The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1911-10-26

II Became 80 evident 10 the
snoortiSOrs that the bookkeeping
OF DIR. Gillian WAS unreliable. az
least rs far back as 1903. that il
was unanimously decided TO au-
thOrlZe the McSsrs. Boudar TO In
Nestigate the accounts of the
treasurer. not only I'm regard TO
the school funds, but in regard
TO all funds that he had handled
from 1902 TO date.
And it was distinctly under
stood that, n necessary. the board
would go back OF 1902, provided
the report OF the accountants in
Dictated the need for such an in
VeStigatiOn.
DIR. Gillian requested that he
be allowed to state 20 the board
that ne was ready 20 make good
any deficit that might be discov-
cred. He declared that all he
wished was that the matter be
settled rigbt-that he wanted
whatever was right 20 be done.
DIR. Gillian is a man far adj
VanCed i'm years. and the belief
prevails among his friends that
the Irregularities appearing i'm his
accounts may be accounted for
10y the loose and careless meth
DDS into which most old people
are apt TO slip.
When the supervisors of Ches-
terficld county, at the request or
James BelIwoOd and others. yes
terday went into an examination
of the school affairs of the cOun-
~, some startling facts were
brought TO light, and the session.
before IL ended, developed seve-
raj almost sensational features.
The meeting was attended by
Joseph ID. Eggleston, Superinten-
dent of Public Instruction, who
appeared by special invitation of
the school authorities; Captain
Carlton Mccarthy, the State Ac-
cOuntant; CommoDwealth's At
tOrney Gregory, Commissioner OF
Accounts Mason. DIR. Charles NJ.
Hazen, the county superintendent
of schools; James BelIwOOd and
others, besides the supervisors.
Several weeks ago Mr.. Bellwooc
called at the State Department o.
Education and stated that he believed
that there was something amiss in the
handling OF the Chesterfield schoo
funds by the school officials.
He was informed that there wa:
undoubtedly something wrong il
Chesterfield and that such had beer
the case for q number of years, bu
that he was probably on the wronG
trail, the trouble, in the opinion o.
the department, being with the coun
ty treasurer and not with the schoo
officials.
Employed Expert Accountants.
Every assistance was offered by the
department to Mr.. Bellwood-that is
all that it was in the power OF Su
perintendent EgglestOn to render.
On the strength OF this, the su
pervisors, after consultation with Cap
tain Mccarthy, decided to have an in
vestigation of the handling of tn,
school funds by the school authorize,
from 1907 to date.
The Messrs. Boudar were employed
to make an investigation along tn
lines indicated. This procedure wa
entirely satisfactory to the DEPART
it made it necessary to examine tn,
books of the county treasurer from
whom the department had been un
able to get a single report since tn,
incumbency of superintendent Egg
gleston, despite the most earnest anc
persistent efforts to obtain this in
formation.
When the supervisors met yester
day and called for the report of thu
Messrs. Boudar, the facts already citeC
above were disclosed.
The fixing of the county and dis
trict levy for school purposes haC
been delayed by the board until Thu
kins was present TO ask that the reg
ular levy of so cents on county anC
district funds be continued for schoo
purposes, and that a special levy o
10 cents to pay OFF the Indebtedness,
for the handsome new school at Mid
lothian be continued.
DIR. Charles NJ. Hazen, the count.
superintendent of schools, Joined witt
Senator Watkins in earnestly request
ing that the levy should not be de
creased, but should be continued a
at present.
DR.. HaZen thought that if the boarI
could possibly see its way clear TO d.
so, il should increase the school lev.
in order to enable the county schoo
board to continue building operation
and not be forced TO check the growth
of schools in the county.
Judge Gregory's Position.
Judge Gregory, the Common
wealth's Attorney, stated that he has
for thirty years been a warm frien'
of the schools.
He quoted some of the school laws
which plainly indicated his wish tina
the supervisors should not continue
the levy that prevailed last year, o.
should refuse to do so and force ;
vote of the people as to what thi
school levy should be.
Judge Gregory stated that h,
thought the Legislature had been yer.
derelict. in that, while levying schoo
taxes for school purposes, il had no
passed a Statewide compulsory edu
cation law forcing the children
throughout the State to attend tn
schools.
Mr.. Bellwood made a strong speech
urging the supervisors to employ eX
perts to go over the treasurers &C
counts and ascertain exactly tn
status of the treasurer in his rela
lions to the county. He also urge,
the board to go very slowly in tn
matter Of school taxes.
EggIeston's Plain Talk.
Superintendent Eggleston, who, a