The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-02-05
Is Now Said to Be DO Other
Men or They Will Do You"
"PER" RlGGSBEE'S CODE
Mr.. Chappell Presents Evidence
of His Honesty.
Mr.. RIGGSBEE'S PROFANITY
Makes the Air Lurid, and He Is Made
to Deny Vulgar Epithet Which
Several Gentlemen Heard
Him Use.

At the last regular meeting OF the
County Commissioners, Tuesday, Feb
ruarv 4th, was named as the day for
hearing the controversy between Mr..
III. A. Chappell, eX-County Superin-
tendent of Public Instruction, and
Per Riggsbee, the purchaser of the
office of County Treasurer. 1t Will be
remembered that Per Hggsbee
causd the presentment of Mr.. Chap
pell before the grand jury, alleging
that Mr.. Chappell had not paid over
all the moneys coming into his hands
for examining teachers on Irregular
DAYS. This presentment was made
without the knowledge of Mr. Chap
pell. and after the County Commission
ers had set apart February 4th as the
day for hearing the controversy.
Yesterday at two o'clock the matter
was heard by the commissioners.
Per- Riggsbee submitted his books
as evidence that funds had not been
turned over, and according 10 Mr.,
Riggsbee's accounts the books showed
from June 30th, 1894, to the eXpira-
ton of Mr.. Chappell's term there was
q discrepancy of $500.
Mr.. CHAppELL'S STATEMENT.
Mr.. Chappell made fall and com
plete statement of the matter. He
stated first that he collected during
the latter part of AR. Lougee's term
S17.00. which he did not turn over be-
cause Mr.. Lougee was very busy dur
ing the campaign and died immediate
ly after the election. This money he
turned over to per" Riggsbee as soon
o.. l. boJ ,A.t,aI a cad tho nf Conn
ty Treasurer from Knight. He took no
receipt from Riggsbee; that it was the
custom during Mr.. Lougee's time and
for many years before. for the Super
intendent to pay the money TO the
Treasurer, and to take receipts in the
teachers names and not in their own;
that during Per" Riggsbee's term of
Office he turned over the money he col
lected either the same day it was col
lected. or as soon thereafter as he
could find him in his office, he Riggs
bee) being absent great deal of the
time; that when he turned this money
over he always gave a list of the
names to Mr. Riggsbee of the teachers
paid, and Mr. Riggsbee was supposed
to give credit to teachers and send
receipts TO them. In answer To a
1hcbt'I'N'i potNt ~ t'"+7 hA'''
custom to furnish postage to the Treas
urer TO send out these receipts, and
that he had supposed the Treasurer
entered the proper credits on ms
books and sent the receipts.
Mr.. Chappell said that when it first
came to his ears that the Board de-
sired his presence, he was very sick
with typhoid fever and his brother
f., TO what they
wished. The letter from the clerk of
the Board was put in evidence III
which Rogers stated that he didn't
know enough about the matter to give
the desired information. The entry in
the clerks record book was read
which stated that the matter for
which Mr.. Chappell was wanted was
in regard to some irregularity touch
ing teachers certificates. He never
became acquainted with the nature of
the charge until he obtained it, as soon
as he was able to come to town, from
the county attorney.
"PER" RIGGSBEE'S STATEMENT.
Riogsbee denied the truth of Mr.
Chappell's statement. The only point
in which his evidence agreed with Mr..
Chappell's was the statement that they
both made that it had never been the
custom togiye superintendent receipts
in theirown name: that the books show
ed no receipts at any time given 10
s4iperintendents; that they were al
WAYS made out III the name Of the
teachers.
In answer to the question, whether
Mr.. Chappell ever paid him any money
at any time. Riggsbee replied that Mr..
Chappell gave him S1.00 once for Miss
Julia Johnson and took ii receipt in
her name. In answer to similar ques-
ton. he stated that at another time
Mr.. Chappell received dollar from
Miss Ethel Burns brought it into his
room. and took IA receipt for Miss
Burns. whereupon Mr.. ChappeIi in
troduced letter from Miss Burns and
Miss johnson in which they both state
that they paid the money direct TO the
Treasurer themselves, and not 10 Mr..
Chappell.
AS soon as these letters were read
Per Riggsbee sought to get rid OF
their effect by declaring that he had
not said that Mr.. Chappeil pad hun
these amounts in person, but that he
(Riggsbee1 had said he was uncertain
about it. Notwithstanding only few
minutes previous he had made the
direct statement in the presence OF the
Commissioners and many others who
were present in the room. He stated
that two dollars was all he had ever
received from Mr.. Chappell-
MIR. ROBBINS EVIDENCE.
Mr.. c. NJ. Robbins was next in
PRODUCED He said he, lives near
Mr.. Chappeil; that they often
came to Raleigh together; that it was
arranged before starting home for
them to meet at Mr. Chappell's office;
that he had frequently seen Mr.. Chap
peIl. before he closed his office, take a
memorandum of teachers from whom
he had collected money recently, ana
count out the money, saying as he went
into the Treasurer's office with the
money and memorandum in his hand,
AS soon as / can settle, ! will be ready
TO CO. and that he returned without