Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-11-22
atliseellanfous &eaaing.
eREENvILLE OFFICERS SCORED
Grand Jury Makes Unusual Present.
nnent to Court,

Grand Jury Makes Unusual Present.
ment to Court.
Greenville, Nov. 19.-In It's present
ment to the one-day special session OF
the court Of general sessions Monday,
the grand jury brought to light a con-
dition Of affairs relative to the manage
ment of the county's business by the
board of commissioners-cons OF
the late Supervisor J. P. Goodwin, ]. M
Austin, who was named by Governor
Blease to fill out Mr.. Goodwin's unex-
pired term, and T. ]. Newly, recently
re-elected-that is astounding. The
presentment is perhaps the most un-
usual one ever handed in by a grand
jury in Greenville county. It covers
thirty-five typewriter pages Of legal
cap paper and relates in full what was
uncovered by a most exhaustive exam
ination into the affairs Of all the coun-
ty officers. The presentment declares,
however. that the committee found no
evidence Of misappropriation Of the
county's funds In such a way as to
cause monetary loss to the county. But
the most adverse criticisms are heaped
upon the board of commissioners and
the sheriff, the other officers getting of
comparatively light and some Of them
receiving commendation for the man
ner in which they conduct their affairs.
The presentment, with respect to the
board Of commissioners, winds UP by
recommending that the matter be refer
red to the solicitor for action, and
quotes a section Of the statutes show.
ing that the commissioners have COM
mitted what, on its face, il a felony,
punishable by fine not exceeding $6,-
900 and not less than $500 or imprison-
ment at hard labor in the state peni-
tentiary for not more than five years
and not less than one year.
Misapplyins Funds.
The presentment alleges that appro-
priations for 1911 were charged to
claims for the year 1910, and quotes
Section 377 of the criminal code to
show that this is a breach Of the law.
The grand jury states that s2,O5s.01
was misappropriated in this manner. OF
the funds for 1912 the sum Of s10,064.32
have been misapplied, asserts the pre-
sentiment,
Exceeding Convict Fund.
I'VE have discovered serious irregu-
larities In connection with the manage
ment of the appropriation Of 1913 for
convicts and maintaining the road
working organization" says the grand
jury. The presentment states that the
law appropriated the sum of $4,000 for
this purpose, but that up to the first Of
October the sum Of $33,154.77 had been
expended for this purpose. BY the end
of the year, the grand jury estimates,
the convict system will have cost the
county $SS,154.77, not counting the bills
which have not yet been presented.
Claims Not Approved.
The presentment asserts that many
claims have been paid without first
being approved by q majority Of the
board of commissioners, and in some
instances without the approval Of q
single member of the board. It is claim
ed 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 oriticises the oonr
tracing Of several bills and states that
they are not considered proper debts
against the county. Among these 10 a
bill for automobile hire for 1911,
amounting to 1925, bill for automo-
bile hire for 1912, amounting to $244.50,
board for horse at public livery
stable during 1911 and 1912 at cost Of
$3.50 per month, expenses Of delegates
to road convention amounting to $55
and neglect to pay accounts in time to
get a discount Of twenty per cent.
Ignored tho Law.
Under an act Of 1911 an appropria-
ton Of $4,000 was made for cross
country roads, and the law provides
that upon petition any sections Of q
cross country road may be let to the
lowest bidder The grand jury claims
that not a single petition was filed, or
a single section let by contract. yet ev-
cry cent of the $4,000 appropriation
was spent for different purpose-roads
and bridges and convict force-and
charged to cross country roads,"
Speaking further, the presentment
says, 1.-THE board appears to have used
the entire appropriation simply as a
supplemental fund to the appropria-
tions for roads and bridges and con-
victs,' which is, in our opinion, clearly
contrary to law"
Received Pay UnIawfully.
The cross country act provides that
the commissioners shall receive 500
extra a year for additional services re-
quired because of this special act.
Notwithstanding the fact that not a
single petition was filed and not sim
gle contract was let," says the present
ment, commissioners Newly and
Austin drew $100." The grand jury re-
commends that they be required to re-
fund this money to the county treasu-
rer
Ignored Other Laws.
The grand jury further points out
that section 100 Of the criminal code
provides that when any contract for
supplying the poor house and inmates
thereof, repairing buildings or in any
other way caring for the home and
farm, exceeds the sum Of $40 the board
of commissioners shall advertise and
receive bids for the same and shall ac-
cept the lowest bid from a responsible
party. The presentment says the law
has been absolutely ignored and that
the appropriation of $4,000 for the poor
house has been expended.
Section 1884 provides that all work
on bridges given out by the supervisor,
where the amount exceeds SO, shall be
done by contract; that where the
amount exceeds SO and Ia less than
500 the supervisor shall advertise for
bids by posting ten days notice In three