The Leon reporter., 1901-03-07
Clarke County Buncoed out of
$4,000.

On last Thursday Sheriff Lukenbill
captured in Des Moines and brought to
Osceola M. A. Fisher who was indicted
by the Clarke county grand jury for Oh
tanning money under false pretenses
and for perjury. The history of the
transaction is as follows:
Fisher claimed he was injured by fail
ing of county bridge over White
breast creek southeast of Osceola. He
brought suit against the county for ten
thousand dollars, through his attorneys
Jamison 4 Park. The county employ.
ed w. s. Hedrick and Temple 4 Hard
niger to assist the county attorneyin its
defense. The case, was moved to Wayne
county but was never brought to trial.
A pressure was brought upon the Board
of Supervisors to settle the claim.
There was difference among doctors as
to how seriously Fisher was hurt. DR..
u. K. Douthett insisted that his injuries
were of most serious nature, while
others contended they were but slight.
The county sent for DR.. Schooler, an
eminent physician of Des Moines, and
paid him $50 to examine as to Fishers
condition. 1t is reported that DIR.
Schooler pronounced his injuries slight,
and expressed his opinion that the med.
icine that would work the surest and
speediest cure would be an application
of county funds.
But the pressure upon the county
board for payment of the claim by way
of settlement went continually on. All
the members of the board we're repub.
licans. Jamlson u Park, the attorneys
for Fisher, were influential republicans
and have always had much to say who
should till the county offices. DR..
Douthett was chairman of the republican
county committee and his influence was
counted important. At the last session
of the board in 1900 the matter was
vigorously presented and payment of
the claim was urged. The attorneys fer
the county, Temple & Hardinger and
Touet & Hedrick. all influential repub.
licans, some Of them holding official pos
itions, consented to the payment, al
| though the county had had no oppor.
tunity at that time to be heard in its de-
fense of the clam. The board allowed
the claimant $1,000. paying 81 900 down
in cash and issuing warrants for the re-
naming 1000 payable in twelve and
eighteen months. Temple & Hardingel
we're paid $3.50 and Hedrick was paid
$780, The time warrants are said tt
have been Immediately negotiated anc
Fisher left the county. He was carried
to the train on stretcher, and whether
the attorneys on both sides marched ir
procession with him is not known. Only
few days afterward Fisher was seer
running nimbly in the streets of De.
Moines trying to catch street car.
His case was investigated by the granG
jury at the last term Of court and ths
evidence produced led to his indictment
and arrest upon the charges abov,
stated. The inside history of the whole
scheme may never be made public
Fisher alone could not have worked it
lie must have had accomplices. Who
they were and what share they received
in the swag is unknown. It is believed
Fisher could explain many things il
connection with the transaction if hi
could be persuaded to divulge. Th'
members of the board are said to be yer!
sore at the imposition worked upo1
them, and an effort will be made to stol
4 payment Of the warrants given in partia
sett}ement-Osceola Democrat,