The Savannah morning news., 1902-07-29
IT HAS THE RIGHT
GRAND JURY CAN EMPLOY EXPERT
TO EXAMINE BOOKS.
JUDGE BARROW CITES LAW
EXAMINER MUST DE CITIZEN OF
THE COUNTY.

Grand Jury Again Charged as to the
Law Comforting Authority 10 In
vestigate the Books and Accounts
of County OMcers-Judge Barrow
Says the Necessity for Such Exnmi-
nation Must BE Determined by the
Grand Jury.
An additional charge on the subject
of the employment of an expert ac-
countant to examine the books and
papers of county officers was made by
Judge Barrow to the grand jury of the
Superior Court yesterday afternoon.
Judge Barrow said
MIR. Foreman and Gentlemen: Since
we last met some one or two men,
bers of your body have asked me for
more specific directions, or sugges-
tions, or advice, as the case may be,
with regard to the power of the grand
jury to employ citizens of the county
to inspect and examine, during vaca-
ton, the offices, books and papers of
county officers.
Paragraph 1876 of the third volume
of the code makes it the special duty
of the grand jury to inspect and OK
anime the offices. books, papers and
records of the clerk of the Superior
Court and Ordinary, and also the
books, papers, records, accounts and
vouchers of the county treasurer.
Paragraph SS7 authorizes the grand
jury, whenever they deem it neces-
sary, to appoint any one or more citi-
zens of the county to inspect and ex-
anime, during vacation, the offices, pa
pers, books, records, accounts and
vouchers of the Court of Ordinary,
for county purposes, clerk of the Su-
perior Court. county treasurer, tax col
lector. tax receiver. County School
Commissioner, sheriff and all other
county officers.
The Law Is Plain.
THE law, therefore is plain that
you have the power. if you see fit and
proper to exercise it, to appoint any
one or more citizens of the county to
inspect and examine these offices and
books and papers.
1.-THE act passed and approved Nov.
fly the powers of the grand jury in
this respect. The only effect which the
act of 1901 has, and the only effect
it was intended to have, was to clothe
the Ordinary or the County Commits
sioners, as the case may be, with the
same power that the grand
jury already had in respect
to one class of county officers
that Is, those whose duty it was to
-, IN.
did not take away any power which
the grand jury already had TO appoint
any one or more citizens of the county
to inspect and examine the offices,
books and papers of any official of the
county.
Grand Jury Has the Power.
The power of the grand jury to
have this examination made by a per-
son chosen by them, who is not a men,
Der of their body extends to all the
officers of the county. The power
which is conferred upon the ordinaries
and the county commissioners, in
counties where they have county COM
missioners, does not extend to all the
offices of the county as yours does. The
power conferred by the act of 1901 up
on ordinaries and county commission
ers only extends to those officers whose
duty 1t is to handle county funds.
Now, as to the necessity for this
examination to be made by an account
ant, or a person chosen by you out
side of your body: that is a matter ex-
clusiVely for you. You can make the
examination yourselves or you can en-
ploy a person who is not a member of
your body and who is a citizen of
Chatham county to make the exami-
nation for you and to make his report
to the next term of this court.
No Suggestion of Wrong.
~ have no doubt that, If an exami-
nation should be made, the accounts
will be found to be in good condition,
and, so far as the officers of this court
are concerned, they welcome q speak
for them-I have a right to speak for
.them), a thorough and sitting exam
nation of their books and ac-
counts, either by the grand jury of by
any expert accountant chosen by the
grand jury. Instead of shrinking
from II they welcome a thorough and
sitting examination, and l have no
doubt that all the other officers of the
county will do the same thing. l be-
lieve that covers the questions asked
me with regard to this power of the
grand jury"
Thus fortified in its purpose there is
little doubt the grand jury will proceed
to the appointment of an expert ac-
countant at it's leisure. The grand
jury has been advised ii had a right
to make such an appointment and,
despite the objections of the commits
sioners, 1t will be made. AS one Of the
grand jurors expressed 1t: Its a mat
ter between the commissioners and