The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-06-20
AS TO THE COUNTY TREAS.
URER'S REPORT.

The presentment of the Grand Jury, pub
lished ia this paper, besides calling attention
to the failure of Treasurer D. E Keels to
publish his report in the time allowed by law.
cri,icises other crooked matters connected
Herewith, viz: The report was given to the
Herald to be published at SO cents per inch of
space occupied, when there WAS bid offering
to do 1t for 333 cents per inch; that the re-
port as published in the Herald was unreason.
ably spread outana the cost thereby greatly
increased; that the bill of Mr. Knight
for S434oo is unnecessarily high and
they recommend that it be cut down, &c.
Also that Treasurer Keels gave his report to
Mr. A. W. knight, Of the Herald, "expecting
him to divide the work and the money with
the other papers as has been heretofore done"
This last statement is denied by Mr.
Knight in the last issue of the Herald, coupled
with the assertion that Capt. Keels says he
made no such statement.
In order to amplify the matter for the
benefit of those who may wish to have fuller
information as to the matter referred to in the
presenlnoent, the following extracts are taken
from the article in the Freeman Of the 18th:
The Presentment of the Grand Jury, pub
lished iu another column, is interesting read
ing aud gives the result Of the investigation
by the Freeman, which, briefly summed up,
saves the sum of abont $194 90 to the tax
payers, and brings to light some ugly doings
by A.~W. Knight, of the Herald 1T pro-
nounces his bill for publication of the Treas
arer's Report as fraudulent and exouerates
the Board of County Commissioners and the
Local Editor Of the freeman from the charge
Of fraud and perjury as preferred against
them by A. W. Knight.
By way Of explanation of the action of the
Grand Jury we make the following statement
of facts brough, out in the investigation,
which occupied two days:
On Tuesday afternoon E. F. Miller was
summoned before the Grand Jury TO testify
in regard to matters connected with the re-
cent publication of the County Treasurer's
Report He gave testimony, the same in sub
stance as the article in Tuesdays freeman.
Mr. N. G. Osteen was also summoned and
examined in regard to the cost and form Of
the report rs 1t appeared in the Herald, the
form and cost of the report iB previous years,
the COS, of the report had it heen published IN
the compact form Of previous years, and the
prohable cost Of the report had the bid of the
Freeman a, Z the regular rates been accepted
Mr. A. W. Knight. of the Herald, was also
examined HI stated that his bill amounted
70 S434.0o and that he was to pay she
County Banner $50 out of this amount His
bill. be said, had been approved by the
Treasurer, but that the County Commissioners
had not yet ordered it paid.
By this time a pretty strong showing had been
made. 1t WAS evident that Mr.. Knight had
spread out the report to an unnecessary
length The extra space taken uD by the
spreading" process amounted so about l40
inches.
Ia order to counteract the effect of this
sho wing, Mr. Knight preferred charge of
fraud which, as subsequent events proved,
Was based entirely on malice. The charge
was .that Mr.. E. F. Miller added discount on
to bill against the County Auditor for adver-
tisinr last year." and that the bill was paid
by The County Commissioners. The charge
amounted to this: That E. F. Miller, in col
lecting the bill, was guilty of fraud and per-
jury, and that the County Commissioners
were parties to the fraud.
He stated that e. F. Miller bad made out
the bill in such form that the discount would
be included but that such addition would not
appear on the face of the bill.
In presenting bill an oath has to be taken
that the account is absolutely correct 80
the charge amounted also to perjury.
The Commissioners and Mr.. Miller immedi.
ately demanded through investigation
which was granted After searching exam
iuation, during which the advertisements in
question were put in evidence, the Grand
Jury found that there was not the slightest
foundation for the charges.
The report as published was seen by about
900 people-at least shat was about the sum-
Der issued By the Herald aud Banner con.
jointly. If published in all the papers the
number issued would have been about e. 700.
Notice how we'll The interest Of the taxpayers
was considered.