Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1912-09-05
THE MALICE OF
SUPT. McKILLIP
County Superintendent Be-
comes Piqued at Judge, and
Tries to Play Even
MALICE BEHIND LETTER
Candidate Boner Has so Far
Paid No Attention to
Charge of Connivance

Since the Herald issue of Monday,
numerous inquiries have been receiv-
ed concerning the letter written by
County superintendent n. d. Mckii-
lip concerning Judge Ben Sheeks,
so that we reproduce the letter in full
below, and. urge its careful reading.
The published statement of Attor-
ney Snider connecting w. w. Boner
an aspirant for the superior bench,
with the contemplate attempt to be-
smirch Judge Sheeks. has not yet
been denied by Mr.. Boner, although
Mr.. Snider promised to produce proofs
If denial was made. and the press
stands ready to make the denial as
public as was the charge.
Following is the letter:
Montesano, Wash, Aug. q. 1912.
To the Voters and Taxpayers,
Chehalis County, Washington.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
What is your opinion of a county
official who is receiving a salary of
$3.50 per month and actual travelling
expenses who will move his bed and
baggage into an unassigned room Of
to $40 per month room rent and re-
quires the county to furnish him free
fuel, water, and heat for his room at
the taxpayers expense?
This distinguished gentleman. the
Honorable Ben Sheeks judge of the
superior court of this county is the
officer who is practicing this petty
graft on the taxpayers OF the county
and is asking the voters Of the county
to re-elect him to the same office:
so he may continue TO extract the
value of tie accommodations in or.
der that he may save his entire sal
AIRY.
If Mr.. Sheeks a judge OF the court
has the right to impose upon yol,
haven't all the other officers tie
same right to dcrnicile themselves
in the court house ar your eEpensa? :?
Suppose The writer should re into
the court house in order 70 save TIE
expense of light water and heat end
some persrn in authority should
bring ejectment proceedings against
me before Judge Sheeks. would he
be competent to hear the case; or
would he say get cut you have no
right to occupy the quarters. bnt |
shall continue to hold down the graft
by right of my office and position?
Mr. Taxpayer are you going to re-
elect this man and set a precedent
for the future that it is a harmless
thing to take advantage OF an unsus-
pecting public, especially a superior
judge in whom every person should
have explicit confidence? If you do.
you have no right to complain of en-
travagance and high taxes.
The county has never had more
conscientious and eftcien. officers
than the present county auditor, the
clerk. the assessor. the sheriff and
the county engineer.
When travelling about the county,
| hear so many talking about graft,
extravaganza and failure of public
officials to guard the best interests
OF the taxpayers, | take the personal
responsibility to inform those who
have not the time or the means Of
informing themselves as TO those VINO
impose themselves upon You.
II you desire TO place a premium
npon sucf act5. Dc DCt criticize pub.
lie officials in the future; but sub
NIT complacently to any conditions
brought upon you Respectfully,
n D. McKlLLlP,
County Supt of Schools
When the cause Of the animosity of
Stunt. McKilip toward Judge Sheeks
becomes known the petty malice dis
played reveals a soul small enough
TO make rattle if enclosed in a
mustard seed The ofense of the
Judge seems to have consisted of
placing the convenience of the pub
lie above that of the county super
intendent. Just before moving into
the new court house, McKillip, whose
Office adjoined the superior court
room. was packing up to move, and
in mailing up some boxes made such
a noise as to interfere seriously with
the proceedings in court. Judge
Sheeks sent a bailiff to tell the SUI
perintendent Of the disturbance he
was making and to ask him to de-
sist. To this McKillip paid no at
tention but kept on with the noise.
The bailff was sent second time
with the same result. The judge
then sent the sheriff. who told Nc
Killip he could take his choice of
ceasing to disturb the court or go
to iail for contempt. The noise stop
ped. and McKillip has camped on the
trail of Judge Sheeks ever since, in
search of some flaw in his official
acts.
The result, as shown in this let
ter. shows him as near f1awless as
us poor mortals are permitted to be-
come, for when this malicious ofti'
cial after long and strict surveil-
lance. was only able to produce this
absurd charge. it is, doubtless. as
great a testimonial as any judge
with a particle of old Adam in his
c0mpositiOn ever received.