The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-03-11
BAD STATE OF AFFAIRS.
THIEvERY AND LAcHESE IN THE
COUNTY OF EDGEFIELD.
The Grand Jury Makes Presentment
Which Reflects on a Former County
Treasurer and the Present Sheriff and his

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| Which Reflects on a Former County
Treasurer and the Present Sheriff and his
Rascally Deputies.
EDGEFIELD, March 2.-Court con-
vened here today, Judge Ernest Gary
presiding. The following special pre-
sentiment, which created sensation,
was made by committee of the out
going grand jury. The criminal dock
ct is lighter than usual, the chances
being that it will occupy only por-
ton of the week.
A STARTLING EXPOSE.
The grand jury submits as its pre-
sentiment the following report of its
special committee:
Gentlemen of the Grand Jury: Your
special committee to investigate the
books of the different county officials
has submitted reports at each term of
the court since our appointment, but
on account of the delay of the sheriff's
returns on executions and the treas
urer's final settlement, we could not
make our report complete in Novem-
ber. Commencing in the Office of the
treasurer with the fiscal year 1928,
we ascertained that the annual settle.
ment with the treasurer had been
made from the original assessment
furnished by the auditor, and know
ing that money had been collected
from parties whose property had not
been assessed, we proceeded to the Ia
borious task of aggregating the stubs
of every receipt given in the county
for money collected as taxes. We
found that the sums of the stubs
amounted to 81, DAB .23 in excess of the
amount that had been charged: in the
original assessment.
For the fiscal year of 1S93-94 the
same state of things exist, and with a
similar investigation as we made of
the previous year we found that the
treasurer had collected $508.37 more
than charged to him by the assessment,
thus making for the two years 81, 551,
60 that has been collected by the treas
urer and has not been accounted for.
These amounts for both years were
collected from parties whose property
had not been assessed, but voluntarily
came forward to pay their taxes.
Upon examining the settlement sheets
we find no additionals reported. The
present treasurer has already collected
from similar source about 5000 and
has the amounts and names of parties
properly entered upon a book for this
purpose. This fact itself bears out the
correctness of our examination.
The tax executions are given out by
the sheriff to a lot of deputies, and in
a great many cases to men unworthy
of such trust, as the facts below will
show. From various townships,
without expenses and with very little
effort, we have the following facts:
In Higgins school district an execu.
ton for taxes went out against Wess
Samuels and the books of the sheriff
and treasurer are both marked "Non
est, nulla bona," and we have in our
posse ssion the receipt of the deputy, j.
r. Webb. showing that he collected
$7.40 from Wess Samuels.
In Pine Grove Township the taxes
of Sophie Burt is marked ''Nulla bo-
na," and we have the deputy's, j. 9.
Cogburn, receipt showing that he col
lected So. so.
In Moss Township Wiley Blanchard
has been marked "Non est, nulla bo-
ma" and we have the receipt of A. V.
Morgan, constable. for $5 for taxes
and penalties of Wiley Blanchard.
In Mobley Township D. w. Harris
is returned on the books nulla bona
and we have the receipt of w. L.
Rhoden, deputy, for 1896, collected
from D. w. Harris for taxes and PEN
alties.
w. G.. Wood was given the execu-
tions for Collier Township. Execu
tons were given to him against him
self and brother, T. B. Wood. In.
stead of paying his, he marked it as
having been paid by receipt 1,170 of
treasurer and marked T. B. Wood,
with receipt of treasurer, 5,O53. We
examined the stubs and they show
that the receipts for these numbers
were for other parties and that Wood
has defrauded the county.
This same deputy had an execution
against negro, Lewis Holmes; sold
his clock, bought it and he or his faith.
er, has the clock to-day, and returned
Lewis Holmes "Can't be found"
These facts gathered without expense
convinced us that something should be
done and not wishing to assume the
responsibility of involving the county
in the expense of investigating every
township in the county we decided to
investigate one township thoroughly,
and we employed a reliable man sent
him to Merriweather Township, with
no intimation from any one that 1t
was worse than any of the forty town
ships and school districts in the county.
We found in Merriwetber Township
on the execution book Jesse Schultz,
marked mon est, nulla BONA" can't
find, and we have receipt of the depu-
ty, w. E. Busy, for So, collected
from Jesse Schultz for taxes and pen
alties.
Tom Johnson is returned on the
books mon est, nulla bona, can't
find" and we have the receipt of w.
E. Bussey that he collected 1856 from
Tom johnson.
Jack Johnson and Richard Johnson
are both returned on the books N. T..
and N. B., and we have the receipt OF
w. E. Bussey showing that he collect,
ed S. .65 from Jack Johnson and So .52
from Richard johnson
Oliver Patten is returned N. E., N.
B., and we have Bussey's receipt show
ing that he collected S. 40 from Oliver
Patten We have positiye evidence