The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-01-17
De kaIb Rotten to the Core.

sl'rcldl 10 the indianapolis Journal.
WATERLOO. Ind, Jan. 1.-the latest de-
velopments show that this county is rotten
to the core with Official corruption. extend
ing into the country townships. The suits
in jackson township commenced by Dam
Ger. the present trustee. against Joseph j.
Walters, ex-trustee and also the suit
commenced by n. 7. Jackman. present
trustee. against James O. Blake. ex-trus-
tee of Smithfeld township. are two of the
worst cases up for trial, and are expected
to produce a sensation. The trusted bus
mess is a corrupt. financial stencil In this
county. 1t has leaked out that in addi-
ton TO other indictments to-day. the grand
jury has one against James o. Blake, ev-
trustee OF Smithfield township. While men,
bers of the grand jury will not confirm this
report they do not deny it. Both Smith
field and Jackson townships are ever their
ears in debt. the result of extravaganza
and questionable methods. In Smithield
township Trustee Blake issued orders COW
ering over $1,000. mostly unnecessary TO
the welfare OK the township. and had the
reports of the trustees been published as
the present law reduirss, the taxpayers
would have been saved not only the cost
OF expensive law suits. but also two
thirds of the overdrafts on the
township funds, the work OF
industrious school and township supply
houses. The presen tncumbcnts are placed
in an embarrassing situation because of the
large debts against their townships, with
no provision for payments and a serious
doubt as to the legality OF the claims. No
record whatever was kept OF the out
standing orders. not even the stubs. and
the only evidence or the Indebtedness re-
ferred 10 is from orders presented for pay
ment by the hoiaers. This and the treasury
deficit of $ll.5G0, the shortage of over 81, 800
OF the ex-county clerk, the overdrafts and
a county indebtedness Of 100000. are be-
ginning 10 open the eyes OF the taxpayers
of De Kalb county. who have long been
burdened with excessive taxation. Polit-
ically, religiously ana socially all classes OF
people are represented in the complies tons
of croolIedness and county robberies. The
rate in De Kaib county has been for
many years nearly double the amount o.
adjoining counties. except Allen county.
and the county buildings are the poorest on
earth. There Is nothing 10 show for this
burdensome debt, and. as a new courthouse
will have TO be erected before many years.
the Indebtedness will probably soon reach
100000 John w. Baxter has been appoint
ed receiver of ex-Clerk ID. u Moody.
who is one of the latest TO he found
out. Mr.. Baxter Is one Of Moody's bonds
men, and receives all fees due Moody.
and 1t Is the settling up OF this
shortage only that win save Mr.. Moody
from the pentenuary. If it do that.
The attorney for the bondsmen Of Moody
made tender Of $500 TO present Clerk NJ.
+. Long as a settlement in full. but IL was
declined. the grand jury being at work then
on the defalcations coming to light. The
expert. ". II. Ernest. is a Democrat. but
he is going ahead. and there are rumors OF
much rottenness being uncovered by mis- In
vestigation. He is now engaged in examin-
ing the books or ex-Treasurcr Sawval, who
preceded ex-Treasurer Fair. Mr.. Sawval Is
a good Chriftian gentleman, and IL said TO
be very indignant over the fact that his
books should be suspected. The county Is
full Of crooked cS-offlcials as Well as others,
and there is yet much 10 be made public.
The general opinion is that DE kalb county
needs receiver.
The arrests of Coffinberry and Moody to-
day are no surprise here. Coffinberry has
been confined to his bed the past week. and
when arrested was sick man. There are
others just as sick financially. Instead or
being sent TO Jail CoffinbeTry IL under guard
at a hotel near the Jail.