Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1891-09-03
DefaQ]dng Treasurer!
COMPLETE STATEMENT OF FACTS
CONCERNING THECASE!
Over $1,4OO 90 Short!

W ~As NV w 0AOA "
The Board Orders Legal Proceedings
Instituted at Once.-Items of
Personal Interest.
For something more than month
various rulnors have been ailoat con-
cerning the action of II. 5. Coburn in
handling the city and school funds dur
ing his term of office as City Treasurer.
The TELLER has withheld publication
of vague rumors, hoping that Mr..
Coburn, who for years, has stood in high
esteem among the citizens here and has
been accounted a young man of integ-
rty and honor, might clear his actions
from disreputable reports. A public
office, however, is Il public trust, and
the official in chalge must account
strictly to the people for all acts of his
and all things left to his charge. 1t is
right and just that the people, whose
confidence has been betrayed, should
know the full facts concerning the mat
ter. 1t is the duty of DE public to pro-
tect honor and reward honesty. 1t is
the duty of all men everywhere to CEN
sure dishonest acts and thus preserve
integrity and upwrightness in business
and public life. Justice in full should
be meted out to the offender. Public
honesty and public security demands
that the guilty should suffer the pen
atty of his guilt. Facts are stubborn
things and often wound the innocent
as we'll as the guilty. While for the
family of Mr.. Coburn, who are thus
made to suffer for his disreputable acts,
the TELLER hus all due honor and re-
gard. Public safety and public honor
demands these facts to be made known.
4 brief history of the affair as can be
gathered from reports and minutes Of
:he school board is as follows: EN-
Treasurer Coburn's report was due at
the school board meeting of July 1st,
but owing to press of business the mat
ter was deferred to the called meeting
of July 7. AT this time Mr.. Coburn
asked and was granted further time to
complete his yearly report. He com.
planned of lack of time, and of other
pressing duties and was granted till the
next re ular meeting July 81, to make
his full and final report and turn his
books and accounts over to his successor
J. II Lydon. During the month which
followed Treasurer-clect Lydon made
repeated attempts to have Coburn turn
over the books and moneys but could
get no definite answers regarding the
matter. Lydon reported to the school
board the failure of his predecessor tC
turn over the books or account for the
money of his office. Under the press
brought to bear upon him, Ex-Treas
,,rer Coburn filed his annual report
with the clerk of the board August IL
The substance of which is AS follows
Cash received from d. S. Dent (hi'
predecessor $305.24; cash received from
taxes S7470.5S; cash by apportionmen'
$G2 Is; making Il total of s7S3797 casl
received. The report further show
: that he had paid out for warrants re
deemed $6l5l.52. Treasurer's com
mission S225 .9S, leaving balance o
l cash on hand of S146O.47. Mr.. Coburl
5 at that time acknowledged to the boar'
that he could not account for the casl
on hand and was unable to turn it owe
to his successor. The board took actor
in the matter at once and appointed
w. Poe as attorney to act as counselo
: in this matter. The books of the En-
: Treasurer were closely accounted an
u his report, in the main, substantiateC
= except that he was entitled to credi
by error of $4.S7, thus making til
= money due by default $l455.6O. O
l. the 14th of August the clerk demande
d by letter of Treasurer II. S. Coburn an
II his bondsmen that the sum of fourtee
:. hundred and tifty-five dollars and sixt
|, cents (Sl 10000 be turned over imm
+ diately to his successor, J. r. Lydol
r, or proceedings would be institute
e against them to recover said amour
d On receiving no definite reply fro
d either Coburn or his bondsmen, Il
board at its last meeting, Aug. %, !
a structed it's attorney, ]. w. Poe,
y commence proceedings against Cobu1
o and his bondsmen in suit to recover Il
70 amount of the default, 81, $3.50.
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,e U. S. Store-Kendrick, Idaho.
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