The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-06-12

Acting under the advice OF Prosecuting
Attorney James r. McElroy. the board Of
county commissioners has accepted the
tender OF $50 which an Investigation
showed was the shortage In the accounts
"a county Commissioner Eoyce while
pervisor OF road district No. ). The money
has been actually received by the prose-
cutting attorney. and the only Formally
that Is TO precede its safe deposit with rhe
county treasurer is the passage Of q resp
luton by the board accepting the money
anu directing the treasurer to receive il
and place IL In the road fund.
This Is perhaps the most important step
that has been taken OF late By the au,hori-
ties In dealing with the shortages in the
road accounts The case Of County Com
missioner Boyce. who. in view OF the ae-
tien of the county attorney has decided
10 hold Oh TO his job. Is 10. the only one
affected by the decision arrived AZ by Mr..
MeEiroy and which forms the basis Of
official action on the part Of the board of
county commissioners. Three and posi-
bly, four other supervisors. who were en-
tangled in the meshes of County Commits
sioner Heatons peculiar dealings. have
approached the prosecuting attorney with
offers to put up the amount of the short
age discovered In their accounts.
In one case the supervisor went TO the
would escape criminal prosecution il be
made the county whole in the transaction.
Mr.. McElroy Is reported to have declined
10 advise the delinquent supervisor bat
TO have intisnated his willingness 20 ac-
eept the money and discuss the other mat
ter afterwards With the attorney for the
supervisor Al was pointed out to the
latter that consultation with q well versed
lawyer would probably aid him in arriving
a the haot ma ~ 1{Nigt1l.
ties. The attorney consulted advised the
immediate payment of the money. since
which Mr.. McEiroy has been Informed
that the coin will be forthcoming at the
moment when the board OF commissioners
signifies its willingness To receive 1t.
Within a few days Mr.. McElroy will
prepare a resolution accepting the 500
from Commissioner Heaton and directing
the county treasurer to receive 1t and
place it to the credit of the supervisors
account. AS soon as the Boyce case is set
tied in this manner. II is understood that
the other cases Will be taken up by the
county commissioners.
Mr. McEiroy does not deny that he has
taken 500 from Commissioner Boyce
which has been placed in bank. to be
disposed OF at his order. Concerning the
ultimate disposal of the charges against
Mr.. Boyce as supervisor. Mr.. McElroy will
not talk. Much less will he admit that the
reimbursement of the county by Mr..
Boycc will act as a bar TO possible GRIM
inal proceedings against him. But even
in the face OF this. 1t can be seen that in
case an indictment was fled against Mr..
Boyce, his chances with q jury after the
money had been paid into the county
treasury. together with the alleged alb
sence Of criminal intent. would be greatly
enhanced. with the odds perhaps In his
favor. So with the other accused super
visors, whose cases will probably be gov
erned by the precedent which will be set
up in dealing with Mr. Boyce.