The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1908-08-10
VIOLATORS OF LAW.

Will the Democrats OF KobeSon
Endorse the Misdeeds of Her
Officers-T he Drawing"
Board, Draws Everything in
Sight Some Pertinent Ques-
tons Mcleod Not Ex-
onorated-What Could be
Expected from a Representa-
tive Who Repeatedly Violated
Laws He Had Sworn to Up
hold?
To the Editor of The Robesonian.
Acting under the supposition
that public officers are the SER
wants of the people, especially
that part of the people who
elected them to office, if they are
responsible to the people for
the faithful discharge of their
duties, would like to ask some
questions through the columns
of your paper and, perhaps,
make some comments on the
present situation, as | see it.
Owing to a report, which had
become public property, that the
board of county commissioners
and Sheriff G. B. Mcleod were
violating the laws in the dis
charge of the duties of their
offices, the conservative element
of the Democratic party de-
manded relief, and during the
last session of our General AS
sembly there was enacted a law
creating the board of audit and
finance, whose duty it was to
audit and report on the condi-
ton, as they found it, of-the va
fious officers of the county. How
we'll this board discharged it's
duty is partly shown in its sew
eral findings, as published, which
can be seen by any one who
cares to. Now it appears that
the board of audit and fl
nance, or a part Of it, acting
with part of the county commits
sioners in settlement with ex-
Sheriff Geo. B. Mcleod, reversed
part at least of its former find
ings over which it had spent SO
much time, and it Is in regard to
this final settlement that l would
like to ask a few questions which
| think as citizen, a tax payer
and as a Democrat l have g
right to ask; and which l think
at this time, when we are sc
soon to select men to represent
US and to manage our county
affairs, will be of vital impor
tance to every Democrat.
In the first place, the board O,
audit and finance should tell the
people wherein was the mistake
Now, l am informed that there
was an error in listing certain
bank stock by the register 0:
deeds which made up this differ
ence referred to; which wa
indeed fortunate to get straight
ened out, but what became O
those items of interest the boarC
of audit and finance had charged
up to ex-Sheriff Geo. B. Mcleod
as shown in it's report, on page
106 and 107, for money belong
ing to the county and used b,
him in his own business? If tn
board of audit and finance en-
tered into an agreement wit
any one to remit these items o
Interest think it's members, toe
have failed in the discharge o
their duty and l think in justic
to ex-Sheriff Mcleod, if the
were in error as to these amounts
| they should publish the sam
| over their signatures. If e2
: Sheriff Mcleod, as they say
used this money with the count
/ borrowing money all the Will
l to defray expenses; if tn
children were kept out of owe
two thousand dollars scho(
money by his failure to settle tn
taxes, as Treasurer M. G. M
Kenzie swore he did, as foun
on page 20 of the report of tn
board of audit and finance;
they found, as they report O
page 25, that Sheriff Mcleod owe
over fourteen thousand dollar
State taxes; and their variou
other findings too numerous I
mention-if they are all true,
do not see how ex-Sheriff M,
Leod or his personal friends ca
consider him exonerated becaus
he succeeded in getting a settl'
ment favorable to himself.
should like to hear from tt
board of audit and finance in r.
gard to the disposition of thes
items of interest.
Now as to our present boal
of county commissioners, I wis
to say they have set a bad e,
ample. If they were really i
norant of the amount the Ia
allowed them for services,
? some of them testify before tt
=. board of audit and financ
they show a carelessness whi'
is inexcusable, as some of the
have been elected for the thi
term and Of course have h
, plenty of time to inform thel
selves. If they had found sor
one acting under them drawn
more pay than the law allows
dare say they would have be
promptly discharged, but they
IS. on drawing everything in sigl
| guess this board will go do7