The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-12-12
ROAST ON OFFICIALS
Pawnee County Grand Jury
Not Mealy-Mouthed.
BAD BUSINESS METHODS
In County Affairs Alleged
The Rutter Case.

Guthrie, o. T., Dec. 1.-THE county
commissioners of Pawnee county have
met and for the term fothe suspension
of Sheriff Rutter have appointed T. NJ.
Grant sheriff. Mr.. Grant has appointed
no deputies, but L. n. Bushore was APP
pointed under-sheriff. Mr.. Rutter is IN
der charges, and If the charges are not
sustained he will resume his Office.
1t is usual for a grand jury, after in
vestigating county officers, to pass com
pliments indiscriminately The last grand
Jury at Pawnee did not do this. but went
after some of the county officers rough
shod. Part Of the report is as follows:
1.-THE grand jury for the November
term. 1899. would respectfully report:
"First-That in pursuance Of charge
Of said court of matters not heretofore
reported, said grand jury have carefully
examined into all judgments rendered
against the board Of county commission
ers Of Pawnee county, in the probate
court of said county, and find that said
judgments in all cases have been regu-
larly entered after due observance Of all
the forms required by law. The grand
jury on examination of the official bonds
on file in the office of the probate judge
of said county find that the official bond
Of r. w. Dunlap, county commissioner, is
insufficient, and recommend that the said
Dunlap be required to give additional
sureties.
'Second-County commissioners: The
grand jury report that they occupied
much time and examined numerous wit
nesses with reference to the proceedings
of the board of county commissioners
with relation to the affirs of the county
since the last term of the district court
held in Pawnee county, and find that
said commissioners have conducted the
business of the county in a careless and
irregular manner in the following particu-
lars. to-wit: First that they have Sc
cured bids on public works without re-
quiring the deposit Of security. for the
execution of bonds to secure the perfor-
nance of contracts let; second, that they
have failed to require bonds for the con-
tracts made with them for the county;
third, that they have, as individual mem
bers of said board, and without formal
action therefor, made contracts involving
the expenditure of considerable sums OF
money; fourth, that they have delegated
the functions of the board of county com
missioners to a single member of said
board, and in some instances to the coun-
ty clerk, without any check or guard
upon the action of said member or said
clerk; fifth, that they have failed to re-
quire the county clerk to make and keep
an accurate record of their proceedings:
sixth, the grand jury examined the bonds
approved by the county commissioners,
and find the official bond of Simeon Mott,
county surveyor, and that of Matt Will
Jams. county attorney insufficient, and
recommend that additional sureties be
required.
Third-County clerk: The grand jury
report that they find that the county
clerk has been guilty of gross negligence.
He has failed to enter any minutes of the
action of he board of commissioners in
some instances.
Fourth-County jail The grand jury re-
port that they have examined the county
jail and find 1t a first class Jail in its
construction and appointments with the
exception that, first, foul air tubes should
he placed over the closets; second, waste
paper pipes should be provided; third.