Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1892-02-04
WHO NExT7
J. s. Barnes, Ex-Oounty CLERK. a
Fugitive from Justice.
Seven Hundred Dollars More Con,

Seven Hundred Dollars More Gone
For some time past ugly rumors
have been in circulation regarding
the official conduct of the late County
Clerk j. S. Barnes. Immediately af-
ter his successor. J. F. Arnold, took
charge of affairs one or two peculiar
transactions regarding the payment
of bills against the county, caused an
investigation to be made. When the
proceedings of the Board, at It's Jan
uary session, were published the Dis
patch as the official paper was furn-
ished a record of the meeting of the
old Board by Mr.. Barnes but without
his official attestation- Mr.. Barnes
attention was called to this neglect by
the Chairman of the Board, to whom
he said he did not have to sign it.n
The HERALD desiring to furnish its
readers with like record copied the
proceedings from the books. While
this copy was being prepared Mr..
Barnes urged the HERALD to use his
copy, but the offer was declined.
When the two reports appeared Mr..
Arnold noticed a difference in the
matter of bills allowed in that the
HERALD report showed more bills paid
than the official report called for. He
then examined the vouchers and dis
covered that bills had been paid with
out the approval of the Board. He
then wrote to the different printing
houses, for receipts of money paid,
and upon receiving them found that
more money had been paid these
firms than they receipted for. Tues
day last the Commissioners were call
ed together and the matter laid be-
fore them. After full investigation
they passed the following resolution:
WHEREAS. Upon examination or the records of
excounty clerk j. 5 Barnes, IL is found that there
has been fraud committed BY the said J. S. Barnes
against Phillips county by drawing and present
iAg warrants upon bills not allowed by the Board
Of commissioners OF said Phillips county and re
ceiving the money therein by presenting the same
Tor payment 10 the Treasurer OF said Phillips
county, and aPproPriating the same TO his own use
RESOLVED, BY the Board of Commissioners OF
Phillips county, Kansas, that legal proceedings be
at once instituted for the recovery OF said money
from j. 5. Barnes and his bondsmen, and il il or
dered that the County Attorney institute legal
proceedings IN Ehla matter 10 carry Into elect this
resolutions ana II further ordered that the Coun
~ Attorney institute criminal proceedings in said
matter.
The County Attorney then issued a
warrant and placed it IN the hands of
Sheriff Utter, who upon searching
found that friends had hurried Mr..
Barnes out of the country. The
Sheriff aud Deputy Reynolds immed-
lately started on his trail and follow
ed it until dark, when 1t was lost.
They went to stations on the B. & NJ.
and telegraphed in all directions but
as yet have had no word regarding
the whereabouts of the fugitive,
HOW IT WAS DONE.
In some way or another the poor
printers seem to be in hard luck. The
home printers do work for nothing
and the names of the outside ones are
made use of to defraud the county.
Whenever publishing house sells
the county any supplies it sends with
the goods bill. At the close of the
quarter voucher for the full amount
Is sent in. These vouchers are ex-
amined by the Board, and passed up
on, and endorsed by the chairman
with the amount allowed and by him
signed. The clerk then issues a war
rant for this sum made payable to
order. The warrants are then signed
by the chairman and counter-signed
by the clerk. Mr.. Barnes presented
these vouchers regularly, and issued
the warrants, and also issued war
rants for the amount of the bills sent
without the knowledge of the Board
and placing them with the legal war
rants handed them to the chairman
for his signature. 1t is customary for
the clerk to collect money allowed to
non-residents, and remit the money,
to them. MIR. Barnes, after the war
rants were perfected, drew the money
RENTED to the parties the amounts
due them and pocketed the balance.
In numerous instances he wrote out
warrants for more than the amounts
allowed.
THE AMOUNT STOLEN.