The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1906-04-17

suing fraudulent borough certificate
against Island Heights. while he was bor-
ough clerk, for $500. He was fined 5000.
McKaig claims that this is a case of perse-
cution.
George A. Mott, of Tuckerton, was
brought into court at Toms River on Fri
day to answer an indictment found by the
last grand jury, on complaint of the At
torney Generals department. for main
tanning nuisance in fencing off navigable
water and oyster grounds In Tuckerton
bay.
The ground in question is tide water
creek, opening into the bay. and is alleged
to have been public oyster ground for sew
eral generations, and even the oldest oys-
termen can remember it only as public
ground till Mott seized it for his own use.
1t is asserted that he built . strong fence,
or bulkhead. across the mouth of the creek
aud claimed all the oysters growing on its
bottom.
Under the direction Of the Attorney
General, Superintendent E. A. Horner,
of the Ocean County Oyster Commission,
tore down the fence last fall Mott rebuilt
it with heavier timbers, so that it was i'm :
possible for the oystermen to get through.
The State officials again attacked the bar
rier with axes and cleared it away. Soon
after they left the scene Mott re-appeared
with gang of workmen and rebuilt it.
The Attorney General is then said to have
advised the oyster commissioners to pre-
sent the case to the grand jury, and the in
dictment followed.
Mott was formerly secretary of the Shell
Commission, which passed out of exist
ence last year. He was held in $500 bail
for trial, and he will make the case test.
Commissioner Hartshorne, who was ap-
pointed to investigate the finances of Ocean
county, made preliminary report to
Judge Hendrickson, at a session of the
county court on Wednesday. He found a
number Of cases of petty graft. The re-
port shows that as result of the probing
officials had already disgorged $28OO, and
there is more to come. One Freebooter
paid back to the county over $500.
The report also contained evidence that
indicates that the former County Collector
had mingled the county moneys with his
own funds. While the county was paying
interest on moneys he drew money from
county funds on collectors check or
oh ecb~ m his OWN ,,,,rpoaon II o1ao c+atad
that Freeholders had made out bills
charging twice for the same day, and
charging for days, such as Sundays, when
they could have done no work, and that
certain officers of the county, Sheriffs and
Justices of the Peace, have received fines
without turning them over to the county
, 1t had been the duty of the County Clerk
to collect 81 in stenographer's fees fol-
each case for trial, but this money has moi
In all cases been turned over to the county.
Sheriffs have received fines and their &C
counts are not clear nor satisfactory.
In these cases the expert has notified
the persons concerning his discoveries
In some cases they have paid up. and he
has turned over to the county about $4,000
but others have not paid up. While some
Freeholders have paid, others have asked
to know how much they owe, but have
not responded with the money when they
were informed It is also stated that sew
eral hundred dollars has been paid unlaw
fully to attorneys for defending criminals
in the courts. Freeholders have handed
in bills without itemizing them hav'
handed in bills for other people, and hav'
made afidavits to other peoples bills.
Commissioner Hartshorne is still digging
up many important facts, and will hand il
: his final report on May .. when the Crane
Jury returns to take up the county inves
tigation.