Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1902-10-12

bringing forth results.
1t is said that the grand jury has
taken the data furnished by the com.
miSslonerS of accounts and proceeded
to business in earnest That it is
going to result in some sensational
indictments is very common
talk. 1t appears that the grand Jury
was furnished with information on
Eallous matters that was not even
limited at in their report to the cir
eHlt court judge, and that the jury
will return several indictments on
the strength of this information.
While most Of the work Of the grand
jury IS secret yet, because of the
fact t4at warrants have not yet been
several except in a very few Of the
cases, most of the talk as to
what the grand jury has really done is
guess work, but some OF it has become
public in a way that it is known to
be the facts. The Indictment of Road
Commissioner Bridges was well known
and generally discussed before pro-
cess on the Indictment had been made.
and there are other matters which
seem to be as fully understood as was
the Indictment of Mr. Bridges.
!. !. j.
Indictment Of p. NJ BrIdaes.
Road Commissioner p. M. Bridges
was indicted on the charge of perjury.
He is accused of falsely swearing to
his account against the county for
salary as read commissioner for the
months of June. July. August and
September of the present year. The
Indictment charges him with having
padded his account against the coun-
ty. The text of theindictment is as
follows:
Tne grand jury of jefferson coun-
ty in the name and by the authority
of the state of Arkansas. accuse p. M.
Bridges of the crime CT perjury COM
mitted as follows, to-wit: The said
P. M. Bridges on the 18th day of
June, 1902, did then and there before
q. B. Bloom, county clerk of Jeffer-
son county, who then and there had
competent authority to administer
oaths, did solemnly swear. and after
being duly and legally sworn to tell
the truth, did subscribe to the fcl-
lowing affidavit:
lThe account is made out for $500
for June, July, August and September
on one of the usual blank forms used
a 70
count against the county, and accom-
panied with the following affidavit:) }
Il. 2. M. Bridges, do solemnly swear
that the annexed account is just and
correct; and that no part thereof has
been paid previously, that the goods
charged for service rendered were ac-
tually rendered or furnished, and that
the charges made therefor do not ex.
ceed the amount allowed by law, OF
customary charges, for similar ser
vice or goods when estimated and paid
in lawful money of the United States;
and that such account is not enlarg-
ed. enhanced, or otherwise made
greater in consequence. or by the
reason of any estimated, supposed or
real depreciation in the value of coun-
| ty warrants
"The said affidavit sworn to and
subscribed as aforesaid was falsely
unlawfully corruptly and felOniously
made, and the facts contained in said
affidavit as aforesaid were fadse
WEIGH statements We're material,
whereas. in truth and in fact. the said
P. NJ Bridges had not rendered the
se.Eices sWcrn to in said affidavit
heretofore set cut and said account
heretofore set out. was not just and
correct and said account was enlarged
and advanced and made greater, and
the services sWolr to did exceed the
customary charges fcr such services
and said affidavit sworn to and sub
and the facts contained in same as
| aforesaid were unlawfully, corruptly
wilfully and feloniously false, and the
said p NJ. Bridges we'll knew them to
be false when he made it."
Mr. Bridges was arrested and he
executed bond for his appearance fcl
trial in the sum of 1000.
Mr.. Bridges receives salary as
road commissioner, but in the dis
charge of his duties he hires teams,
employs laborers and purchases sup
plies, and for these he puts in an ac-
count against the county at inter-
walls 1t is on the charge of padding
these accounts fer the months named
he is indicted.
The indictment does not go into de-
tail and give the various items. but
the commissioners of accounts stated
in their report that claims against
the county in the road department
| contained the names of persons on
the payroll who had rendered no ser
vice and who said they had received
no pay, and the pay rolls of others
really in the employ had been made
out for greater sums than the EN-