The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1894-02-22
WkBEk'S WRONG-DOlNG.

w IDhVO W lCONN DOAANN'
WHILE SCHOOL, COMMISSIONER OF
CHARLESTON COUNTY
Ho Forced and De1nulsed-A Life of much
Promise Bias, ed-Tho Superb taDdent
cf Eduoa,i ms Damning R'p"rt-The
Amount otshc rtage..
COLUMBIA, S. g., Feb. 15.-Last sum-
who had been living ia that city for
many years, engaged In editorial WORK
on the News and Courier. was elected
to chair in Trinity College, North
Carolina. He resigned bis position as
school commissioner of Charleston
County and his position on the News
and Courier and left Charleston stand
ing high in the estimation of all the
people of that city. He was known to
and high cultivated man. He was we'll
known throughout South Carolina and
every one was sorry to see him leave,
though all were glad to know Of his
rise In life.
1t did not take long, however, for the
terrible blow, which like the sword of
DamOcles, hung over the young mans
head, to fall. About two months ago
1t came with crushing force, when 1t
became known to the State authorities
that something was wrong in the of.
flee which Mr.. Weber had vacated. An
investigation was started and soon the
worst was ascertained. The facts have
been known to the press for weeks, but
they have been waiting official action,
before giving them to the public.
About q week ago Mr.. Weber returned
nd R@ orl1o to-
upon the advice Of his friends. Yes
terday Superintendent of Education
May1eld, who has been investigating
the matter, returned to the city and
submitted to Governor Tillman the fol-
lowing report, which the Governor gave
the press for publication. 1t tells the
story Of Mr.. Weber's downfall in de-
tails:
State of South Carolina, Executive De-
dent Of Education, Columbia, S. G.,
February Is, 1894.
Gov. B. r. Tillman, Columbia, 5. Z.
Dear Sir: Under the law county
school commissioner are required to
report to the State Superintendent of
Educat1on by the 1st day of October
or each year, among other things, the
amount Of money collected and expen-
ded for schools during the year.
On the Bird day Of October, 1893. John
1: Weber, as school commissioner for
Charleston county, filed his annual re-
port with me, which showed the ex-
penditures for the year to be in excess
of the receipts. Being dissatisfied with
the report, sought an explanation.
Mr.. Weber has resigned and left the
state to accept a position in Trinity
College, located at Durham, N. c., and
=. Horton Colcock has been appointed
by you as his successor. Mr.. Colcock
was unable, from the records In his
office, to explain the discrepancy. L,
therefore, prepared blanks and sent
them to the school trustees of that
county for the purpose Of obtaining the
desired Information. In making up
these reports, a discrepancy was discov-
cred In enc Of the school warrants.
have made personal examination
of the school commissioners Office, and
find that this particular warrant has
been raised from 81 65 to $97 Go, by in.
sertipg the figure 8 in tho margin in
front OF the figure Z, and writing the
word ninety In front Of the word seven
In the body OF the warrant. ais iipd
other warrants that have been raised,
and others that were Issued for labor
not performed, and for school supplies
and furniture that we're not furnished
The warrant for S7.65, raised to $97.-
60, above referred to, is made payable
to Isaac Hammond or order" The
correctness of the claim Is sworn TO bv
him before the chairman of the board
OF school trustees issuing 1t, and both
ot them say the warrant was issued
. for $3.50, and that that amount was
actually due. Isaac Hammond is a
merchant Of good financial standing
and reputation, and engaged In bust
ness on Broad street, In the city of
Charleaton. He says that he turned
the claim over to Mr.. Weber to be
countersigned by him as school com
missioper,and that Mr.. Weber brouaht
his $765 In cash, the amount due him.
The warrant was certainly raised be-
fore 1t was presented TO the county
S. treasurer, Geo. II. Walter, for ayment
for 1t was paid by him with check
drawn In favor Of "Isaac Hammond or
order for $0765. The check was pre-
sented to and paid by the Charleston
Bank. Isaac Rammond's name being
endorsed On the. back of the check.
The teller of the bank, who paid the
money endorsed on the back of the
check In blue pencil that he had paid 1T
to John l.. Weber. Mr.. Hammond
says that the endorsement Of his name
on the back Of the check Is a forgery
ana the experts In the bank say 1t is
not MS signature. The changes In the
WhtSnt appear TO 20 IN the handWrit-
tng or Mr.. Weber. There was Issued
payable to "Isaac Hammond or order
another school warrant for SO 90 which
was raised to $68.6O. This warrant
TOOK very much the same course AZ the
, other above referred to, and the
changes IN 1T appaar to be in Mr.. Web
aeR's hand. WV
Mr.. Weber ran an account with Meg.
srs. Walker, Evans & Cogswell on
which he had charged the articles he
purchased for his own private use, and
also those he purchased for his own
use as school commissioner, and also
those he purchased for the use Of the
public schools Of his county. On April
o, 1892, he owed on this account for all
purchases $10050, and on the same day
the account was credited with $66.5
This credit Of $66.60 was . school war.
rant issued to Walker, Evans Sc Cogs-
well originally, for 5000, but raised to
. $66.6O. The changes apnear to be in