The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1902-10-29
UGLY CHARGES
ARE PRESENTED.
Sensation i'm Grand Jury's
PreSentment.
I'll. Il. GRAY'S LETTER.
Question Concerning 500
is Brought Up.
Matter OF Settlement Between Dispen.
ser aud Ex-Treasurer-Mr. Babb's
ExplanatiOn-Other Matters.

ser aud EX-Treasurer-Mr. Babb'S
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Matters.
The Grand Jury in lis presentment
last week included q letter from III. E.
Gray making grave charges concerning
a matter Of $4,000 involved in a settle
ment between Dispenser A. r. Sullivan
and EX-County Treasurer Babb, which
has caused a mild sensation. Below is
the presentment OF the grand jury in
which the matter is discussed:
TO His Honor, o. w. Buchanan, pre-
siding Judge at the October term of
Court Of General Sessions for the
year 1902;
The Grand Jury beg leave to submit
the following as their final presentment
for this term.
1st. We have passed on all Bills
handed US by the Solicitor.
End. We desire again to call the at
tention of the Court to the fact that
our repeated recommendations as to
the Railroad Crossing on East Main
and South Harper streets, have been
so far, as we are informed, ignored by
the Railroad Companies, although
they have been served with an order to
show cause before this Court, why
something should not be done. Also, to
our recommendation rs to Railroad
crossings throughout the county, so as
to render said crossings more conven
lent for the passage of vehicles.
Bird. We are Informed that one Enoch
Mccoy (colored) who is working out
sentence on chain-gang is not in a con.
dition mentally to remain there and we
recommend that the proper officers
take necessary steps in his behalf.
All. We desire to call attention Of
the Court to the condition OF our Coun-
ty Home for the poor. The houses leak
and are generally in bad repair, and
the inmates stand in urgent need Of
more room, IS they are crowded, 80 as
not to be in sanitary condition. We re-
commend again that at least two new
houses be butt at once. Winter is now
on and the inmates will suffer without
these improvements. A visit to the
County Home will show that more than
we recommend is necessary. We de-
sire to note that Miss Jane Starnes,
Keeper of the County Home, does her
duty In every particular.
5th. We have examined the books
Of the County Officers and the sufi-
cheney OF their bonds and find the
books well kept and bonds sufficient.
We find that some of the most impor-
tant books in the Clerks Office are old
and practically worn out and would re-
commend that our Representatives
have appropriated a sufficient sun of
money to buy the new mode of Index
ing for u county. We note with
pleasure the manner in which our
present Clerk John F. Bolt) keeps his
Office and books.
9th. We herewith submit copy of a
letter of charges from Mr.. FL. e.
Gray:
"Laurens, s. Gu
July Goth, 1902.
Judge r.. @. Watts,
My Lear Sir: Enclosed find q letter
from Comptroller General in regard to
a balance of money gotten by Messer
Babb in some way from the people of
this county In settlement with Jones in
turning over to his successor Copeland.
1t seems that the Foreman Of the
Grand Jury and some others OF the lien
law tribe don't care what goes with the
D~ispensary cash. 1t certainly is the duty
of some one to see that this matter does
not 60 by default, and that Babb does
not bag $700.00 of our town and county
cash. If it be in your power to call
attention to this case I hope
you will rub it into III Grand Jury
and Babb. It Is q clear oase of job
berry and theft in my humble opinion.
Respectfully,
III. f. GRAY.")
And will say that a committee from
the Grand Jury examined the books of
Mr.. A. r. Sullivan, dispenser for Lau-
rens County and Mr.. Messer Babb, ex-
Treasurer of Laurens County and
found their books to agree throughout.
Mr.. Sullivan holds a receipt for $6S9.86
signed by Mr.. Messer Babb, Treasurer
for Laurens County, which Mr.. Babb &C.
counts for as follows: He claims to have
loaned this amount OF money and
states that this receipt should be per-
sonal instead of official. Mr.. Sullivan
claims that it is official. We will state
however, that this receipt is irregular,
that is, 1t Is not In Mr.. Sullivan's regu-
lar receipt book as are the other re-
ceipts. We also examined the bank
account of Mr.. Sullivan and failed to
find where he paid this amount by
check, (The officers Of the bank say that
he Away paid by check and also failed
to find where Mr.. Babb received this
amount from Mr.. Sullivan. We will
also state, that when Mr.. Babb turned
over to his successor, Mr.. John Cope.
land, (present Treasurer Of Laurens
County, that he turned over $7l2.82
more than his books called for and that