The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-10-14
RAsCALlTY INEARTHED
Return TO Days OF Swepson-LttsIe-
held-French Rule Wake County AP-
proaching Bankruptcy Under Ne
publican.PopulisIM Management -
.aleigh News and OhserNer- !

tRaleigh News and ObserverD
Last spring Mr.. W. G. Stronach. tho
last chairman OF the board OF county
commissioners under democratic rule.
had his attention called To a statement
! made by ]. ]. Rogers. the register of
deeds, and clerk OF the board OF com
missioners made under Section 752 40
the Code, Of the receipts and disburse-
ments OF the county from the first
Monday Of December. 1896 to the rrxt
Monday OF December. 1897, the first
fiscal year Of the present board OF COM
missioners, by which J. j. Rogers tried
to show that the expenses OF the coun-
ty for the first fiscal year, ending un
the first Monday OF December. 1881.
amounted to only $27. S34, sc, and at once
commenced to investigate the truth or
the statement.
This statement Of Mr.. Rogers show
ed the receipts for the said fiscal year
were s42, ,9S417 and that disbursements
were only $27,S34.S6 as above stated.
and Mr.. Rogers and his friends give it
out 10 the people Of the county that
the present board saved about SIS 0oo
to the county. Mr.. Stronach called up
on Mr.. Haywood knight. the treasurer
of the statement. Mr.. Knight said ne
had nothing 10 do with the statement
and that il was incorrect. on the Same
day Mr.. knight made full examiun-
tion of the books in his office. aided
by Mr.. J. Q. Williams. the clerk I'm Mr..
Rogers office, and wrote Mr.. Stronach
the following letter:
"Office of Treasurer Of Wake County.
Raleigh, n. c.. May 13, 1896
"Mr. w. G. Stronach, Esq:
'Mr. Armistead Jones, j. Q. Williams
and myself have examined the books
in my office. and find that the receipts
of Wake county fund from all sources
from December l. 1896 to December 4,
1897. amount to S43.027.0s.
The disbursements from December
]. 1896, to December /, 1897. amount to
s42,990.73. Yours respectfully.
HENRY II. KNIGHT.
County Treasurer"
The false statement that the expendi-
lures Of the county only amounted to
$27,S34.S6 has been reported. and the
statement is being daily made by J.
, J. Rogers and the other republican fu-
sion candidates that the present board
saved 81 900 to the county, and paid
the same upon the bonded debt OF the
county. When the statement was
made upon the stump Mr.. knight WAS
| again approached and his books ex-
! amined and after a full examination
! wrote again to Mr.. Stronach the fol-
. lowing letter:
! "Office of Treasurer
"of Wake County,
{ Raleigh. y. c.. October s, 1888
| "W. c. Stronach. Esq:
Dear Sir: / have examined the
books in my office and find that none
; Of the county debt due and owing at
; the time the present board OF county
J commissioners came into office on the
the first Monday in December. 1896
has been paid except the sum OF $780,
which has been paid TO the Kings
! Bridge Company for building bridges
! The present board OF commissioners
, borrowed for the county 81 900 on the
! 5th day of July. 1898 from the Conn
mercial and Farmers bank. and that
amount has not been paid back to the
bank. The county treasury is out oS
money now, and I have not paid the
jury tickets for last court. and only q
few poor orders to outside poor given
| at last meeting Of the board.
| The county is behind two months
/ in paying the expenses OF the work
| house and poor-house. There are coun-
ty orders outstanding. amounting fn
about $1,000, or 81 500. unpaid, and the
| costs OF the September term of the
| court have not been paid. None Of the
county bonds have been paid.
| Respectfully yours,
HENRY II. KNIGHT.
/ COUNTY Trea asurer