Mississippi leader. (Jackson, Miss.) 1892-1895, 1894-08-21

|
iy. has made his settlements In full up to date
with | c. Smith, County Treasurer.
Given under my hand seal OF Office.
FELIN MAY,
| Chancery Clerk.
The above from the last issue OF
Sheriff McNair's personal organ was
plainly intended as an indirect reply
to THE LEADERS article of last week
exposing the official delinquency which
has prevailed with regard to Mr.. Nc
Nair's bonds as sheriff and taX-collec-
tor and his unlawfully delaying his
settlements with the county treasurer.
THE LEADERS article could not have
been Justly called an attack upon any
one, and at most was but statement
of facts and a mild criticism of the
sheriff and board Of supervisors.
Therefore, this wholesale compliment
ing of county officials all the way
"doWn to constable" and fairly over
whelming them with tafy, is but an
adroit effort. as the discerning reader
will readily see, to enlist the sympathy
of the entire official family, and use
them as SO many props to bolster up
"Rube", who is really the keynote of
the whole eulogy and the inspiration
of the article.
What is said about Mr.. McNair's Of
fetal fidelity is so exaggerated and
misleading, and the charge is so di-
rect and unwarranted (even to the
hurting of opprobrious epithets), that
those who simply insist that public
office should be treated as a pub
lie trust, are inspired in this
matter by dishonorable and mercena-
ry motives, The LEADER feels con-
strained to give some important facts
about this business which were not
given i'll our article of last week, sole
ly out Of personal consideration for
Mr.. McNair and his family.
1t will be remembered we asserted
| last week that the sheriff did not make
his settlement for S5,351.31 collected in
January, until the Goth of March,
when he was required by law to make
it not later than Feb. 10th, and that
when he did finally make settlement,
he did so in response to the most ur-
gent pressure on the part of the coun-
ty treasurer
Here then was 85,35l.31 hole in the
county treasury from Feb. 10th to
March .atE. which should never have
been there. But this is act eli. When
it was finally filled to satisfy the le-
peated demands of the county treasu-
ry and to avert impending pablo ex.
! posure. Sheriff McNair had to borrow
100000 of tbs amount. What went
with the money the "a 600 was borrow
ed to replace, so far as we know, is
still unexplained This $4,000 was Dor
rowed from Messrs. r. w. Millsaps and
Z. u. Gavis, on two promissory notes
of $1,000 each, bearing 10 per cent. in
terest from date of execution. one pay
able the 18th day of December, 1894,
and the other payable Jan. LIST, 1895,
this being right in the heart of the
nezt collecting season. To secure
payment OF these notes, Messrs. Mill
saps and Davis required that r. W..
McNair and his brothers A. @, Nc
Nair, Thos. G. McNair and S. d. Nc
Nair and their wives, should eX-
ecute deed in trust on certain real
estate therein described and located
in Lincoln county. also in the city of
Brookhaven, and also in the town of
Harriston, jefferson county. This
deed was duly acknowledged before
Chancery Clerk May Of Lincoln coun-
ty on March 18th, 1904, and before
c. G. Coffey, Circuit Clerk of Jefrer-
son county, on March 16, 1894, and fill
ed for record in the Office of the Chan
Gerry Clerk Of Lincoln county on
March 28, 1894, the day preceding Mr.
McNair's settlement with the county
treasurer. Any one who desires may
see the recorded proof of this for him
self by referring to Book No. 3 of
Land Deed Mortgages, pages 274, 215
and 276, in the Office Of the Chancery
| Clerk.
The published certificate OF the
Chancery Clerk that the sheriff is not
, behind in his settlements at this time,
on which 10 much stress is laid, is
nothing more on THAI point than an
official confirmation of what TGE
LEADER stated last week.
In all it has said, The LEADER re-
peats it is more than willing to acquit
Sheriff Mcfsair of any purpose to de-
fraud the county. fhe very fact that
he and his brothers were willing IL
jeopardize their private property to
raise the money due the county is suf-
Gcient proof Of that: but it is none
the less clear, in the light OF the facts,
that he has not discharged his duties
as the law requires, and that unless he
is required to give good bond and be
more punctual in the future, difficult
ties and possible loss may result which
! neither he nor they may find them