Omaha daily bee., 1891-02-08
HIS BONDSMEN ARE ALARMED
Andrew Murphy Demands Immediate Action
on the Matter of Megeath's Shortage
DON'T WANT TO Be HELD RESPONSIBLE.
He Files a Complaint With the County
Commissioners and the Hear
ing is Set for Feb
ruary IL.

A big and very important meeting was
held by the county commissioners yesterday
afternoon. All the members of the board
were present, which in itself was somewhat
extraordinary while ex-Commissioner Tur-
ner, Auditor Evans, County Clerk O'Maley
and two or three city councilmen also oc-
cuped seats within the railing. The lobby
was packed back into the corridor.
The extraordinary interest manifested in
the session was due to the fact that several
matters OF unusual importance and weight
were booked and advertised to be acted upon.
After the call to order, and before the min
utes were read, the city council committee
appointed to confer with the board relative to
the road fund levy, was heard through
Messrs Cooper and Bechel. They asked
that the city be given four-fifths of the road
fund of the county to expend in the city.
Commissioner Van Camp said he thought
the county board should expend the entire
fund
Commissioner Timme thought the board
had no right TO turn the money over to the
city. He urged that the county had always
succeeded in getting road work done much
cheaper than the city.
Mr.. Cooper could not see the equity or JUS
tice in expendng money on country improve
ments that rightfully belonged to improve
ments in the business portion of the city,
Mr. Bechel said that it was very necessary
that some action in the matter be taken at an
early date. and he hoped to see action taken
Immediately.
Chairman O'Keeffe said there was some
question as to whether the board had any
right to turn the money over to the city.
On motion OF Mr. Corrigan it was referred
to the committee on roads to report at meet
ing of the board to be held on Tuesday
Ihn nd ms hnin n
and the minutes approved, the clerk read
the following under the head of communica-
tions:
Before the board of county commissioners,
Douglas county, Nebraska
In the matter of the charges against Il. A.
Megeath, register of deeds.
Complaint ard information of Andrew
Murphy, made before the board of county
commissioners of the county of Douglas. and
of the state of Nebraska, this 1th day of Feb
ruary, 1891, who being first duly sworn
his oath says that T. A. Megeath is
now the acting register of deeds of
said county under and by virtue of his elec-
tion to said Office at the general election held
in and for said county on November D. 1889,
and that during the years 1SSS and 1889 said
| II. A. Megeath, register of deeds aforesaid,
| during the year 1899 collected in his official
| capacity the sum of S2l OH l0 that the salary
| of the said register of deeds and the
| salaries and compensation allowed and paid
| to his deputies and the other legitimate
| expenditures OF tnc Salu OHlce. LOT Salu wear
| 1890 was 81, $685., which it became the duty
of the said 4. a. Megeath at such register of
| deeds to pay over to the county treasurer of
| said county on January s, a. D., 1891.
| Affiant says that the said 7. A. Megeath
| has willfully neglected his sad duty and will
| fully refused and reelected to pay over to the
county treasurer of said county the aforesaid
sum of 81, ,565.66 or any part thereof, and that
the said 7. A. Mcgeath has wilfully and COR
| ruptly appropriated TO his own use and bene,
| tit the pf 81 :)to lttt ont of the aFOrpSlil
| sum of 81, ,56566.
Affiant further says that during the year
1889 said II. A. Megeath, as register of deeds
aforesaid, collected in his official capacity as
fees of his said Office, the sum of S23,61310,
and that during the same time the salary of
the said Megeath as such register of deeds
and the salaries and expenditures of said
deputies and clerks and other expenditures
S7,6O3. .9O which it became the duty of the
said r. A. Megeath as such register
OF deeds so,snn.r to pay over s"5 to tine the
of which amount said Megeath has paid to
the county treasurer only the sum of
Sa,GO3 90, and the said T. A. Megeath has
wholly neglected and wilfully refuses and
negects to pay or to 10 the county fhyo
said Il. A. Megeath has wilfully and cor
ruptly appropriated the whole of said sum of
$4,000 to his own use and benefit.
Af1iant further says that the said T. A,
/
register of deeds for the reason that the said
| r.. A. Megeath, as a collector and custodian
of public money of the said comfy of Doug
las, TO wit: The sum Of $4,000 collected by
him in his official capacity during the year
1889 Is in default to the said county
in the aforesaid sum of S;,0JO and is
further in default to said county
in the sum of S5,565.66, money collected by
him as custodian aud collector of public
4 money of the said county of Douglas during
the year 1890 contrary to the form of the
statute in such case made and provided and
against the peace and dignity of the state of
Nebraska. ANDREW MURPHY.
Mr. Megeath himself was an interested lis
tener to the reading
The complaint being lead, Mr.. Timme
moved that it be placed on file and that Sat
urday, February IA, at 10 O'Clock a, m, be set
for hearing the same and that summons be
issued to the clerk returnabe on that date.
Mr., Berlin furnished the necessary second,
and the motion carried, Messrs. Corrigan and
Van Camp voting no.
| majority report of the committee on con-
struction, signed by Turner, Corrigan and
OKeeffe, on the 1852, Is bill of extras of $.
| /. Pope II Co. for steam heating in the new
county hospital, recommended that only Sl22
of the same be paid Adopted.
The county surveyor was instructed to
| communicate with the Fenton manufacturing
company and Novelty manufacturing COM
pany with view to obtaining from them
bids for retitting the vaults in the offices of
treasurer and register of deeds.
Bids for county supplies were let to the
following parties:
II. Sullivan, meat; Cody & Gray, white
pine lumber; Charles r. Lee, white oak tim
ber; RAYMOND Brothers, oak piling; Fl. j,
Penfold drugs; j. H. Boyd, bread. But one
bid was received for groceries and the clerk
was ordered to readvertse for same
| The regular appropriation sheets were read
a third time and approved.
| large amount of business OF a routine
order was transacted
On motion of Van Camp the board pro-
ceeded to ballot for county physician. There
was a long list of candidates. but only Doc
tors Keogh and Connell were ''in It," Mr..
Berlin favored the latter and the rest of the
board the former. DIR. Keogh was declared
elected.
| Mr.. Berlin started TO read a clipping from
local paper, but the board was too tired for
anything of that sort and motion to adjourn
prevailed.