The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1912-11-20
GROSS IRREGULARITY
in GREFNvILLE COUNTY
Jury Recommends That the
Solicitor Take Action.
FLAYS THE SHERIFF
FOR SLOW ACTION

Purpose, Which IN Violation OF
the law-Convict Expenses so far
Have Exceeded the Appropriation.
Greenville, S. c., Nov. 19.--In It's
presentment to the one-day special
term OF the court OF General Sessions
Monday the grand jury brought to
light condition OF affairs relative to
the management of the oounty's
business ythe Board of Commission
crs--consisting of the late Supervisor
j. +. Goodwin, j. M. Austin. who was
named by Governor Bleasc to FIJI out
Mr.. Goodwn's uneXpirel term and
i. j. Newly, recently reelertcd.-that
is astounding. The prC8nntmcnt is
perhaps the most unusual one ever
handed in by grand jury In Green
vile county. 1t covers 80 typewrt-
ten pages OF legal cap paper, and re-
lates in full what was uncovered by
most exhaustive examination into
the affairs of all the county officers
The prescntment declares however,
OF misrepresentation OF the county's
funds in such n way as to cause
monetary loss to the county. But the
most adverse criticisms are hcaped
upon the Board of Commissioners and
the sheriff, and other officers getting
of comparatively light and some OF
them receiving commentator for tho
manner in which they conduct their
| affairs. The presentment, with re-
spect to of Board OF commissioners,
winds up by recommending that the
matter be referred to the solicitor for
action, and quotes q section Of the
statutes showing that the Commission
ers have committed what, on its face,
is felony, punishable by fine not
exceeding $4,000 and not less than
1900, or imprisonment at hard labor
in the state pcnitcntiary for not
more than five years ana not less than
one year
Misapplying OF FUNDS.
The prescntmcnt alleges that ap-
prorriatiOns for 1911 were charged to
Section 377 of the criminal code to
claim for the year 1910, and quotes
show that this is a breach Of the law.
The grand jury states that l2,O5G.O1
was misappropriatcd in this manner.
or the funds for 1912 the sum of
$l0,0G4.32 have been misappicd, as
serts the prcsentmcnt
regularitics in connection with the
management OF the appropriation OF
1913 for conVicts and maintaining
the road working organization" says
the SfahC jury. The prCSCntmcnt
states that by law was appropriated
the sum of $4,000 for this purpose,
but that up to the first of October
the sum of $33,l5i.77 had been ex-
pended for this purpose BY the end
of the year, the grand jury estimates
the convict system will have cost the
| county $38 li4.77, not counting the
bills which have not yet been pre-
sented.
The prescntment asserts that many
CidlHhS nave Deen palu without hrSt
being approved by majority OF the
Board Of Commissioners, and in some
instances without the approval of
single member of the BOARD. 1t is
claimed that other claims were paid
without being itemized and that some
were paid without being dated, both
OF which are required by law.
The grand jury crIticizes the con.
tracing OF several bills and states
that they are not considered proper
debts against the county Among
these is bill for automobile hire for
1911 amounting to $3.s, bill for au-
tomobile hire for 19Ii amounting to
$244.50, board for morse al a public
livery stable during 1g1 land 1912 at
cost OF $3.50 per month, expenses
OF delegates to ROAD conventions
amounting to $55 and Neglect to pay
accounts in time to get discount of
20 per cent.
The cross country act provides
that the Commissioners shall receive
$l00 extra year for additional SER
vices required because of this special
act. Notwithstanding the fact that