Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1898-05-07
WARD OEFALCAT|ON.
Collected By a Suit Against
the Bondsmen.
STATEMENTS OF OFFICIALS.
Further Details About the CIatsop
County Shortage.
STATEMENTS OF OFFICIALS.

THE JOURNAL printed statement
from the Astoria News to the effect
that the Ward defalcation in Clatsop
county had not been paid oyer.
The Astoria News is Republican
paper and whoever will take the
pains to read its scathing review of
Clatsop county affairs, published May
4, will find the following words:
"But it is said the bondsmen are
good; that the county will lose moth
ing. Ii they are good, why do they
not make the county whole and stop
talking about it. The truth of the
matter is, the bondsmen are waiting
for the receipt Of the funds from the
assets of the firm of Howell & Ward.
Then If they fail to secure these re-
ceipts, it is presumed the county must
go without its money"
Judge McBride's Condemnation of
the management of Clatsop county Of
tcials was as follows:
1.-THE jury is discharged from further
consideration of this case, and from
further duty at this term Of court. 1t
is to be hoped that in future the
county will either be more successful
in the selection of its PUBLIC OF
FICERS, or the jurors who Try them
when they steal"
What did Judge Mcbride mean
when he used the words "public OFF,
GERS ?" Mr.. Dunbar is one Of those
public officers. AS county clerk he
drew the juries that acquitted Ward.
THE DEFALCATIoN.
The Ward defalcatlon was discov-
cred July 3rd, 1897. 1t was COM
menced about ten days after Ward
went into office as treasurer in July
1894. At the close Of his first term
ending in July 1896 Ward was short
about SlI 100000. The shortage cOu-
tinued and increased until its discov-
cry in July 1897. Wards semi-annual
statements would represent that the
money was in the banks. When from
time to time the county court would
want warrants called ia Ward or his
deputy would make excuses for not
making the calls and the court very
carelessly was put off in this way. At
one time the shortage reached $4,000
but it was partly made up a short
time before it was discovered,
1t seems strange that Dunbar should
claim the credit Of having raised
county warrants in that county from
S5 cents to par. This county is run on
4 ln Ia
They have a county judge and two
commissioners TO transact county
business and clerk to keep minute
of the transactions and orders by the
court. The minutes have not been
kept in any particular way that has
affected the financial policy or stand
ing of that county.
DEFALCATIoN SAID TO BE PAID.
Three Republican county officials
now make following statements:
Ina recent issue of the CAPITAL
JOURNAL (of Salem) appeared an ar
ticle in which it was claimed that +.
/. Dunbar, as receiver for Howell q
Ward, had never paid over to the
county (Clatsop) the defalcation OF b.
L. Ward, former county treasurer OF
this county. While l will enclose
herewith Two certificates from our
county Judge and treasurer, showing
that noJ only was the amount OF the
defalcation paid over, but the interest
from. the date the defalcation was dis
covered. Mr.. Dunbar has no right or
authority to inspect the books OF the
county treasurer and the county court
always examined the books every six
months, as required by law, and as
the books correspond with those or
the county clerk, and the defaulting
treasurer always produced certified
checks for the amount on hand,
neither Judge Gray nor Mr.. Dunbar
were responsible for the defalcatiCn.
The amount Of the defalcation having
been paid oyer to the county treas
urer, the matter was considered satis-
factorily adjusted, and gives entire
satisfaction TO the people OF Clatsop
county.
Very respectfully,
G. j. CURTIS.
Astoria, Or, May 5, 1898.
state Of Oregon,
County of Clatsop, IS:
-. II. ID. Gray, county judge in
and for Clatsop county, 'state or Ore
gon, do hereby certify that on the
thirtieth day OF March, 1888, In ac-
cordance with a'decree OF the circuit
court of the state OF Oregon, for Clat-
sop county, f. L. Dunbar, receiver 10
the suit OF Il. l.. Sabin ct al, VS.. w.
-
IN ~