The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-08-10

y
account Of carelessness, negligence or
errors Of the bookkeeper. Elect or
appoint competent officers and such
errors will not appear.
Of course, some Of the above short
ages are chargeable to mad bookkeep-
ing on the part Of the treasurers or
other officers Of the various counties,
but, as stated by Comptroller General
Jones, the system is not the cause
Of this. In many Of the counties the
books are carefully kept under the
present system, and the accounts IN
variably show up in fine shape. For
instance. the Comptroller has just re-
turned from williamsburg, where he
found the accounts kept in an admir-
able manner.
Within the past few weeks the
State has been again stirred up by
two reported shortages. one in Cole
ton County Office Of Treasurer D. l..
Smith, whose shortage was reported
by the special expert, who went down
to investigate the books as being over
$4,000. Another was the shortage OF
Treasurer Detyens, Of Georgetown,
who was short about $1,000. Chief
Clerk Wilson, Of the Com. 'tcoIler
Generals office. is in Georgetown now
checking over the books with an ex-
pert Of the bonding company. Mr..
Detyens has resigned. He says he will
run again if he wants the office, and
will get it, A report of the shortage
will be made to the grand jury, and to
the Attorney General by Comptroller
General Jones.
In this county special Act Of the
Legislature provided for an investl-
CATION. and, although no statement
has vet been given out it is under
stood the books are in fine shape. The
report will be made to the grand jury
by the expert.
The various shortages recently dis
covered have caused a great deal Of
comment throughout the State.
The Two Anderson Gases.
Prominent Anderson people visit
inc Columbia are quoted as saying
that the sensational shortage Of Cash
ier Holleman is traceable in large
measure to his dealings with local
alleged "bucket shop" being opera
ted in Anderson in violation Of the
recent Act of the Legislature outlaw
ing these concerns, and that they are
expecting the matter to be brought
up before the grand jury at its next
session. If the case is pushed 1t Will
be the first indictment under the anti
bucket shop law. The manager OF the
affair is said to have made no denial
Of the fact that Mr.. Holleman for
wears had dealings through him, but
he appears to believe that ne Is opera.
TING in such way as to be within the
law. These operations are SAID to
have been carried on III the mana
gers name, and 50 carefully as to
entirely escape the notice OF Mr.
Holleman's superiors in the ban <, or,
in fact. any Of the cashiers assoc1-
ates. Mr.. Holleman, it is said, LETT
the bank people notice that they
might collect for him $4,000 the al
leged bucket shop man owed him on
a deal in copper. but the latter when
called upon to pay showed by MS
books that he was due Holleman only
$500. which was rendered but de-
clined.
The Calhoun Harris Cotton Mill
shortage remains a puzzle to Ander-
son people, practically all OF whom
believe that he did nothing Intention
ally wrong. They believe all the acts
and circumstances Of the case Will
fail to show that he misapproprlated
any of the funds Of the mill to his
own use, and they point to the fact
that some $4,000 Of cash and un-
cancelled ehecks-including, by the
vav. a check for $4,000 he had him
self given the mill in payment OF
loan-as indicating Mr.. Harris un-
balanced condition Of mind. However,
Mr. Harris has already been indicted
on a number of counts, and he Will
be tried in the Criminal Court on
charges not only for embezzlement'
but forgery as we'll.
What puzzles a great many people