The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1908-01-03
BERKELEY's TREAsURERs SHORT
Mr.. Edwards Says That He is Pre-
pared to Make Good the
Difference.

Governor that al examination Of the
books Of the auditor and treasurer Of
Berkeley county Show a condition of
affairs that justites the attention Of
the goverAcr. The treasurer, Mr..
john 0. Edwards, is stated to be snort
| over $4,000, but this does not neces-
sarily mean that the treasurer is gull
ty of pcculation, SINCE the shortage
may be due to errors Of bookkeeping,
Mr.. Jones has telegram from Mr..
Edwards today stating that he has
the money to cover the shortage.
The auditor, Mr.. C. NJ. Wiggins, is
reported for "grossest neglect and
careiessness, and the statements
made by the experts in regard to the
auditors books are very strong, to
say the least
Governor Ansel under the law has
the power to suspend the officers
named and to report their eases to
the senate, but he had not had the
opportunity today to look into the
matter and has not announced his de-
termination in the premises.
The letter Of Comptroller General
Jones to the governor, which sets
forth the matter in detail. is as fol-
lows:
Columbia, S. c., Dec 81. 1907.
To His Excellency, Governor Mar
tin f. Ansel, Columbia, S. C.-Dear
Sir: have had an examination made
of the books and accounts Of Mr.. C.
M. Wlggins, county auditor, and Mr..
JOAN 0. Edwards, county treasurer,
of Berkeley county, and find from
the report Of Messrs. +. B. Wilson
and ID. Fl. Wise, both expert account
ants employed by this office, that the
tax books Of the county auditors Of
fec shcw the most flagraIt neglect,
errors and omissions both in the ,lu-
plicates and abstracts in the office.
Property returns on which the taxes
| amounted to $GGS.S7 were not charg-
cd to the treasurer. and other omis-
s'Hrs amounting t. $57.62 in the
books of 1906 Errors and omissions
wc:a found in the duplicates Of 1908
a%grc%atin" $320.7S. MAXIM" the to-
tai omissions $l,047.27. The county
auditor has failed for the past four
wears. 1904 to 1907, inclusive, to en-
ter the taxes to be collected upon
his duplicate. The treasurer's du-
| plicate, his warrant for the collcc-
tinn Of taxes for 1907. is not added,
neither the property nor faxes en-
ceptino the special school and spe-
cial local county tax. The examina-
tion of the county auditors office
shows the grossest neglect and cara-
lessncss on the part Of County Audi
tor c. NJ. Wiggins.
The annual settlement between
the county auditor and county treas
urer for thn taxes Of 1906 made the
30th day Of June, 1907, revealed a
shortage in the treasurcr's accounts
Of 81 ,663; this according to the coun-
ty auditors certificate showing the
cash on hand and in bank of That
date. The treasurer's accounts were
checked up to and including Deem
Der 10Th, which rcveals1 shortage
in the accounts of Mr.. john @. Ed
wards. county treasurer, amounting
to $5,070.43; that amount bein" tn !.
| differences between the amoun! Of
funds with which he is nropcrlv
! char@eable and the amount of cash
! he has in hand. I. therefore, report
the matter TO your Exccllcncv in or.
| der that you may take such action
as You may deem proper.
Respectfully,
A. w. Jones,
Comptroller General.
Mr.. Jones wired Mr.. Edwards as
follows:
John O. Edwards. County Treas
urcrc, Moncks' Corner, S. c.: Wire
quick if you have funds on hand
to cover deficinency.
ga. w. Jones, Comptroller General.'
The following reply was received:
A. w. Jones, Comptroller Gencr-
al. Columbia, s. G. C.:-Answcrine your
wira this date will answer YES.
81. 0. Edwar;ls.'
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