The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1908-01-07
RERKELEY'S TREASURER RE-
MOVED.
Mr.. Edwards Suspended from Office
by Gov. Ansel-Action is TAX
en- Following Comptroller
Generals Report Of
Shortage.

harSeS presented bE Iomptlol1el
Feneral Jones a few days ago. tie
ps not acted on the case Of Auditor
Eiggins, as there is no money loss
Involved in this case and as the audi
tor has wired him asking that ac-
I ton be suspended until he reached
columbia tonight.
Comptroller General Jones report
red to the governor that an expert eX..
animation of the books Of the treas
urer showed shortage amounting to
over $4,000 and that an examination
Of the auditors office showed "the
grossest neglect and car7lessness on
the part Of County Auditor c. M.
Wieeins." He referred the matter
to the governor for such action as
he might deem proper and the gov
ernor, after giving it careful con-
ideration, today suspended the
treasurer.
He addressed the following letter to
Nh. Edwards:
"John O. Edwards, Esq, County
Treasurer, Berkeley County, Moack's
Corner, S. C.-Dear Sir: 1t having
been officially reported to me by the
!, Hon. A. ". Jones, comptroller gener-
al Of the state, under date Of Decem-
ber 31st, 1907, that you have been
guilty of misconduct in office, to
wit:
|'Nlie annual settlement between
; the county auditor and county treas
Z urer for the taxes Of 1906 made the
3Oth day Of June, 1907, revealed a
shortage in the treasurer's accounts
of S1.663; this according to the
) county auditors certificates showing
the cash on hand aad in bank OF
that date. The treasurer's accounts
were checked up to and including
December 10th, which revealed a
shortage in the accounts Of Mr.. John
o. Edwards, county treasurer,
amounting to $5,O7O.43; that amount
being the difference between the
amount Of funds with which ne is
properly ehargeable and the amount
oe cash he has in hand, and the evl-
deace before me being satisfactory to
the charges.
"I, NJ. F. Ansel, Governor Of the
State of South Carolina, by virtue
of the authority vested in me by
Sections 1913 and $40. Volume J.,
Code of Laws Of South Carolina,
1902, do hereby suspend YOU as coun-
ty treasurer of. Berkeley county,
such suspension being effective and
Of force from the date hereof, as pro-
vided in the aforesaid sections Of the
! code.
"Givern under my hand this JAN
uary ?, 1908.
I'm. F. Ansel, o
"Governor.
The governor sent the above to the
sheriff Of Berkeley with the follow
ing Instructions:
4R. G. Causey, Sheriff, Monck's
Corner. S. C.-Dear Sir: Enclosed
n]aase find notice to John 0. Ed
wards, ESQ, suspending nim as coun-
tv treasurer Of Berkeley county.
Hand Same to him ald see that the
Office is properly closed and sealed
- up until an appointment IS made OF
some one to take charge in place OF
SUSPENDED treasurer. I will make
this appointment as soon as possible.
"Please make your return OF SER
vice of notice on within copy and re-
turn to me. Yours very truly,
I'M. F. AnseI, Governor.
Section 1893, under which the gov
ernor acts, provides that "county
treasurers shall be subject to sus-
pension and removal from Office by
the .eovernCr upon the same grounds
and in the same manner as preser1b-
ed in Section $40 in relation to coun-
tv auditors, and all provisions Of said
section are made applicable in cases
of suspension and removal Of coun-
ty treasurers. Section $40 provides
that when any auditor shall, during
the recess Of the senate, be shown by
satisfactory evidence to be guilty OF
misconduct in Office. or for any rea-
son shall become incapaciHated or
legally disqualified; the governor may
suspend such officer and designate
some suitable person to perform, tenn
porarily, the duties of suen office
until the next meeting Of the sen
~ ,o1 ,,-,.;1 rho casa shall he acted