The silver blade. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1895-1903, 1900-04-21
THOSE MISSING CASH BOOKS.

Robert S. Bragaw appeared before
the board on last Friday a nd de-
MED positively that he ever kept
cash book in his office.
On February 24th, at a p adj
journed meeting of the boa rd OF
county commissioners, the follow
ing order was made:
Whereas suggestions have come to
the board from a number Of citizens
and taxpayers residing In various por-
tiuns of the county that it would be
advisable to secure the services of an
expert for the purpose OF making a
thorough examination and lnvfstiga-
tion OF the accounts and records OF
the officials OF kootena1 county for
number Of years past; and whereas,
upon examination OF the matter on
the part of the board.it is found that
such examination cannot be made at
this time on account of no cash books
having been found in the auditors
Office covering the several terms Of
tuC DiSOCCCoHoi VI PiCNShU iiitph
bent: now therefore it Is ordered that
the clerk Of the board be directed to
request Robert S. Bragraw, Esq :, eX-
auditor Of this county, to furn ST to
the board the cash books kept by him
during his incumbency of the Office of
auditor; and that pending his compli-
ance with such request further action
In this matter be deferred until Mon
day, April 20, 1900, at which time all
persons who desire to be heard b the
matter be requested to attend and
offer such suggestions in testimony as
may tend to show the ACCESSIBILITY of
such expert examination and inyesti-
CATION.
Mr.. Bragaw was duly notified of
the action of the board, and, in
reply, sent the following comm uni
cation:
To the Hon. Board of County Com
missioners.
GENTLEMEN: Your communication
of February 81, 1900, addressed to me
by the clerk of the board, and contain
Ing order Of the board, duly received
and contents carefully noted.
In reply will say that will gladly
appear before the board as per your
request, on April 20, 1900, prepared
to give such information as in my
possession concerning the cash hooks
kept by me as county auditor OF
Kootenai county, Idaho, during my
incumbency in the said Office. Yours
very respectfully,
RoBT. S. BRAGAw.
As Mr.. Bragaw is supervisor Of
the Priest River forest reser We,
and has been ordered to Priest
river to report for duty, he APP
peared before the board ON last
Friday. When questioned by
County Attorney Goode as to the
cash books kept by him, he stated
positively that ne never kept a
cashbook other than the auditors
Journal. He further stated that
the report OF his fees collected In
Guided abstracts, acknowledgements
and certified copies, as we'll as all
other fees of the office of county
recorder, auditor and clerk of the
board of county commissioners.
To ascertain whether or not HIS
statement is correct, the board
ordered the clerk to prepare full
list from the books kept by M Is.
Rragaw of the fees collected by
him for the year 1898. The state
ment has already been made in
the columns of this paper that
Mr.. Bragaw, in 1898, collected in
fees So, 228. IS. OF this amount he
turned over to Treasurer Hill,
SIo3. IS, leaving him balance Of
S3,I25.oo, the maximum salary
allowed him by law That Of
the fees collected he did not
account for any sums the office
received for making abstracts, fot
taking Acknowledgements, or max
ing certified copies of instruments
on file in his Office other than court
records. The records in the au-
ditor's office will bear out the
statement.
His assertion that he never kept
a cash book will have but little
weight, for he repeatedly stated to
responsible citizens before the ex-