Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1900-04-21
Extracts From the Testimony OF
EX-COunty Commissioner
J. L. Armstrong.
ADMISSIONS OF NEGLIGENCE
Aud Violations OF the State Statutes Rela
tive TO the Duties OF County Com.
mIssioners-Ri,h and Raey.

oSt'ei uhtSislhHu Tue ioose anu SAtiSuicly
unbusinesslike methods pursued by the
previous board of county commissioners
in the conduct of the affairs of the county,
we publish herewith part of the testi
mony of J. l.. Armstrong in the recent
Tannahill forgery case.
The TELLER in recent issue charged
looseness and negligence on the part of
the retiring board of commissioners in
their manner of conducting the affairs of
the county, as shown by the meager rec
ords that were kept and on file in the
clerks office. The testimony of Mr.. Arm
strong, who was chairman of the board
at the time in question, shows conclu-
county's affairs were administered and
corroborates the allegations Of this paper.
That the reader may also gather some
idea as to what extent the laws of the
state regulating the duties Of county com.
missioners were violated. we cite few
sections pertaining thereto following the
sNetihohy VI az
Armstrong-Direct by Reid.
Q. How did you keep your records2
| mean during the proceedings of the
meeting, how would your clerk keep
themf
A. The clerk kept them on sheets oI
paper--tabs.
.. Little slips of papcrl
A. Yes. sir.
| Q. Isn't il a fact the way you woult
manage it, when you would allow bill
for instance, you were the chairman o
the board, and you would write on thu
bill, and make the allowance, aud abou
the only record you made Of the allow
ance was written on the bill, aud from
that he would write up the minutes
Tell us how you kept themp
| A. When the bill was allowed, it wa
usually signed by the chairman, AN
wrote on the sum in which il was a
lowed, and passed TO the clerk if he wa
!, there. If he was not there ii was pile
up for him when he came in, and II
| made his minutes by that, and with wfa
we would tell him when he came in. IL
had drawer alongside the table that h
kept those bills in.
q O. And his,record was made up fro'
ltha, kind,of menitpams,s2
II A sHea, sir.
Cross. hy johaxo.ls
Q. will ask you 10 gissss q tha', ~ ~
state if that is a record kept TX yoa
board Book E) commencing nt the jA
term, at this page.
A. Yes, sir; that is the record.
Q. What page does that commence o
y A. didn't look.
Q. Look and see where the July ter
u commences on that record and where
closes!
y A. don't know as | am Dookkeep'
Q. Were you not required by law
sign these records each day?
et Objected to as incompetent, irreleya
IL and immaterial.
al The Court-He may state il he kno
x whether it was their practice.
ie A. To the best of my knowledge il |
r. not been the practice of the board
county commissioners to sign them.
ig Q. In speaking of the board, You {
i'll speaking Of your board. Did you III
III the clerk certify you list of the b
is allowed?
"a A. Yes, sir.
st Did you compare them and che
ny them with the records of the board
county commissioners?
m. A. We checked them with the bills.
oy Q. Did you check them with the
m cords9
Isl. A. We checked them with the bills
lin lowed usually.
do Q. am asking you if you chec
NJ. them with the records. Was II or va
not your custom?
oeI A. II was not our custom to ch
!, them with the records of this mil
inc book. They were checked by the l
i've usually.
Q. Can you tell by your records,
Armstrong, how long you were in ses'
during your July term!
A. don't know as can by this.
Q. Don't seem to be very familiar '
CTS the records of the board of county c
ios' missioners'
It's A. No, didn't have anything to
!" with that,
-ub-
II is O. As board of county comniss
-ell. ers, did you inspect the auditors req
cas- Of warrants allowed by your boardf
,,on The Court-Do you know what
,rth register OF warrants is2
A. 1t is this large book we have I