The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1897-07-07
A SHORTAGE IN
COUNTY FUNDS
Treasurer kard Behind in his Ac-
counts to Amount Of $l2 900.
COUNTY WILL LOSE NOTHING
BOndsmen Good--claimed by Nard'S Friends
that Ne mas Imposed IA Howell \
kard Store Tarued over

Monday the fact leaked out that the
nrm OF Howell Il Ward had gone to the
wall. and that r. l., ward. county trcas-
urer was short in his accounts. For
Consideration oC the parties, who have
always had a high standing. and because
il was thought the matter could bc adj
jUsicd yesterday. nothing was said by the
press, No adiustment however, was
made. and today the county court will
make an investigation,
So far as can be learned the amount
that should be in bank to Mr.. WARTS
credit. as county treasurer, Is $l>,6iS IS
The amount actually there is about $500
I leaving a shortage of about Sls,o00 one
of the bnndsmcn Is reported to have said
that whca the figures are brought down
70 a date later than the compiling OF
. the report to be submitted TO the county
court today. there will De found a stlu
further loss. making the total In the
neishborhood OF $so,eJ0
The boadsmen OF the county treasurer
are c W. Fulton. ]. W. welch. George
holland. C. Reed. C. wingate ana {.
Ward. the amount OF the bond being
$4,000. and the Individual qualification OF
each surety S5.oo0
Yesterday Ward and Howell both con-
veyed all the real estate they own IN the
county to Wards bondsmen, and also
turned over the firms store and stock
OF goods TO them. and the store is now
IN the hands OF j. W. welch. who viii
manage Il for the benefit OF himself and
mis- co-surcties. Several wholesale houses
OF Portland had representatives here yes
teriay to lcok after their interests for
unpaid bills, but being only open accounts,
Welch said they would receive no atten-
tion. II is question. however, whether
the assignment by Mr. Howell. who was
not county treasurer. cannot he SCI aside,
and whether such an assignment would
not be considered In fraud OF the rights
OF the firms cretlitors. The stock on hand
is estimated to be worth $4,000, but II
is said the real estate conveyed is mort
gagged for its full value. Mr.. Welch will
commence taking account OF stock today.
What may be developed later as to the
shortage is unknown. but II Is thought
Nat the figures given above are out
side.
1t is claimed by Mr.. Wards friends
rat he was made a tool OF by Howell.
who held a power OF attorney from Ward
as a partner to sign checks. and that
money was withdrawn from the funds
OF the county by Howell Yesterday Mr.
welch went to the different banks with
Mr. Ward and had that power Of attorney |
Others say that Mr.. Ward must
have been to blame for giving such n !
power of attorney and was not ignorant |
OF the use being made OF the funds. and |
in permitting Howell not only 10 run the |
store business, but to run the county's |
business as well.
The following is the conveyance OF real
estate:
b. L. Ward and wife and W. c. Howell |
and wife, TO G. Reed. J. w. Welch, c. |
W Fulton. George Noland. G. Wingate,
and Chas Ward. "all lots and blocks |
owned by US in Clatsop county: and lots
3. 5. 6, !. in block 10. McClure's, and
block Is. Williamsport," consideration, s..
The detailed statement Of the amount
OF county funds charged to Mr.. Ward
at the time the last statement was made
for submission to the present session OF
the county court, follows: