Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-08-11
HALL COUNTY CLERK HELD
George H. Poell Arrested in Omaha
and Returned to Grand Island.
IS HELD ON FORGERY CHARGE
Was Serving His Third Term as
County Clerk when Asked to Re-
sign---He Complied with
the Reauest.

George H, PoeIl or Grand Island the
former county clerk OF Hall county. who
resigned at the request of the Board of
County commlssiotiAes, was arrested in
Omaha Tuesday evening by Deputy Sheriff
Flanagan upon word received, from Hall
county that The was wanted there on q
charge Of forgery. He was taken to Grand
Island Tuesday night by Sheriff Dunkel of
Hall county.
Serving In his third term as county clerk
after being twice reelected, the Board of
County commissioners found a. Shortage of
several hundred dollars in his accounts
Az investigation followed, with the result
that he was asked for his resignation. He
stated here that he had made up the
shortage.
About four years ago Poell was working
on the Union Pacific as a fireman While
risking his life to save small child stand
ing between the tracks in front of his en-
gine, which was moving at high rate of
speed, he lost his hold and slipped beneath
the wheels, losing his left leg. Being com
PEELED to leave the railroad, his friends Sc
cured him the nomination for county clerk
and he was elected.
He had been working in Omaha for sew
eral weeks He is about 80 years of age
and has wife and family at Grand
Island.
Charges Against Mr.. POeIl.
GRAND ISLAND, Neb., Aug 1O.-(spe-
ciaL)-By unanimous vote yesterday the
members of the county board instructed
County Attorney Cleary to bring suit
against George Poell ex-county clerk un-
! der the criminal statutes for the alleged
embezzement of public funds, Officers left
| laa Mt for ha u+ha {
working, to arrest him and bring him to
| this county for trial.
Poel was elected as clerk out of sym
pathy in 1905 after he had become crippled
for life by saving the life of child on the
railway track. He was a fireman of the
! st Joseph & Grand Island at the time
The first two years of his term seem. from
papers submitted by expert accountant Har-
rlson yesterday, to have been marked by
faithful service. He was reelected and, Il
appears. became careless in several re-
spects. Receipts dated January, 1903. wer,
submitted from assistants in his office
which show plain evidences of having beer
raised" These are new instances auC
have nothing to do with those already
settled up.
Early this year the accountant brought II
ex-clerk not to have paid in excess fees 70
the year 1907 1t was stated that, at tina
time he asked the finance com
mittee to hold over the excess fees for tn
working capital and 1t appears that tn
committee granted the request and though
no more about 1t. trusting that Poell woul
turn them over as soon as the month 70
which he asked the retention would b
up. When the report of the expert showe
this Poell quickly paid in the alleged short
age, and upon the advice OF his friends
some of them the members Of the board
resigned It being clearly intimated tina
his resignation would be otherwise aske
for.
About a month ago another shortage
made in a similar way to those nov
brought TO light-the raising of employee
reoeipts-was discovered and Poell sent u
check OF $l45 to cover these Yesterday
report shows three or four instances
which It appears that receipts were raise
the receipts themselves being submitted tC
gether with letters from the parties I
whom money was paid, said parties declal
ing that they were not paid such sum
I In another instance, that OF a receipt Il
s4Oo the name OF the party supposed
. have been paid was signed. it is allege
by PoeH himself
5 total shortage OF tl42 is said
be plain by the accountant, and civ
procedure may likewise be instituted Il
. the collection OF this. The fact that Il
reports have come by piece is said
be due TO the fact that It has been di
(cOntinued on Second Pags.)