Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1906-11-29
REPORT OF
GRAND JURY
Deliberations show Many Recon-.
men dat tfOns.

We. the grand jnry, regularly draw
for the November term of Circui
i. Conrt, respectfully report to the Cour
as follows:
We have been in session eight days
and during that time have investigate,
great many cases presented to US b,
interested persons, and have returne'
into court seven true bills ana on
presentment. In a number OF cases VI
; have examined numerous witnesse
but have not deemed the evidence
sufficient to warrant the returning oil
indictments. Our work has been
necessarily prolonged on account of b
necessity for the examination Of intri-
cate accounts, and expert reports, in
addition to the ordinary matters usually
brought to the attention Of The grand
jury.
We have examined the various county
Offices and investigated the different
county officers and the conduct of their
respective Offices, and generally speak
ing we find the officers attentive to their
duty, accom- modating and obiigng.
One of the most important matters
brought to our attention was the ex-
animation of the various books and
records and accounts of the various
officers of this County. In this investi-
CATION We haye been greatly assisted by
the report of the accountants heretofore
employed by the County Court to
examine the said books and records and
to report their findings to the Court.
Such report has been made and will be
filed for public record where the public
will have an opportunity of examining
each report, and for that reason we will
not 90 into detail in aking up our final
report. The shortages in the Office OF
clerk and sheriff have been made good,
and all money paid to the county except
such az should and must be adjusted
through the county court where the
objections to liability can be made.
In the office OF the County Clerk we
find shortage to exist amounting to
SAG Is and covering period of the last
eight years. We have no hesitaucy in
saying, however that we believe that
none of the shortage reported by the
Accountants in the Clerks Office was
Intentionally appropriated by the
County Clerk for that period or his
deputies. but that such shortage was
brought about, to large extent, by
misinterpretation Of the law as regards
the collection of certain fees and by
mistakes in book keeping.
In the office of the County sheriff, we
find that the sheriff spent but little time
IN his office proper, but left the details
of the office work. such as keeping the
books and records and cash accounts to
his deputies; and that the sheriff him
self performed the duty necessary to be
performed other than the keeping OF the
books and accounts and attending to the
find shortage amounting to $45S.56:
and in this office, like the office of the
County Clerk, We have made careful
investigation and have reached the con-
clusion that no money was Intentionally
appropriated by either the sheriff or his
deputies. but that such shortage was
brought about entirely by the failure OF
the deputy who kept the books to
properly and correctly balance his
accounts, or to keep proper system of
the records as they should be kept.
The shortage in this office covers a
period Of several years, but so far as
this report is concerned We speak only
OF the last four years. We are satisfied
under such careful examination as we
have made that there is nothing upon
which TO base an indictment or criminal
and that the system of
book keeping in effect in this county is
largely responsible for the mistakes
that have occurred, and We most
|
Court provide for better system OF
book keeping and that, If necessary,
some accountant be employed to
establish such system and scquaint the
various county officers with it, and that
at least every two years such books be
checked up and audited. We think
this will protect the public and the
officers alike and will be a saving to the
County.
We have investigated the County
for the poor and find the same
well Kept and have no
to make.
We have also examined the County
all and it has been reported to US that
he County Court is making pre-
,arations TO repair the same SO as to
make it secure so that prisoners cannot