Omaha daily bee., 1889-06-02
THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
Clerk Roche Exhonerated BY Attor-
ney Mahoney's Report.
A POORLY ERECTED BUILDING.
What MIR. Coots Has to Say About the
New County Hospital-Other
Matters Before the
Board.
Anderson's Charges Fall Flat.

AnderSOn's Charges Fall Fiat.
At the meeting of the county commission
ers yesterday, County Attorney Mahoney
sent in communication concerning the re-
quest of A. G. Pennock for a refund Of $500
paid for lots that had been sold for taxes.
The attorney states that in cases where en-
rors were made the county must refund the
money.
A communication was also received from
CouLty Attorney Mahoney in reference to
charges made by Commissioner Anderson
against Clerk Roche and accompanying atfi-
davits. The county attorney says:
81 have taken some pains to investigate
the charges of making false report and al
tering the report after it had been made,
and as to the former 1 am convinced that
this was purely clerical error in making
out the balance sheet. i do not believe it
was the intention of the legislature to punish
a clerical error as perjury, and l have thus
far been nable to find any testimony which
would indicate corrupt inteption in the
manner in which the balance sheet was
made out; especially in the light of
as paid for deputy and clerk salaries are not
questioned as being correct in the aggregate.
'tAs to the alteration of the record, 1t IS
improper and should not have been done,
alter the amounts shown on the balance
sheets, and as it was evidently done with a
view to correcting u mere clerical error, II
does not come within the provision OF the
statute providing for the punishment of the
otfenSe OF mallcl0uSly altering or defaclng
public record.
Until, therefore, some evidence is fur
nished me which would indicate a corrupt
purpose on the part of the county clerk,
either in making false report or maliciousiy
,.1t rinr n N nrl / mn
institute amy criminal proceedings upon
these grounds"
The reports were ordered filed.
A request from the residents of Florence,
asking the appointment of j. S. Knapp as
constable pf Florence, was referred to the
judiciary committee.
E. A. Catherwood offered to sell some
maps to the county. The matter was re-
ferred to the COURT house and Jail committee.
Judge Wakeiy's decision in the cases OF
Warren aSwitzler and Ferdinand Stritz
against the eogaty was read.
The matter Of the drugs necessary for the
| county dispensary, which VIII cost $3.50, was
| referred to the charity committee with in,
| structionsto advertise. The drug store re-
! port shows that hve-eighths OF the prescnp-
tions were filled during May.
Superintendent CoOts reported on the con
| dition OF the county hospital. He SAID
in accordance with your resolution en-
| closed and in answer thereto, respectfully
submit my report. ! find upon investigation
! that in tho most important lines entering
into the construction of the building, so fan
| as now completed, viz, BRICK work and con
crete, that while the building conforms tC
| the plans in shape and style very little of the
| work has been done according to the speclh
cations and plans. which call for first clas;
| work in every particular. The brick work
| generally has been very roughly done, with
| large Joints and crooked courses, rough sur
| face, and with many OF the joints out o.
| plumb. The inside or middle walls are no
| we filled with mortar, AS per specifications
| which require groated work in every thir,
| course, and almost dill the brick arches Owe
| corridor doors are poorly put up, and no
bounded. The bricks used are OF an ayerag'
| good quality. and il they had been laid In
workmanlike manner, the outside Of th