The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1895-07-09
THE AIKEN IRREGULARITIES.


Statement of the Comptroller G eneraI
His investigation Revealed No
Criminal Wrong on the Part of
OHcials.
Columbia Register.
Comptroller General James Norton
has returned from Aiken, where he
went to look into the affairs OF that
county which seemed to be very un-
satisfactory from the report made by
the grand jury. General Norton, after
a close and thorough investigation of
the situation, finds that no State
funds are involved in the reported
crookedness. He finds that while the
grand jury were honest and sincere
laboring under wrong impressions.
Generol Norton in speaking about
the results of his trip, said that he
found there were Irregularities in the
county commissioners Office in the
letting of contracts for roads and
bridges. 81 don't think" he said,
that any personal benefit has accrued
to the members of the board by the
action they took.
1t is also true, as the grand jury
reported, that the expenses of the
county have been increased seven or
eight thousand dollars, but for this
the county commissioners are not en-
tirely resonsible. A comparison of
the expenses for this year and the
years previous, shows that the county
nothing in Improvement of roads and
bridges. This matter had been
neglected and the public necessities
required that larger amounts should
be expended in this line. In these
two sources, alone, large part of the
increased expenditures arc explain
able"
General Norton said that the court
expenses were heavy. He learned
that there were ten or twelve murder
cases on hand, besides an unusual
number of other cases of serious
nature. This caused an increased
amount of expenditures on the part
of the sheriff and clerk, which had
which were beyond the control of
the county commissioners. Those
things could not be helped.
The grand jury also reported Super
visor Sawyer as using public funds
to pay private debts. General Norton
says on the face of it, it looks that
way. but that Mr.. Sawyer, with the
consent Of the commissioners, drew q
warrant in his own favor, which he
presented to creditor. This was
not strictly legal.
1t was also charged that Supervisor
Sawyer was guilty of forgery. Cen
eral Norton explains this by the fact
that Major Champion was clerk OF
the board; he was sick and needed
the money and Mr.. Sawyer drew q
warrant and signed Mr.. Champions
name to it, in the presence OF the
board. This he did to serve friend
and while technically the charge was
true, still the circumstances were such
as to relieve Mr.. Sawyer of any
criminal intent.
Generel Norton concluded by saying
that from conversation with members
OF the grand jury ne was confident
that the report was not made fOl
political effect. The members of the
jury were, in his opinion, honest IL
their wishes to do the best in thei
power for their county. The jur,
was composed of twelve Reformer
and five Conservatives, and the specia
committee, which investigated mat
ters, consisted Of three Reformers an,
two Conservatives.
General Norton while admitting
that there were great irregularities
does not think that any intentions
wrong was done. So far as none
is concerned, neither the county O
States loses anything.