New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1907-10-26
STATEMENT OF Mr.. HENDERSON,


meeting in Jeanerette last Sun
dav stated in the course OF hi
speech that Mr.. Henderson ha'
been derelict in settling with tn
Parish for certain funds whicI
had been collected by his office
a reporter of this newspape
called upon Sheriff Henderson
Tuesday snd asked him
he knew of the charge that hac
been made, and if so, what ht
desired to say in reference to 1t
Mr.. Henderson stated tha
he had been told that some suct
statement had been made by on,
of the speakers, but the precise
nature OF the charge he hac
been unable to ascertain. He
however stated that he presum
ed that it had reference to ar
amount of five hundred and
torty-two dollars and thlrty-siX
cents which had been collected
by his office as witness fees from
parties who had been convicted
by the District Court to pay
fines and costs of Court.
E1e stated that some time ago
his attention was called to res
olution OF the Police Jury ap
pointing committee to take
up with him this matter and he
Immediately called upon his
deputies, Messrs. Frank J.
Mestayer and William l.. Du-
puy, for an explanation of this
matter. After some examlna-
ton by them of settlements
made with the Parish Treasurer,
they found that they had neg
lected to settle for this amount,
the book in which these partlcu-
lar entries were made having
been inadvertently overlooked
by them.
81 Immediately bad them to
tabulate statement of these
amounts collected from this
source" heIscansinued .msote
out a check for the amount, and
instructed them to effect set
tlement with the Parish Treas
urer at once.
"Mr. A. B. Romero, Parish
Treasurer, on the 9th day of
September came to my office to
make with me the usual settle
ment. My deputy, Mr.. Frank
Mestayer, rendered him my
check to cover in full the
due the Parish from
this source. MIR. Romero re-
fused to accept it, stating that
committee had been appointed
to make this settlement with me
and he desired the settlement to
be made with this committee.
"This being the situation |
have been unable TO turn this
amount over to the Police Jury
because of the Parish Treasurer's
refusal to accept it and the in
action of the committee.
"I do not deem it necessary
to say that | am ready at all
times to render to the Parish
full settlement of all moneys
hat may pass through my
hands, and that no one whose
ever he be, can justly charge
ne with irregularities in the
handling OF public funds.
81 appreciate that my politi-
al enemies are trying to imply
n this instance that | have been
ierelict, but am satisfied that
he unjustness of the charge and
he evident purpose OF making
t will be readily perceived by
he fair minded people of this
Parish.
Taking advantage OF the fact
bat | am peace officer as well
IS a public servant, some OF my
political enemies are giving cur
ency to vague and indlstlnct
:harges by implication and 9th
,rwise against me, but | beg to
lssure the people OF this Parish
hat | have absolutely nothing
o conceal in the conduct of my
'ffice, and challenge them TO
make in the open all charges
which they desire TO MAKE.
81 recognize the right of my
political enemies to criticise me
IS an official, but it is to be
,oped that they will conine
themselves to legitimate crit
ism. As far as slanderous
tatements are concerned, af- |
eeting me as a citizen, and at