The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-10-21

that whatever A. w. Suder, expert oooK-
keeper. snd Mr. N w. B-ooke. found IN the
Sheriff7s office know nott,ng Of The
Auditor makes up the Delinquent tax and sb-
stract of the amount, Treasurer issues execu-
tious, turns them over to the Sheitf, takes
his receipts for the executions and his returns
for each execution aud il is the dn'y OF the
Auditor TO take the returns Of the Sher:h Tor
the nulla bopa tax 10 make annual settle
ments and the Auditor Who makes the an
nual settlements gives the treasurer credit FOR
tae amount IF nulla booa tax turned over to
him by the Sheriff on balance sheet ln each
annual sesilemeut If the Treasurer has
been credited By the Auditor with $4,T33 q
nulla bona tax on balance sheet more than
Treasurer was entitled 10, thea the
Treasurer would have had to have
been in collision with the Sheriff
and Auditor both. which deny, and reserve
the amount of 50, 1873 Il, otherwise the bal.
ance sheet made up by the Auditor would
necesssri'y show the amouat cf ST., 1872 to
the credit of.s,he Treasurer ou balance sheet
Now if there is any confusion or irregularl'y
in the Sherifs or Auditors office as to nula
bona tax em not aware OF i, and in no way
responsible and deny being due the sum of
S4.7s3 72 under this head
VII. That under the head of "Poll
Tax Investigation" in the aforesaid
report shows balance due $l,5cS.90, all
poll tax that went into the hands OF
the Sheriff has been settled upon his
return and accounted for in my annual
settlement. I have issued about 1000
poll tax warrants and placed them in
hands of the Trial Justices in 1893. i
pressed on the trial justices for their
returns upon the warrants. They
went before the Grand Jury during
the year 1898 and asked for more time
to collect the warrants. The Grand
Jury granted them further time and
consequently have never been able to
get their returns on the warrants. II
I had their returns so that [ could
close up the hooks I am rather of the
opinion there would be q balance due
me from the fact that | have money IN
the hands of some of the Magistrates,
also Treasurer Scarborough, for my
credit on school funds. Therefore |
deny that the amount Of $l,56S.9O is
due by me under this head.
VIII. That under the head of total
deficiency in the aforesaid report that
I positively deny that am deficient ln'
Treasurers Office the sum of s., ,l64.99 or
any part thereof other than the
amount shown by balance sheet last
annual settlement unless it be some
insignificant amount that may have
occurred from clerical errors on the
part of myself or some other officials
directly connected with the business
of the Office in making annual settle
ments.
Reference Is here made to letter of
Comptroller General Norton to A. b.
Stuckey. Auditor, copy of which is
hereto attached.
TX. My books are plainly kept, my
accounts correct and there is not a
fraudently entry made on my books.
Now without the intention of cast
ing reflections on any one-yet taking
all of the circumstances into consider
alton and in view of the fact that there
are a number of County officials direct
ly connected with the Treasurers office
in making the annual settlement and
that the annual settlements are made
by the Auditor from my books, the
Sherifs books and the Sheriffs return
on Execution, I most respectfully
ask your Honor to allow time for the
Comptroller General who is clothed
with the authority under the law or
any other person that may be appoint
ed to investigate the whole matter
thoroughly. All of which is respect
fully submitted to your Hcnor's con-
sideration, and having fully answered
the rule the respondent prays that the
same be discharged.
D. E. KEELS.
Personally appeared before me D.
E. keels who being duly sworn, says
that the above Return is true to his
own knowledge.
D. E. KEEI.S.
Sworn to before me this 18th day of
October 1896.
THos. G. MCLEOD,
Notary Public for S. c.