The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-05
PRESENTS TO TEACHERS
TRUSTEE CLARK, HOWEVER, DID
NOT HAVE THEM ON HIS VOUCHERS.
investigation of the Affairs of "a
Wayne Township OhiciaI-NO
Money Divided.

The Board of County Commissioners, the
county recorder and county superintendent,
with County Attorney Brown, sat a
court all day yesterday investigating the
charges of Postmaster Osman, of Ben Da-
Wis, against Marion Clark, trustee of Wayne
township. Osman, through his attorney,
Lawrence Riley. last week filed petition
with the Board of County Commissioners
charging irregularity III Trustee Clarlks ac
counts as they relate to his transactions
with the teachers of the township. The in
vestigauon is held under the statute giving
boards of commissioners the right to look
into the books and papers of township trus
tees concerning the management of schools
at any time.
Wayne township is greatly stirred over
the investigation, and the commissioners
room in the courthouse was crowded all
day yesterday. A number of teachers have
been called in as witnesses, and the ex-
animation has interfered with many of the
schools of the township. Osman's attor-
ney, Lawrence Riley is conducting the ex-
animation. Henry N. Spaan is defending
Trustee Clark The latter has claimed that
his books and accounts are correct as far
as he has knowledge. He and his friends
have charged that desire on the part of
some people to get even is at the bot
tom of the whole matter. Up to noon yes
terday the examination had revealed moth
ing of an irregular character, and it looked
as if the proceedings might be dismissed
at any time. Later in the day, however,
some discrepancies were shown in the ac-
counts of the trustee, which the officials
composing the court will insist on having
explained Mr.. Clark and his attorney both
hat MI ions xx,iIl
be forthcoming.
In the morning Attorney Riley called Mrs.
LYDIA McCray Jones' Henry Richwine, Miss
Mary Mascall, William Blessing and Miss
Mayme Collins, teachers of Wayne town
ship, to the witness stand. In the after
noon they were called again. The witnesses
were asked in the morning as to the SAL
aries they received for the school year of
1869. In each case the amounts they were
paid aggregated the full amount shown on
the face of the voucher. In the afternoon
Attorney Riley questioned the witnesses as
to the sums received for the year 1866.
Here the testimony. showed in most cases
some discrepancy between the amount of
the voucher and what the teachers con-
tract called for. In the case of Clarence
Clark, who taught the Bridgeport school
in 1895, there was a difference of about $40
in the amount shown by the voucher and
the amount he should have received ac-
cordlng TO his contract. Trustee Clark ex-
planned that in the case of the Bridgeport
teacher he (the trustee), at the end of the
school year, had made Clark a present of
about $37 He had asked Clark to take the
school because he considered it a HARD
one to teach and had promised the young
man II he made a success of the school
| that his salary would be made satisfactory.
In most instances where discrepancy was
| shown the trustee explained that salaries
| had been raised or that a present had been
made the teacher for good work.
Attorney Henry Span objected to the in
! PRODUCTION of vouchers for the year 1895.
He claimed he had gone to Attorney Riley
! and asked as to the line of prosecution
in the case. Riley informed him the case
| would be based on the vouchers of 1867.
| Attorney Span felt that Mr.. Riley had not
| been entirely honest with him, and asked
| that the board delay the proceedings until
he could examine into the books and vouch-
erS or 1895. The court declined to stop the
proceedings until o. clock Attorney Riley
| said Mr.. Spaan had had a week in which to
get ready TOR the case, and ii he was not
prepared 1t was his own fault. The court
comedies that the trustee has right to
raise salaries.
Mr.. Spaan asked each of the witnesses if
| they had ever divided any money with Trus-
tee Clark or had ever signed blank vouch-
ers, and they all replied they had not The
investigation will proceed to-day.