The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1906-10-03
CITY MARSHAL HURST MAKES AFFiDA-
W.T. AGAINST ALDERMAN HARTMAN
FOR ABUSE OF OFFICIAL TRUST.
The Record Points Strongly to Case of
Graft.
OTHER MEMBERS OF COUNCIL PLACED
In AIN AWKWARD LIGHT.

For two months past there has
been a subdued voice of condem-
nation and criticism heard in the
city on account of the acts of Ger.
tain members of the city govern
ment, alleged to be unlawful.
With the increased interest and at
tention given to matters of this
kind incident to the impending
municipal primary election, this
dissatisfaction and criticism have
grown in volume and intensity
until Monday, when it manifested
itself in the form of an affidavit
sworn out by City Marshal Aaron
Hurst against Alderman +. II.
Hartman, charging him with NAL
feasance in Office in the matter of
certain transactions as a member
of the Mayor and Board of Alder
men.
The particular case cited is
where Alderman Hartman, who is
the senior member of the Hartman
Mercantile Co. and of the Hart
man Lumber Co. had the Graded
Public School Building repainted
and, as a member of said firm,
received therefor from the city
the sum of $330.16.
The law alleged to have been
violated is the following section
of the new Code chapter on mu-
inequalities, which has been in
full force and effect since last
April:
3446. Municipal officers not to
be interested in any municipal
contract. 1t shall be unlawful for
the mayor or any member of the
board of aldermen or council or
any other public officer of any
municipality to enter into or to
have or to own any interest or
share Individually or as agent,
employe or any person or corpo-
ration either directly or Indirect
ly, in any contract made or let by
such board for the construction or
doing of any public work, or for
any other purpose whatsoever, or
in any sub-contract arising from
or connected Herewith, or to re.
ceiVe, either directly or Indirect
ly, any portion or share, of any
money or other thing paid for the
construction or doing of any pub
lie work, or upon any other con-
tract made by such board, or sub
contract arising from or connect
ed Herewith. The sale to, and
purchase by city of over four
thousand inhabitants of any goods,
wares, merchandise, or supplies,
constitutes a contract within the
meaning of this section. In addi-
ton to the penalties prescribed by
section 1929, any person violating
the provisions of this section shall
be removed from the office then
held by him, and shall not be eli
gible to succeed himself. The
provisions of this section shall
have noapplication to villages and
towns, but shall apply to all cit
les, whether they shall have elect
ed to come under the provisions
of this chapter or not.
An incomplete investigation of
the record bearing on the case by
The Leader discloses the follow
Ing facts. which will be of inter-
est to the public:
At the. regular June meeting of
the Mayor and Board of Alder
men held on June 5 last, ION mo-
tion, Aldermen Abrams, Larsen
and Hartman we're appointed as a
committee to have needed repairs
made on school building.''
At the regular meeting Of the
board on August 7th, Alderman
Hartman presented an account
for $330.16 for painting, ETC.,
done in pursuance Of the motion
adopted at the June meeting. The
account was recorded on the min
utes among the allowances of that
meeting 10 the following words:
Hartman Lumber Co., paid
for paint, labor, ETC., public
school. $3.50. 16. z
The Leader has obtained The
Original itemized bills from the
| Mayors efiiee covering the above
amount. One of them is III The
form Of a bill BY the g. Il. Graf
ton Drug Company against The
Hartman Mercantile Company for
Items purchased BY the latter firm
from the former. The other il
1.-THE bill of the Hartman Mefcan.
title Company against The Corpo-
ration Of Brookhaven for the total
amount Of the allowance, and in