The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1895-06-29
THAT LETkE BOARD MUBDLE.
IClarion-Led

0'seu Dy lew pap,ars Of the State on
account Of the leyee board transaction
explained below. Some Of these erIti-
cisms have been disinterested, but
many OF them have been inspired by
purely political motives, the purposes
Oh which are well understood.
The Clarion-Ledger has thoroughly
looked into this levee board matter
about which certain persons have uu-
aeriaken to make so much capital. and
Is prepared to say that Capt. Stone will
come out Of 1t with his honor and in
tegrity as unspotted and msullled as
II has ever been. He will be able to
make a showing before the meeting OF
'ne July term Of the beard that will
relieve him Of these unjust criticisms,
and TO show that the sum OF money
claimed 10 be due by him to the board
was paid 10 its defaulting treasurer
Ferguson, who failed to credit him.
ms will be done with receipts from
Ferguson himself and otherwise. lie
viii be able to show that large sums
oil money were paid Ferguson which
were not credited.
These same critics have been very
sollcitous as to why this statement had
not been made. The answer to this.
US they well understand, Is that the
board has not been in session since the
account was rendered. and there was
no authorized body, therefore, to re-
port TO, Capt. Stone feeling certain OF
Ills position D feels that be can afford 10
abide his time, confidently believing
the attacks on him, their inspiration
being so we'll known, are powerless TO
ipjure his good name. lie will appear
before the first board meeting iu July.
Now what are the facts iu lhis case
Ferguson, the old levee board lreasur.
or, had been proved delaulter for q
large sum Of money, and had fed the
country, aud is fugitive from Justice.
An investlgst ion was ordered 10 dis
cover II there were other peculauons.
Theexpert Capt. Anderson, In the in
vestigation, asked tho Auditor for
statements Of collections on land pur
chases snd redcmptlons. They were
cheerfully furnished by the Auditor,
who alone bad them, showing total
collections rom January 1st, 1884, to
January lst, 1898, Of $3l, ,47S,54, no
credits being. claimed.
Mr.. Andel son took these statements
and placed thereon only the credits
found on TT sasurer Ferguson's books,
bringing the Auditors office In debt
to the board $l2,777,S4. Now, II
Treasurer Ferguson's books had been
properly kept and all payments proper
ly entered, there would be no way Of
discrediting this statement, but fortu-
ustely Capt. Stone will be able to
clearly prove that such was not the
case. Mr.. Anderson, however, pro.
ceeded on the only lines available to
him, Now when this statement was
made without waiting for any demands
on him whatever, from any quarter,
Capt. Stone to assure his bondsmen
aud friends that he was prepared to
meet any liability, and as evidence Of
bis good faith, ut once carried the
amount to- Treasurer Everman and
left II with him to await the meeting
of the board aud the final adjustment
OF the acc ount, stating to him at the
timo that he admitted no liability. Put
ting the worst possible phase on the
matter tho board could not under any
contingency possibly lose a cent, for
there could have been no better guar
antee than the money itself. Capt.
Stone knew as well then as now that
he did not owe the money and placed
II with the tres surer solely for the rea-
sons given above.
Up to that time, be II remembered,
there had never been the slightest criti-
cism of the Auditors Office, but after
ward strong effort was made to have IL
appear that there was something
wrong with that Office, based solely Oh
this honest act of the Auditor. Prior
to that time 1t was generally believed
Ferguson had been paid the money,
and had failed to account for 1t, as he
had with numerous other funds placed
in his hands, but as sooD as the money
was deposited by Capt. Stone, and as
be stated at the time without admit
ting the least liability, he became the
ohiact of critiriam.