Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1910-09-08
CASE OF FORGERY
THE SCHOOL OFFICIALS OF WAL.
WORTH COUNTY HAVE 4
BOND ISSUE QUERY
TWO SETS SCHOOL BONDS
The Dates and Amounts are Identical
but Signatures are Discrepant
and More Outstanding
than tho Issue

Sioux False. J. 5chellinse-, coun-
ty superintendent of schools of Wal
worth county, was in the city yes
terday, in connection with matter
of considerable Importance to the
people of LIE Beau township, that
county.
in 18S4-5 the LeBeau school town
ship issued bonds in the sum OF 5 400,
not more said Mr.. Schel niger,
which money was to be expended
in erecting school house in that
township.
THE LeBeau school township de-
faulted on those bonds, because of the
removal of people from that town
ship and the eastern company which
purchased those bonds, brought suit
in the United States court to recover
on those securities and obtained
judgment in the sum of s314910.
"That occurred three or four years
ago, and my mission here at this time
is to look up the record and ascertain
exactly how much money must be
raised by tax levy in our county, in
order to pay that judgment At the
time the judgment for the last named
amount was secured there were no
school officers in LeBeau township,
because they had all moved away.
There was very little prosperity like
that OF the present time and there
was no demand for schools because
there were no families in that town
ship, comparatively speaking, who
had children of school age. In fact,
there were few children OF any age.
l believe at one time. there was not
a child in the township.
Conditions have changed how
ever, and we are enjoying the same
prosperity as all other sections OF
the state and now LeBeau township
wants to pay off those school bonds
and get that judgment off the books.
"The county commiss oners have
levied tax and it is my mission here
to discover how much will be required
to take up those bonds, interest and
all.
"And now we come to the interest
ing part of my story" said Mr.. Schel-
linger. "You remember the Bon
Homme county school bonds fiasco Of
several years ago. We'll, there are
certain elements entering into the
conditions in connection with this Lee
Beau township bond issue which will
recall the Bon Homme county bond
matter.
ut is strange, yet true, that while
LeBeau township, Walworth county
never issued but $1,000 in bonds and
that all of that issue were not sold
that at one time about $4,000 worth
of LeBeau township bonds, all signed
| with signatures purporting to be
those of the school officers Of that
county, when those bonds were issued
were presented to the clerk Of the
school township for payment.
"They were not paid, however, and
| the conclusion is that the bonds were
| forged.
"If you could get a glimpse Of some
of the $500 bonds, now IN the posses
sion Of the United States court, you
would find, l think, that one of them
was signed with the names Of Walter
Williams, ]. W. Blair and James A
Parker.
"And yet there are other bonds, in
the sum of $500, bearing the same date
Of issue, which bear the name of Au-
gust Seabright in place of the name Of
James A. Parker.
"Mr. Parker is now in Wyoming and
( Mr. Williams is in Oklahoma terri
| tory.
"Seabright has stated that he never
4 signed any such bonds and we con-
4 tend that it stands to reason that
/ there was no occasion for both Sea-
bright and Parker signing bonds
bearing the same date and we know
positively that both OF them did not
serve on the township board together
We contend, therefore, that either
| the bonds signed by Parker or those
signed by Seabright are forged"