The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1910-06-21
ABSOLYED OF CRIMINAL INTENT.
Evidence Discloses no "Criminal In
tenCT But Not Altogether
BlameleSS.
News and Courier.

Carolina, n candidate fOr QoSltiCn
of adjutant general in the approach
ing primary, is absolved Of the
charges of wasting the States ocuey
with criminal intent, but the court OF
inquiry, which made its report at Il
O'Clock this evening, finds that there
were some things for which Col.
Brock was to blame and some things
which a lack Of system in the office
Of the adjutant and inspector general
made possible.
The court says, in its report: eff the
charge is intended to imply criminal
intent the court holds and finds that
the evidence fails to disclose eny
criminal intent on the part of Col.
Brock, but that he was unfortunately
ignorant of the responsibility of the
high trust reposed in him and care
less and extravagant in his admins
tration of that trust"
Condemning the system of account
ing, in vogue in connection with the
turning in of expense accounts, the
court says: This system of account
ing the court condemns in no uncer-
tain terms, for the reason that whe:h-
er so intended or not, it is renderirg
false accounts; it affords no correct
pfNrrooffNr 70 thu offnn whNco S,,+v
it is to scrutinize the accounts; it Of
fers no protection to the person,
whose accounts ere to be scrutinized,
at a time, possibly, when he is not in
position to explain, and if such system
is allowed to obtain in the States gov
ernmental officers, it will as surely
lead to petit thievery, as the night fol
lows the day. This court, however,
does not charge Col. Brock with petit
thieyery."
Finds No Political Treachery.
The court ~exonerates Col. Brock
from the so-called political charges.
In this connection the court says in
part: eve find, as matter of fact, that
so far as he learned the situation, Col.
Brock reported it correctly to Gen.
Boyd, and this court is Of the opinion
that there is no foundation in fact for
the charges made against Col. Brock
by Gen. Boyd, in respect to any mis-
representation, and also find as a mat
ter of fact, there is no fact upon
which to base a charge against Col.
Brock that he had proved a traitor to
Gen. Boyd. On the contrary, the
court is of the opinion, from the testi-
mony, that at all times Col. Brock has
been entirely loyal to his superior and
that the charges of the adjutant gen.
eral to the contrary are entirely
groundless."
On the question of the broaching
of the political discussions, the court
finds that $50 far as the testimony
shows, the subject was invariably
preached by someone other than Col.
Brock"
The court of inquiry, at II o'clock,
following a session of two hours this
evening and a morning session of sew
eral hours, behind closed doors, gave
out it's report on the situation. The
report is made to Gov. Ansel, who
requested that the same be given to
the press tonight.
Charges Considered Seriatim.
The court says. The charges
against Col. Brock, which the court
for convenience denominates the Sec
ond charge, are found in a letter o.
the adjutant general, dated May 4, aud
addressed to the people of South. Caro-
lima. The charges therein contained
will be taken up seriatim:
"The first part of this charge ingo!-
yes the matter of the expenditures
made by Col. Brock in making the
annual inspections of the State mill
tia, in the years 1907, 1908, 1909 and
1910.
"a careful examination of the ex-
pense accounts of Col. Brock shows
that his expenditures for these years
were as follows: For the yer 1907,
Col. Brock spent, aside from railroad
cost of travel, the sum of $175.0O
during the periods of the inspections
he purchased of the Southern Railway
company three 1,000-mile books at a
total cost of SIS, making his total ex-
penses for that year $3.50.
I'm the year 1908, Col. Brock spent
for personal expenses, aside from mil
cage, the sum of $500. During the
period of inspection that year he also
filed contingent vouchers for the Dur-
chase of four 1,000-mile books, at a
cost of 500. making his total eXDendi-