman.
Supervisor Norton moved as an amendment
that the report of committee TO settle with
probate clerk be referred back TO said commit
tee, with instructions TO ask said probate