The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1908-05-11
LUMBERTON NORTH CAROLINA MONDAY MAY H. 1908

addressed the commissioners at
length in support of the claim
that the com missioners have no
power or authority to examine
the mem berS of the board Of au-
dit and finance, either as officials
NJ the county or as private indi,
viduals, concerning any matters
connected with the tax accounts
Of ex-Sheriff Mcleod. Informa
tion concerning the things
seL forth in the subpoena was
again demanded, and Mr.. A. B,
Pearsall, chairman of the audit
and finance board, asked and was
given permission to read the fol-
lowing statement.
Lum berton, N. c.,
May 4th, 1908.
To THE BOARD OF COMMISSION
ERS OF robson COUNTY:
There has been served on me,
by the sheriff of Robson county,
q subpoena issued by ). w. Car
ter, chairman of your board,
dated April 21st, 1908, which
subpoena directs me to appear
before the board of county COM
missioners On Monday, May 4th,
1908, then and there to give ev-
idence concerning all such mat
ters and things as [ shall know
of, and concerning the correct
and proper amount of taxes due
to the county of Robeson by ex-
Sheriff Geo. B. Mcleod, on ac-
count of taxes collected by him
for the years 1906 and 1907, and
of all things l may know of and
concerning the correct and prop
er amount due by the said Geo
B. Mcleod, ex- sheriff, to the va
rious funds of the county of Rob
eson for said period, &C."
Attached to said subpoena is =
Gamble adopted by your board, d,
which recites that the time linn
tied by law for the settlement of
the State and county taxes Tor
the years 1905 and 1907, has long
since expired;" that ex-Sherifi
Mcleod has appeared before
your board and requested a set
tlement of his tax accounts for
said years; that you are unable
to determine from the reports oil
the board of audit and hnance,
what sums aye now due Uy him
to the various funds; that it is
impossible for your board to eff
feet an intelligent settlement o.
the tax accounts of ex-Sherif
Mcleod for said years without
further information from the
board Of audit and finance, 6ne
without further figures as t.
amounts due the various iundt
Of the county, &C." all of whicl
will appear from the resolution
adopted by you on the 21st da.
Of April, 1908.
! l respectfully submit:
1st. That such information a
II may have concerning th
amounts due by ex-Sheriff Gee
B. Mcleod to the county was de
rived almost entirely from tn
| official records in his possession
in the possession of the registe
of deeds of the county, and you
own minutes. This informatiO
you can very easily obtain frOr
the same sources, which are Ope
to you as they were to me, an
indeed. are under your cOntro
This information was derived b
! me in my official capacity as
mem Der of the board Of audit an
= finance Of Robeson county, whic
said board as has been recentl
decided by the Supreme Cour
: in the case Of the Southern Auc
it Company against Mckenzie
> is independent of your body an
having the power under the la
to investigate the actions OF you
| body. I deny, therefore, the v,
! lidity Of your subpoena, and G
, the Supreme Court has decide
that the board of audit and t
! nance is charged with the duty {
3 investigating your official actionI
( together with the official acts {
| the other public Offices Of til
} county, and as such informatio
: as l have came from this invest
/ cation made by me IS memhe
7 Of the board of audit and tinanc,
/ l deny your right or authority
I examine me as to how | invest
I gated your body and the othe
] officers of the county. If. koV
] ever, you really desire to asce
:, tain what amount is due by e.
y Sheriff Mcleod to the county,
/, am willing to assist you to tn
y end so far as may be in my poN
|, er, not because l recognize tt
K validity Of your subpoena, b
|, because as an individual and ,
3, official of the county l am an
e ious that all public monies pa
II by the people shall go where t
IS law directs them to go.
i. End. By examination of Cha
< ter 25s, Section 9s, of the Pub
g Laws of 1907, you will find that
+ is your duty and not ours
le make the settlement between t
d sheriff and the treasurer. TT
III section provides: The board
5h county commissioners at tn
he last regular or other 81 bseque
s, meeting in each year, shall {
u point one or more of their nu
;h Der, not to exceed three, to
to present at the accounting a
e settlement between the she
be and county treasurer, aud also
~. andiL and settle accOnntS of