The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1896-10-21

| he ASKS that q Eur ther examination Oi
His Books be Made and Asserts That al
VIII be Found Right-Coroper Com.
| mander's Statement.
SUMTER, S. c., Oct. 5-At high
noon today 9yTreasurer D. Z. Keels
and Coroner Commander appeared
before Judge Benet in open court tc
answer the rule to show cause why
they should not be indicted for malfea
sance of which were in their hands as
county officials.
The cases against these two officials
are too well known in all their details
to make a recapitulation of the facts
necessary to clear understanding OF
the answers put IN by each of them.
Mr.. Commander was first called on
to make his return to the rule whic b
had been duly served on him. He was
represented by II. i. B. Wells, Esq,
who read the answer which recited
briefly that Mr.. Commander became
acting sheriff on the death of Sheriff
Marion Sanders and continued in
charge of the Office until successor
to Sheriff Sanders was appointed. Du,
ring the time he was acting sheriff he
collected certain moneys and made
correct records Of ell transactions as
required by law. That when Mr..
George p. Mckaeen was appointed
sheriff ne CIV. Il. Commander) offered
to make a settlement Of all matters
! which had come into his hands while
acting sheriff, but that the sheriff re
fused to accepta settlement unless eli
The open accounts, including those
coming over from the administration
of Sheriff Sanders, deceased, should
be made. This he was not in posi-
ton to do, nor was it incumbent On
him to do so, having no knowledge OF
them, aud he therefore refused to do
so. He had been and is still anxious
to settle for all funds coming into the
office while it was in his hands and
therefore prayed that the rule be dis
missed and a time appointed for SET
tlement. He reported S777.s7 on hand.
Judge Benet ordered that the rule be
dismissed and that Mr.. Commander be
required to make settlement within
q reasonable time.
Capt. keels represented himself and
read his answer which is given in full
herewith. Judge Benet reserved his
decision.
State of South Carolina, Sumter
County-In re D. Z. keels-Rule to
show cause-Return.
To His Honor w. G.. Benet, Presiding
Judge:
In answer to the rule to show cause
why ! should not be indicted upon the
presentment of the grand jury to your
honorable court made out by a. w.
Suder, expert bookkeper of the grand
jury,I hereby submit to your honor
able court the following reasons why
l should not be indicted, to wit:
! l. That l deny each and every ale.
gs.tion in A. w. Suder's, bookkeeper,
report to the grand jury except suchas
are hereinafter admitted to be true,
and l further deny that have been
guilty Of any malfeasance or misfeas-
ance in Office.
2. Under the head Of ''Dispensary
Account" in the aforesaid report deny
the amount of S249.09 being due or
any part thereof other than that
charged to me in the last annual set
tlement on balance sheet S173.65, that
would have been paid, had settlement
been completed and had l not been
advised by those who were connect d
with making settlement and by a. W.
Suder, not to pay until after settle
ment was com pleted, which amount J.
nave always been and am now ready
to pay.
3. That under the head Court Ex-
penses" in the aforesaid report, March
and June terms, 1895, error OF 800 900,
1 know nothing whatever of. l post
ed my court vouchers with number
and to whom made payable. The
clerk of the board of County Commis-
sioners checked the account by the
vouchers and balanced the accounts
as the books will show. Having in
plicit confidence in his integrity and
honesty, I have never verified the
account, and if there is an error am
not aware of it. If upon investiga-
ton l find error am ready to pay the
amount.
4. That under the head Public
Schools, the sum OF 81 ,261.02 with a
credit by Treasurer II. l.. Scarbor.
ough's receipt of $1,000, is admitted.
The 81 ,2C1.02 is charged to me on bal
ance sheet in last annual settlement
and known to the county officials
connected with the Treasurer's office
and many others. This amount did
not pay because there was at the time
dispute as TO Dispensary fund and
the balance sheet was not fully
made out and | was advised by some
connected with the settlement not to
pay anything mole until the settle
ment was completed. GIr. Suder also
advised me to this course. About the
June term OF court. 1896, Mr.. Suder
asked me 10 pay 81 200 on this amount.
which l did. Shortly after this Mr.
Suder represented to me that the grand
jury had authorized him to collect
money from me to carry On the inVes-
tigation. Upon this representation
I paid him the sum of SGl.02 balance
due on school fund, and hereto ap.
pend copy Of his receipt.
Received Of D. E. Keels, ex-County
Treasurer, $6102, being balance of
amount due On school funds.
a. W. SUDER,
$6l.02. Expert Grand Jury.
Ifully believed be had at the lime
the authority to collect the same and
submit that l should not be indicted.
). That under the head County
Tax Fund that the amount Of S452. Is
IS admitted to be correct and the
amount is charged up to me on balance
sheet in last annual settlement, which
amount would have been paid had
settlement been completed and had l
not been advised by Mr.. a. w. Suder
and others connected with making
tho snft la,noOt Oot IN nav tho uOrD I