The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-02-27
COUNTY OFFICERS ACCUSED.
MONTGOMERY BtR cans FOR
THEIR REMOVAL.
Investigating Committee Finds That sheriff
and COunty clerk Have Paid out Money
Illegal, Hoard Charged frr Prisoners
who We're Never Put In jail.

JoHNsTowS, " Y Feb "a The Amster-
dam Bar Association has made a report
charging that the Montgomery county
officials have been taking graft and impli-
eating certain lawyers OF the county At
present II looks a. II tho Sheriff OF tho
county and the County Clerk would lose
their places and perhaps be prosecuted.
The matters referred 10 the committee
OF the association were as follows
'First-To inquire into the reason for
the great expense Of conducting the court <
Of the county for the year 1904 and into
the legality Of the Disbursements that have
been made therefor
Second The probable correctness OF the
sherifIs bill as to the number Of prisoners
alleged TO have been boarded. especially
in the year last past. and the conduc, Of
the Sherf's Office generally.
Third The Legality of various audits Of
the Board OF Supervisors.
Fourth Tho method OF conducting the
County Clerks Office and the condition
OF the records, the ind ices especially
"Fifth-Such other matters and he acts
Of such other officials as might come TO our
knowledge during our work.
The committee l.. A. Serviss. f. V Borst q.
EDWARD L. W nNe, ROBERT y. samson q no >
Howard Senson, all prominent citizens 81
Amsterdam and lawyers Of the highest
,epute made a report of great length after
an investigation that lasted more than
seven weeks. The report was given ont
late on Saturday afternoon
The committee finds that moneys have
been paid out illegally and without warrant
by the Sh eriT and the County Clerk Many
examples ara given In the report OF the
abuse Of the subp mn process, the boarding
sent TO Jail the buying OF county supplies
never delivered. the paying OF court Rt-
ienda nts who never entered court and the
classifying Of checks.
The recommendations Of the committee
read as follows
4. That actions at law be instituted
against these persons who have unaw-
fully obtained public moneys 10 recover
tho came for the benefit Of the county
-. That charges be presented to the
Governor OF the State against the County
Clerk and Sheriff Of this county for gro -
mslfeasance and incompetency in Office
to the end that each OF said officials may be
forthwith removed
- That the Illegal auIits Of the
Board OF Supervisors the destruction Of
public documents and other acts of present
and former officials herein referred TO be
submitted TO a special Grand Jury 20 he
called for that purpose in the near future
In this connection We wish to call attention
TO the circumstance that when the Grand
Jury was drawn for the term Of the supreme
Court to be held at Fonda in January 1905
the first name TO appear on the list was
that of William Greedy o. Mhnden ono Of
the bondsmen of County Clerk Hufnal,
and among the other names drawn were
those OF Emory WalrAth and Isaac Xollrr
OF Mnden, two Of Mr. Hufnails other
hondsmen This remarkable coincidence
occurred at a time when it was thought
that the matter nov under investigation
might be presented to the Grand Jury IN
january.
- That the Supreme Court be re
quested to forthwith order a general de
livery Of the Montgomery county jail.
The officials OF Montgomery county are
all Republican and were the selection of
Jacob Smell, the boss of the county.