The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-01-16
EXPERTS BRING SUIT
ACCOUNTANTS ATTEMPT TO EN-
FORCE PAYMENT OF CLAIMS.
AGAINST co. COMMISSIONERS
SUIT ON ACCOUNT INSTITUTED IN
THE CITY COURT.

J.. j. Gnudry and w. G. Tison Say
the Board is Bound to Pay-Thcir
Services Were worth the Money.
Let il he Paid" Was Judge Bar
rows Endorsements; Payment De
cIfned," said the Commissioners.
Suit Involves an Important CUES
ton and VIII he Test Case.
AS the result of the refusal of the
County Commissioners to pass for
payment the bill Of J. J. Gaudry and
W. G. Tison, expert accountants who
We're engaged by the grand jury to ex-
anime the books of the county officers,
a suit for the recovery of 1900. the
amount of the bill, was instituted by
the accountants, through their attor-
neys, Osborne &; Lawrence, in the City
Court yesterday.
The suit was instituted on the same
day that the account. had it been APP
proved by the board, would have been
paid by the county, yesterday being
the first day of the month on which
the clerk Of the board is authorized to
pay bills. The institution of the suit
was forecasted in the Morning News,
at the time the commissioners re-
fused to pass it for payment.
Likely to Go to Supreme Court.
There is little doubt that the case
will find it's way to the Supreme
Court. The question involved is one
that has a direct bearing on the flu
ture action of grand juries in regard
10 the employment of experts to con-
duct the examination of the records,
not only in this county, but in every
county in the state, and the outcome
of the litigation will be awaited with
interest The finding of the court of
last resort will determine, once and for
all, the right of the grand juries to tax
the county with the expense incident
TO an examination of the county rec
ords by experts.
Five petitions were filed. one for
each member of the board to whom
the fiscal affairs of the county are
committed; and these will be served
this morning by Sheriff Horrigan. The
action was brought in the City Court
because of the quick return which may
be had, it being returnable to the term
OF court which begins next month.
The Accountants Claims.
The complaint against the commits
sioners is best set forth by a copy of
one of the paragraphs of the petition
which alleges that at the June term
1902 of Chatham Superior Court. the
grand jury drawn and empanelled for
the said term of the court employed
rnafffionnr- IN
OF the sheriff. tax collector. county
treasurer and commissioners of
Chatham county. and to make a full
report at the December term, agree
ing to pay the sum of $500 for such
service, the grand jury acting under
its authority given by law as set out
IN Sec. 1897 of the Penal Code"
$500 Their Bill.
They then set forth that in pursu-
ance to the appointment, they exam
ined the books and made their report
both to the June term and December
term grand juries. They aver that
the service rendered was reasonably
worth $500, and that the June term
grand jury agreed to pay it. bill for
the amount having been approved by
the grand jury and foreman. and by
the Committee on County Offices, APP
pointed by the grand jury to supervise
the work. The bill, they further sub
init, was approved by Judge Barrow.
who subscribed thereon: Let it be
paid"
Then they set forth that at the reg
ular January meeting of the County
Commissioners the bill was presented
TO them to be examined, allowed and
settled, but that they refused to do so
and declined payment of the bill A
copy of the bill is attached to the srit
bearing the Endorsements of Judge
Barrow, Foreman Charles NJ. Gilbert
and the members of the committee
which engaged the accountants.
George j. Mills, James NJ. Barnard and
Charles G. Bell.