The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-02-24
FEES ARR POCKNTED.
Some Officials at Duluth in .
Very Bad Light.


w
Funds and Reckless Extravaganza All
Along the Line-The Jury Has been In
Session for Five Weeks and Returned
Thirty Eight Indict mentS-SslOens and
Gambling Houses Run Contrary to Law.
Duluth. Mimi, Feb. 23.-The grand
jury has completed its labors and
turned in to court its report. accompa-
MED by twenty-five indictments. The
report is a sensational document. The
names OF the persons indicted will not
be known before Thursday, 1t is ex-
pected. The jury has been in session
about five weeks and has returned
thirty-eight indictments. About SEQ
witnesses were examined.
The jury finds in its report that the
register of deeds. though paid a salary
OF $4,000 per year. has been in the habit
of appropriating 10 his own use large
amounts OF fees which should have been
turned into the county treasury: that
he has received money for official serv-
ices which he has retained TO his own
use while 1t should have been turned
over 10 the county treasurer. The
grand jury lately returned an indict-
ment against Register OF Deeds Berg
strom for the transportation of funds.
and the report says that the county
auditor has received fees for making
certificates of taxes amounting each
year TO several hundred dollars, no part
of which has been turned into the coun-
ty treasury.
Misrepresentation of Funds.
There are two indictments against |
Auditor Halden. charging misappropria-
ton Of funds. The report says the ad-
ministration of affairs Of the county up !
to Jan. 1, 1897. has been one of reck- |
less. almost criminal extravaganza all |
along the line. The distribution of the |
poor funds was made without regard |
to law and 1t was found that $500 was
paid out for the relief Of the poor In
1896. and that while the law provides
that not more than $40 shall be paid in
any one year, for the relief Of any one
person or family. and that the amount
cannot be extended beyond $50. even by
the board of commissioners, that indi-
vidual commissioners in many cases have
granted such relief to the amount of
800 in a single year without authori-
ty from the board. 1t is found there
of the poor scattered over
the county who issue orders for the re-
lief of the poor without authority of
law and that the county pays the bills
with absolutely no check upon them
and no way of ascertaining whether the
needy person ever received the relief
paid for.
Given Benefit of the Doubt.
The grand jury was in doubt as to
whether the commissioners willfully dis
the law or failed to observe it
through ignorance and carelesseness,
md on that account they were given the
benefit of the doubt. 1t cost the county
$1,000 insalaries for the distribution Of
he poor fund and physicians'fees dur 8
ng 1896, large amount of which went | ,
20 so-called assistant superintendent
- 80 -, for whom there is no pro-
vision. 1t was found that during 1896 :
over $4,000 had been paid out for the :
Of people out of the coun-
ry to Finland, Sweden, Norway, Ger
many, France and other foreign coun-
ries. 1t was found that suppllijssSn w3ssa q
bought ihatrr 81 6c areiessness at prices 60 e~
ravagant as to tend rapidly toward !,
The new addition to the
II the grand jury. 1t was found that b
{ cost double what it should have and n
hat the circumstances connected with
he construction are suspicious. There
we're traces of criminal acts, but the
rand jury had been unable to fix Grim q,
nal liability on any one. :,
saloons and Gambling Houses.
The report declares that in Duluth
10 rnlC III
without regard to and in open violation
II law One instances is reported
where boys were engaged in plavinp NJ
I poker and during part Of the time fc
ians Peterson, sergeant Of police. was =,
resent, sitting at the table where the ~
ard playing was being conducted and o.
ne saloon wac open for business" The q
looks of the gas and water companv ~
we're examined and. while nothing !,
wrong was found with the present man. a
the report adds: u
THE examination made OF tho booLs cl
nd vouchers of the previous local man r.
lgement of the company show MANY
ntries that were evidently not intended
o convey any material Information n
utside OF the party by whom they were u
made We found strong evidence that | q
Yer $4,000 was used by the gas and
t,orer company to carry the bond cleo
,,t Oct. rs. 1894, and Sept. "a 1895
~ The ITO the fact that a number
ysra ,,.s,'a use during that period v
,,a,, 'a'hap> we were unable IN
',s sucn an examination as uo wo,,,d
otherwise have done" o' as we wouio "
Murder I'm the Second De- Z
!. S 80 We W,,;, FEB; 2a-The jury in NJ
wiIham Dempsey cheryes->|ftn ru
verdict flndns MIN guilty ot>nurder y.
n the second degree. The ptnalty Is al