The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-08-20
Rocky Peint Nstss

Editor messenger:
Rocky Point. N. c., August L.
Knowing your columns to be open to the
dissemination OF truth and justice we
beg space to correct your correspondent
of the 5th inst, under above heading.
He says "the fence commissioners,
through their chairman, Mr.. T. J.
Armstrong, was cited to appear before
the county commissioners on Tuesday,
the Bird inst, charged with misappro-
priating the fence funds. They COM
pletely exhonorated themselves" The
facts are as follows:
The records of the board of county
commissioners failing to show that an
nual reports had been made of the dis
bursements Of the special fence fund
as required by chapter 246 laws OF
1885, at the request of taxpayers, the
county commissioners passed an order
on the first Monday in March requir-
ing T. j. Armstrong, chairman OF the
fnce commissioners and custodian of
the special fence fund to appear on the
first Monday in April and file an item
lied statement and exhibit vouchers
for all money expended by him He ap-
peared and asked to be allowed until
h first Monday in June to file his
account, which request was granted.
not appear and sent in only the report
required for 1897, without a single
voucher.
Objection was raised by taxpayers
to accepting this report, as 1T did not
cover the whole time u~naccOunted for,
and at the request of Mr.. j. T. Bland
his attorney, he was given until Tues
day after the first Monday in July to
report, at which time he was still alb
sent and had no report; but his attor-
ney, who had asked for the extension
Of time, sought to protect him by rails
ing the question of jurisdiction Of the
present board to go behind the date of
their own existence to investigate his
accounts. This was overruled and the
board passed one more order requiring
him (and at the request of his lawyer
and the whole board of fence commits
sioners) to appear on Tuesday after
the first Monday in August with item
lied statement and vouchers for all
money expended by him.
This time he was present with other
members of his board, but filed no ac-
count. He had no report nor a written
statement Of any kind, but through his
counsel pleaded with the board to ac-
cept the verbal statement Of himself
other interested parties that he had
made to the old board the annual report
required of him by law, and notwith-
standing the register Of deeds and the
clerk Of the county commissioners for
the whole time not accounted for re-
peatedly declared he had faithfully
recorded all reports and other paper
writings approved by the old board,
and in spite of the appeals Of taxpay-
ers that Armstrong be required to re-
port in writing and the county records
made to speak the truth, our
board of county commissioners re-
coded from all their orders and rulings
in this matter for the last five months
and allowed him to go free on the YER
bal statement, thus leaving their rec
Ords without the scratch of a pen or a
single voucher from Armstrong to
show what has been done with the peo-
pies money, and his is VIA your
correspondent calls complete exOnera-
ton"
If MI Observation-Disclosures have
been proper he owes it to himself to
come out like an intelligent business
man and show the people who have
paid this special tax at his instance
for the past ten years what he has
done with their money. 1t is but proper
to state that the present board of coun-
ty commissioners have passed an order
requiring him from it's date to annually
make and swear to an itemiZed re-
port, and exhibit proper vouchers for
all none disbursed. In justice to all
parties Interested, we hope you will
publish this plain statement of facts.
E. PORTER.
J. B. DURHAM.