The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1910-06-21
MAKES REPORT
BOyd-Drock Case Now With Governor
Ansel For Decision.
TESTIMONY REVIEWED

GEU9 4NAV4V4 AAG AN w O~
Assistant Adjutant General William
T. Brock Exonerated Of Political
Charges.-It Is Thought that the
Office Will Be Made an Appointivc
One in the Next Few Years.
The court of inquiry sitting Fri
day night exonerated William T.
Brock, the assistant adjutant general,
of the charge of acting a political
traitor to ]. C. Boyd, the adjutant
general, but condemned his actions
in several instances with reference
to the filing of expense accounts and
his expenses incident to the inspec-
tions of the State militia during the
past several years.
The court in it's report severely
criticised the general system OF Ill
ing expense accounts as practiced by
Col. Brock.
All of the testimony taken by, the
court is reviewed in detail. The
court reached no decision as to what
steps should be taken, but simply
reported the facts in the case.
1t is left with Gov. Ansel as to
what action will be taken. Gov. An
sci instructed the members of the
courts to make the report public.
Gov. Ansel will no doubt make some
announcement when he returns to
the State.
AS to Col. Brooks expenses while
in Columbia during the period of
inspection, the court holds that by
no rule can this charge to the State
be justified.
With reference to the letter of
General Boyd, in which he charged
that Col Brock has wantonly vast
ed the States money" it is held by
the court that the evidence fails to
disclose any criminal intent on the
part of Col. Brock, but that he was
unfortunately ignorant of the respon-
sibility Of the high trust reposed in
him and careless and extrayagant in
his administration of the trust"
In reviewing the mileage book
charges as to the number of mileage
books used by Col. Brock, the court
says: at appears to the court that
the public business did not demand
so much travel on the part of the
accused officer"
Concerning the filing of expense
accounts by Col. Brock with the
comptroller general, the court says:
IF such has been the custom of the
office it is to be condemned, but we
fail to see wherein this can justify
Col. Brock in filing in the office OF
the comptroller general accounts con-
tanning items which were false and
which he knew to be false at the
time
The members of the court who
were appointed by Gov. Ansel are.
Willie Jones, brigadier general; Col.
William w. Lewis, of the First regi-
ment, Col. Edwin R. Cox, of the Sec
ond regiment and Col. julius E. Cogs-
well Of the Third regiment. Gen.
Jones was the president of the court
and Col. Cogswell the recorder.
The court was to have met Fri
day morning at 9 o'clock. 1t was
found that Col. Lewis would be una
BILE to attend, so the session was
postponed until 9 o'clock Friday
night.
Several weeks ago Adjt. Gen. Boyd
announced that he would not offer
for reelection. Following this an
nouncemet w. T. Brock, the assist
ant adjutant general, announced his
intention OF entering the race for ad-
iutant general.
For several days there was moth
ing said concerning the situation in
the adjutant generals office. Gan.
BOYD went to Charleston and Orange
burg. When he returned he was
very bitter toward Col. Brock and
issued statement to the press in
which he charged that his assistant
had acted as political traitor.
When the first statement was is
sued Col. Brock was making the an
nual inspection of the State militia.
He Immediately directed a letter TO
Gov. Ansel, asking that he appoint
a court of inquiry TO investigate the
charges of Adjutant General Boyd.
Gov. Ansel took the matter under ad-
visement and did not appoint the
court at that time.
While Gov. Ansel was considering
the matter of appointing a court of
inquiry, Adjt Gen. Boyd went to
him with statement as to the item
lied expense account of Col. Brock.
Later Gen. Boyd issued state
ment in which he charged Col. Brock
with wasting the money of the State
while making the annual inspections
of the State militia during the past
four years. Several other charges
were made in the letter. Gen. Boyd
In an unofficial way called upon Gov.
Ansel to appoint court of inquiry
To inroctinato thu eNnenSn accnln1S